What would you do?

Well, I decided I was going to do research about Burmese Pythons and help out with any reptile shelter I can that has Burmese Pythons until I finish college and can handle and afford these gentle giants. I would definately rescue one from a shelter when I am ready. (Once again...not now, after I am done with college. :) )

I was just wondering, how would you get one of them off if they decided to go for a chunk of me and constricted? I know for smaller snakes that you would use some sort of alcohol and pour a little on them, but I don't know if this is true for a 120 pound 15 foot snake! :O


Also, any good references for care and tips on keeping them?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bpkid

Well, I decided I was going to do research about Burmese Pythons and help out with any reptile shelter I can that has Burmese Pythons until I finish college and can handle and afford these gentle giants. I would definately rescue one from a shelter when I am ready. (Once again...not now, after I am done with college. :) )

I was just wondering, how would you get one of them off if they decided to go for a chunk of me and constricted? I know for smaller snakes that you would use some sort of alcohol and pour a little on them, but I don't know if this is true for a 120 pound 15 foot snake! :O


Also, any good references for care and tips on keeping them?

---

The answer is plain and simple,NEVER place yourself in that type of situation!!! Never try to handle a large snake by yourself,always have someone near.Remember everytime you open its enclosure you are entering his world.I have had both albino burmese pythons and a retic and they were a handfull and then some.I used welders gloves when ever i opened there enclosures to reach in and they learned it was not food and i never once had one attempt to bite me.If by chance you are ever in the situation and are attacked i have been told alcohol soes work.Please remember you are the one who decides if you are attacked or not by not doing something stupid,the snake only reacts to what you have done.;)

I will NEVER take a chance like that. I would always have at least one other herp savvy person with me whenever the cage is opened, whether for cleaning, or for handling.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bpkid

I will NEVER take a chance like that. I would always have at least one other herp savvy person with me whenever the cage is opened, whether for cleaning, or for handling.

---

Smart man :cool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by joepythons

Smart man :cool:

---

So I'm told :P

Keep a bootle of pure grain alcohol in the snake room and NEVER go near a large constrictor alone. Always have someone nearby.


If bitten and constriction starts, the alcohol poured on it's head (it will get in the mouth that way) will make the snake release.

Make sure you do not smell like food.
Never lean into a large constrictors cage headfirst.
Use tongs to feed.

Buy a hook. Use the hook to tap the snake and make it aware of you whenever you need to work with it. When feeding it, NEVER have the hook with you.
You want the snake to relate the hook with coming out and no hook with food.

This guy wrapped me once and even though was small (only about 9 feet and thin), it was almost impossible to unwrap him with one arm free. Thankfully the wife was there and poured some grain on him. He let go right away.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...idescensce.jpg

With time, you can get to pick up on the snakes body language but since you are talking about rescues that may have been abused, they are far more unpredictable and you won't have the benefit of learning about the snakes habits as it grows. This one came to me after being underfed and poked with clothes hangers by it's previous idiot owner.

Thanks SPJ, that was very helpful!

Does anyone suggest any books that can be found at a local library?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SPJ

Keep a bootle of pure grain alcohol in the snake room and NEVER go near a large constrictor alone. Always have someone nearby.


If bitten and constriction starts, the alcohol poured on it's head (it will get in the mouth that way) will make the snake release.

Make sure you do not smell like food.
Never lean into a large constrictors cage headfirst.
Use tongs to feed.

Buy a hook. Use the hook to tap the snake and make it aware of you whenever you need to work with it. When feeding it, NEVER have the hook with you.
You want the snake to relate the hook with coming out and no hook with food.

This guy wrapped me once and even though was small (only about 9 feet and thin), it was almost impossible to unwrap him with one arm free. Thankfully the wife was there and poured some grain on him. He let go right away.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...idescensce.jpg

With time, you can get to pick up on the snakes body language but since you are talking about rescues that may have been abused, they are far more unpredictable and you won't have the benefit of learning about the snakes habits as it grows. This one came to me after being underfed and poked with clothes hangers by it's previous idiot owner.

---

Nice looking retic Steve;) .They poked it with a hanger huh?:irkd: Makes ya kinda want to poke them and see how they like it :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bpkid

Thanks SPJ, that was very helpful!

Does anyone suggest any books that can be found at a local library?

---

A waste of time as most books in library are so old and full of crap.Google search and read up on things that pretty much tell you the truth not some old wise tell misbeliefs from the 1950 lol.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by joepythons

A waste of time as most books in library are so old and full of crap.Google search and read up on things that pretty much tell you the truth not some old wise tell misbeliefs from the 1950 lol.

---

OK, lol. So the alcohol will make them let go right away? Or is this with some snakes only?

I watched a show the other night that said alcohol does a pretty good job on getting snakes to release....I wonder if you could get away with carrying a bottle of whiskey on you at all times and claim it as protection....

They fed that guy 1 mouse a month to limit it's growth and poked it with clothes hangers so it wouldn't try to get out when they took the top off the cage.
The thing was hungry and not very people friendly when I got him.
Here is a pic of the head when I first picked him up. Many layers of stuck shed and retained eyescaps, wounds on the top of it's head.
Not a well cared for animal.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ons/retic5.jpg


And after some time with me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/931bba69.jpg


BTW,
Alcohol works with any snake.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nathanledet

I watched a show the other night that said alcohol does a pretty good job on getting snakes to release....I wonder if you could get away with carrying a bottle of whiskey on you at all times and claim it as protection....

---

You mean that's not common?:O
Oh man, I need to stop carrying that fifth of JD with me everywhere.:D

The reason I am asking this is because I saw a show on Animal Planet about some guy that was dead for a few seconds before being performed CPR on. He was constricted by his retic and he was alone for a few minutes until his friend came in.

The Big Squeeze?


All of those accidents were preventable.
They basically set themselves up for an "attack" by doing stupid things and not following any type of safety protocol.

I think it was. I was a little worried about getting ANY big snake after that show!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bpkid

The reason I am asking this is because I saw a show on Animal Planet about some guy that was dead for a few seconds before being performed CPR on. He was constricted by his retic and he was alone for a few minutes until his friend came in.

---

Yea i think it was the big squeeze show that showed that.My opinion he was stupid for going into the enclosure by himself;) .A person at our local zoo almost lost his life to a big retic all because he was to stupid and impatiant to wait until he had someone around him just incase.He now sweeps up horse manure,at least until he makes one of them mad :P :P .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SPJ

The Big Squeeze?


All of those accidents were preventable.
They basically set themselves up for an "attack" by doing stupid things and not following any type of safety protocol.

---

You are 100% correct here:P

Just don't play with a chinchilla and then try to pet a burm or walk into an enclosure with an adult WC retic by yourself, or try to play with a 20 ft retic by yourself you should have no problems.:D


Large constrictors just need to be approached with a bit more caution than a smaller one. Even the "tamest" burm or retic can cause a problem. As long as you minimize the chances for accidents and never put yourself in a questionable situation, you should be fine.

You just can't be as nonchalant with them as you could be with a ball python.

Just realize that almost all of the bites are the result of the keeper doing something they should not have which triggered the snakes instinct.

Respect for what the animal can do, backup available for large animals, and caution, will prevent 99.9% of problems from happening.

I know this thread is a couple days old and questions have been answered, but make sure that the people (note the plural form, a 15 ft. snake needs at least 2 people other than yourself) know to try and pull it off from the tail first. You will not be able to pull a large constrictor off head-first. If it absolutely comes down to a life or death decision, you can grab the tail just behind the vent, and bend it up over the snake until it breaks. Now obviously that last one is a last resort option.