It has come to this but its OK.

I have accepted the fact that my boy is not going to be the chilled, out relaxed snake that the other 3 are here.

After a few incidents involving bites and some other bizarre antics, I have upped the game a little.

Previously I posted a photo of my 5' Gaboona snake hook from this place: https://www.aestoney.com/product/poly-gaboona-hook/ This is an incredible item.

I also added a containment bin, and recently purchased these gloves in the event he bites. I have handled him a couple of times since he went berserk without gloves, but my focus now is to retrain him and have positive interactions.

These gloves seem perfect for the job.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SJCTSSC...ing=UTF8&psc=1

The bin is where he will go during cleaning. I have similar containment bins for the other snakes, but I wanted Wallace to have something much larger than what I've used for the others.

Here is a photo of the new items I've recently acquired.
https://i.imgur.com/on97OUy.jpg

Retics are very interesting animals, however you are never guaranteed to wind up with a placid specimen. When you don't, retics can be quite intimidating and in some cases dangerous.

After speaking to Garrett Hartel, I was told the percentages for SD in my snake were less than what I was told by the breeder. That is why he's larger than I was hoping for. I can still deal with him but he's far more snake than I wanted with his current disposition.

I'm hoping after adding a few new tools to the mix, Wallace and I will reconnect and have more relaxing interactions together.

I’m sorry to hear you’re having so many problems with him. Temperaments like this was why I was so scared to get a male, and why I got my girl River. I know males stay smaller, but I’d seen way too many hospital pictures of males ripping people open. :(

Looks like some heavy duty gear, hopefully this makes things a little bit easier on you. Is he like this year round?


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I hope he calms down some for you, & glad you're finding the right gear to help.

Good luck gio with re training him
Fingers crossed it works out for the two of you

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Good on you for going the extra mile rather than finding a new home.

Hoping the best for the both of you.

You can never have to much safety equipment. I'm glad you are continuing to work with him and rebuilding the trust.

What are the %'s you were told by Garrett and the breeder?

I’m not sure what Garrett said. It wasn’t a huge discrepancy but he said there was less SD in the mix. Maybe the difference between 37.5 percent down to 25.

Cloud’ this all started mid to late summer with the heat. He’s just overly cued in. He also turned 3 June 1.

It may be male maturity.

The gloves are nice so I’m fairly confident we’ll get back on track.

Nice equipment Gio. I think I'll end up getting a pair of those gloves. You're doing a great job with Wallace and all your critters. I'm really glad you've stuck it out with him. Is he mostly cage defensive and how is he once you get him out? He reminds me a lot of my scrub. He's gotten quite a bit better in the 14 months that I've had him, but like you I've accepted that he'll most likely not be a very mellow fellow. It's a pita sometimes but I kinda like the challenge. I have 11 snakes and 9 of them are really placid. My female bull get's a little huffy sometimes and the scrub always has me on high alert. I think it's good to get a little bit of that wild attitude from them sometimes . It let's you know you're alive!! :snake: ;)

Good choice, we use those exact same tubs for the big tics.
Also have pairing going on over here, it's 'that time of year' for sure when the boys get antsy.
Best wishes for smoother interactions going forward, the gear is a good choice IMO

Quote:

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Nice equipment Gio. I think I'll end up getting a pair of those gloves. You're doing a great job with Wallace and all your critters. I'm really glad you've stuck it out with him. Is he mostly cage defensive and how is he once you get him out? He reminds me a lot of my scrub. He's gotten quite a bit better in the 14 months that I've had him, but like you I've accepted that he'll most likely not be a very mellow fellow. It's a pita sometimes but I kinda like the challenge. I have 11 snakes and 9 of them are really placid. My female bull get's a little huffy sometimes and the scrub always has me on high alert. I think it's good to get a little bit of that wild attitude from them sometimes . It let's you know you're alive!! :snake: ;)

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Thanks Zig,

I’m fairly sure it’s mostly cage related along with the hair trigger food response. However I was trying to get him out recently like I normally do and he wrapped my hand. I quickly unwound him and I noticed he was starting to face off with me.

Because of that I decided I’d better prepare for the worst case scenario.

One down side to my fancy cage would be the perches. They are great for him and viewing but he spends much of his time up there. I have to wait until he’s on the floor to get him out. Otherwise he’ll hold on and get edgy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

... I think it's good to get a little bit of that wild attitude from them sometimes . It let's you know you're alive!! :snake: ;)

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I enjoy my mellow rat snakes & all, but that's ^ ^ ^ what I miss about having rattle-brats around. My Korean rat snake does pretty well at filling in for them though.:snake2:

"Variety is the spice of life!" Just work safe & stay safe...:cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Good choice, we use those exact same tubs for the big tics.
Also have pairing going on over here, it's 'that time of year' for sure when the boys get antsy.
Best wishes for smoother interactions going forward, the gear is a good choice IMO

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Aaaaahhh,

I'm in good company then! I like how you do things so I feel good hearing you use some of the same equipment.

April, do you have holes drilled out for air, or do you feel there is enough ventilation for 30-45 minutes?

They don't seem "air tight" so I'm probably going to leave it as is unless you have different thoughts.

This thread makes me a bit happy I decided to not get the Male SD I was looking at.. but he is on sale right now for 400. Father was 6 foot mom was 9 foot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

This thread makes me a bit happy I decided to not get the Male SD I was looking at.. but he is on sale right now for 400. Father was 6 foot mom was 9 foot.

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My experiences may be completely different from that of others. Don't let this paint a bad name on the reticulated python species.

If this guy was a 6.5 to 7 foot animal he'd be easier to deal with.

I plan to work through this and see what changes.

They are an advanced species and not for everybody, however there are plenty of folks that don't have the issues I've had.


If you had doubts you probably did make the right choice.

Have you tried simply opening the door, tapping him to let him know it's not feeding day, and then letting him come out under his own power and in his own time? My 100% SD male retic is being a big enough jerk that he went up for sale (and has been sold, I am waiting on payment and need to arrange shipping) but he is a lot easier to handle if the decision to leave the enclosure is his versus me picking him up and pulling him out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Have you tried simply opening the door, tapping him to let him know it's not feeding day, and then letting him come out under his own power and in his own time? My 100% SD male retic is being a big enough jerk that he went up for sale (and has been sold, I am waiting on payment and need to arrange shipping) but he is a lot easier to handle if the decision to leave the enclosure is his versus me picking him up and pulling him out.

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Yes.
Unfortunately that led to more biting at the hook and facing off.
Hard to say if it’s defensive or food driven or both.

Remember he attacked and tried to eat a rag soaked in Listerine not long ago.
I’ll see how he is very soon.
He just destroyed my LED light tape so I have cage maintenance coming up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gio

...Remember he attacked and tried to eat a rag soaked in Listerine not long ago...

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At least you've got a snake with a clean, fresh mouth...:rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

At least you've got a snake with a clean, fresh mouth...:rolleyes:

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LOL!!

Great comment!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gio

LOL!!

Great comment!!!

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I'm all for cleaner bites & fewer infections- :rofl:

Huge props to you, Gio. I commend your continued efforts and unwillingness to give up on him. I'm hoping your efforts are rewarded and he mellows out a bit for you. Best of luck!


Side note: Juice has mellowed out as temps have dropped and even took a F/T rat the other night. This was his first ever F/T rat, fingers crossed it's not a fluke, but time will tell.

Good luck Gio!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gio

Aaaaahhh,

I'm in good company then! I like how you do things so I feel good hearing you use some of the same equipment.

April, do you have holes drilled out for air, or do you feel there is enough ventilation for 30-45 minutes?

They don't seem "air tight" so I'm probably going to leave it as is unless you have different thoughts.

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Nah you don't need to put air holes, it'll be fine. They make a larger size tub as well. They *can* push out (of the larger ones) and we use zip ties when using the tubs for traveling but just using for cleaning/short periods, shouldn't be anything to worry about.

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Side note: Juice has mellowed out as temps have dropped and even took a F/T rat the other night. This was his first ever F/T rat, fingers crossed it's not a fluke, but time will tell.

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Also - that is awesome news!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Nah you don't need to put air holes, it'll be fine. They make a larger size tub as well. They *can* push out (of the larger ones) and we use zip ties when using the tubs for traveling but just using for cleaning/short periods, shouldn't be anything to worry about.

- - - Updated - - -



Also - that is awesome news!

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Thank you for the info!

Any updates on how he has been recently?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 67temp

Any updates on how he has been recently?

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Hello,

Thanks for checking in. He's been pretty decent as of late. Fully cleaning his cage out was apparently something he appreciated.

He still strikes the hook now and again, but I've been putting hand sanitizer on it before tapping him these days and he isn't quite as into biting it. Its not a bad idea for de-scenting the hook and it also sanitizes it. Sometimes the hooks and the tongs meet up on top of the cage and I don't want the scent of prey on the hook.

Wallace seems to have the combination of cage defense and feeding response wrapped into one.
He is almost always decent when he's out. As a matter of fact I've never once had an issue after he makes it out of the cage. Getting him there is a bit touchy though.

It is hard to believe the amount of growth he's had since he moved into the new cage March, 2018.

His first day in the 6 foot cage.

https://i.imgur.com/eC9bIGZ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/IbHx0np.jpg


Here are the recent photos.
https://i.imgur.com/p7zBKPr.jpg


It isn't easy to compare his size against the early pictures but he's some much larger.
https://i.imgur.com/jRE9vwN.jpg

He's looking great gio, he's put loads of girth on as well

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Fantastic-looking set-up for your lucky & grumpy-but-gorgeous snake! I can see why he wouldn't want to come out of there...;)

This is today. He's ready to rock but he's going to have to wait a week or two.

https://i.imgur.com/a5PGu7i.jpg

Hey, thanks for the update! I'm glad he's been a bit better for you. I truly respect all your hard work and dedication.

Good luck keeping him on track!

His enclosure looks fantastic by the way!!!

Gio, thanks for the update! I'm glad he is doing somewhat better for you now. As always he looks great.