Handling.. help?

Hi guys, I have a two year old female blood, and she is very defensive. I can not handle her without gloves because the heat signature sends her into a flailing fit, musking everywhere, and swinging around with an open mouth ready to bite anything. I am not worried about getting bit, I am just worried about stressing her out. So I have been handling her with gloves, and I handle her only minimally, just to move her for cleaning.

She does this weird thing when I pick her up that I haven't experienced before, when I pick her up, a small bit of her rectum stick out of her cloaca.. it looks like she's about to prolapse, and it makes me concerned to handle her any extra. Has anyone else experienced this? How did you handle it? It goes away a few minutes after she goes back in her enclosure and settles down. Thank you for any help.

Her cold side is at about 76-78 degrees, warm side 83-84 degrees, humidity between 60-70%. She is in a solid FB80 tub in a rack.

So your getting a feeding responses opening her tub? Have you opened the tub an just let her come out on her own? Other then that it’s hook training.

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by 303_enfield

So your getting a feeding responses opening her tub? Have you opened the tub an just let her come out on her own? Other then that it’s hook training.

Good luck!

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No it's not a feed response. It's a defensive/fear response. I tap her with a hook to let her know I'm there before picking her up. She's mostly fine with the gloves but if I use my hands she gets terrified.

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Originally Posted by Renigaed

She does this weird thing when I pick her up that I haven't experienced before, when I pick her up, a small bit of her rectum stick out of her cloaca.. it looks like she's about to prolapse, and it makes me concerned to handle her any extra. Has anyone else experienced this? How did you handle it? It goes away a few minutes after she goes back in her enclosure and settles down. Thank you for any help.

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It's another defense mechanism; she's straining to musk/pee/poop on you so you will let her go.

By "solid" tub do you mean opaque without the window? Perhaps that's her problem, she's in the dark and then is blinded when you slide the tub open.

My JCP did that when he first arrived, but it sounds like it was far less extreme. He'd "evacuate" himself and his cloaca would stay out as if he was trying to get more out. It just didn't last nearly as long as yours, his was fairly quick.

My Borneo STP is an absolute sweetheart, so I can't give specific blood/STP advice, but I do have a suggestion.

Once you get her out, keep her out for a while. Right now she's getting what she wants when she is picked up. She acts out and gets put away.

I suggest getting her out, getting passed the messy, flailing, mouth agape part and setting her down next to you on a bed, couch, floor, whatever. Just be sure you can get her there without dropping her if she's flailing a lot.

Once there see if she mellows out while next to you, but not being held. If she begins to associate your scent, mannerisms, etc...with something more than a quick, uncomfortable experience she will learn that you're not a threat. Her behavior is indicative of her being scared. Try to gradually earn her trust through sitting with her, moving her to your lap once comfortable, but not confining her.

I hear a lot of people suggesting "short and sweet" handling sessions to start. I used to as well. But in my more recent experience I've had far more success with longer sessions. I feel as if it allows more trust building time between pick up and put away.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

It's another defense mechanism; she's straining to musk/pee/poop on you so you will let her go...

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Yup, I agree. :gj: At least she's hasn't actually sprayed you...yet. Hopefully she'll learn to relax in time, but some can take a while- don't wear your best silk shirt when you handle her. ;)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Yup, I agree. :gj: At least she's hasn't actually sprayed you...yet.

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My uber-defensive young burm did that, and at the time she was a good bit larger than a blood python. I needed to shower afterward.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

My uber-defensive young burm did that, and at the time she was a good bit larger than a blood python. I needed to shower afterward.

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Well, hatchling king snakes are lots of fun to sex or just handle too...I referred to them as "Rain Birds"- after the lawn sprinklers! ;) But at least they're tiny! :D

Thank you so much for your reply. It's a relief to hear I'm not the only one who's delt with this. I will try the longer handling sessions. Thank you very much.

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Originally Posted by Renigaed

Thank you so much for your reply. It's a relief to hear I'm not the only one who's delt with this. I will try the longer handling sessions. Thank you very much.

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"Misery loves company" they say...:rofl: But patience with snakes usually pays off. Remember, you're fighting against their very survival instincts...being picked up is usually a predator planning to eat them (in the wild)! So you can't blame them, can you?

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Once you get her out, keep her out for a while. Right now she's getting what she wants when she is picked up. She acts out and gets put away.

I suggest getting her out, getting passed the messy, flailing, mouth agape part and setting her down next to you on a bed, couch, floor, whatever. Just be sure you can get her there without dropping her if she's flailing a lot.

Once there see if she mellows out while next to you, but not being held. If she begins to associate your scent, mannerisms, etc...with something more than a quick, uncomfortable experience she will learn that you're not a threat. Her behavior is indicative of her being scared. Try to gradually earn her trust through sitting with her, moving her to your lap once comfortable, but not confining her.

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Last night I sat with her in the bathtub for 20 minutes, didn't get musked on and she didnt even strike once. It went really well, thank you for your suggestions and your help :)

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Originally Posted by Renigaed

Last night I sat with her in the bathtub for 20 minutes, didn't get musked on and she didnt even strike once. It went really well, thank you for your suggestions and your help :)

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Awesome!! I'm glad it went well.

Try to be consistent and relaxed with her. Be patient. And you'll both see the benefits.

I like to refer to it as "turning the corner" when you can see that the animal has accepted you and no longer see you as a threat. Once you've earned her trust she should be easier to handle.
That being said, don't be discouraged if she has an "off day" here and there. It happens, just like us.

Pay attention to her movements and mannerisms while you've got her out as well. You can learn from her as well.

Good luck!!! Don't be shy if you have further questions.

I might knock the temps down a few degrees, my boy calmed down a lot and ate better when I put him at about 82 for the warm side and 74 for the cool side. Thats what Dan Magaono reccomends: https://www.youtube.com/user/IronSebae13/videos