Neptune progress!!

I am so overwhelmed right now... :happycry:

As many of you know, our male blue beauty Neptune has been a challenge from day one. Extremely poorly socialized, stressed from sharing a cage, hardly ever handled... He came to us as a big ol angry stressball. He only ate every so often, and he'd strike at the glass and always make a go at me when I tried to handle him. I was actually a bit intimidated at first to tell the truth, as he's quite the big boy to boot! 8 feet 3lbs of hissy antisocial nippy snake! Nothing quite like when Neptune inflates and hisses like a fire hose!

Lately, he's been eating like a pro only refusing while in shed which I can predict now so no wasted ratties.

Yesterday, I changed his water while he was awake instead of while he was asleep or hiding his head like I usually do. Instead of striking at me or getting hissy, he just watched. Good boy!

Today I'm on poop patrol and Neptune surprisingly left a huge mess outside the humid hide, just in front of it. He normally only poops once a month when he sheds, and he just went last week. Plus it's usually IN the Humid hide which I just take out to clean. So I gather all the supplies to put him away (gloves, holding bin) and clean out the cage when I realize the mess is only on one half of the cage, and not the side he's on. It takes a couple of sheets to cover the floor of their cages, so it's not all the same sheet of kraft paper. Neptune is wide awake and watching me with his head sticking out resting on the edge of his water bowl.

So instead of wrangling him out of the cage, I go to change it out just like if it was Ma-tsu's cage. I take out stuff, take out the paper, spray stuff, clean, all with the door open and no gloves with him in it on the clean side.

Neptune just watched me! No S-formation, no hissing and cursing me out, no striking, just watching calmly less than a foot from my bare hand!! I cleaned out his cage easily, no rushing, with not even a hiss! I'm seriously crying I'm so happy! Look at what a long way he's come! Wow, just wow...:happycry:

Who's my special boy? He never strikes at the glass anymore, never refuses a meal... He's not at gloveless or willing handling yet, but I really think he's getting there... To think of how miserable and aggressive he was when we brought him home, and look at him now... cruising, eating, mellowing out... way to go, Neptune...! :love: And thank you to Jo, Judy, and all the supportive folks on this forum for the encouragement and advice with our special Dragon!

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Great to hear! Nothing worse then a moody snake :D

i am so happy for you. neptune will be in your hands chilling out in no time. great job keep up the good work. i had an adult blood i had worked with for 8 months before handling was even an option, but by then my daughter could go in and get her out with no problems.

Only a snake could reduce somebody to happy tears while cleaning up a big steaming pile of poo I think, lol!

Thanks guys! That's awesome about mellowing out that blood! I think I'd be farther along with the handling Neptune if we had more space where other animals didn't have such easy access. After we move I'll be able to handle him a lot more without risk of feline intrusion. Right now, I'm just happy to have him realize I'm not a threat! He's such a scardy snake, it really warms my heart! :love:

Just reading that makes me all misty-eyed! I remember his VERY impressive display when he got loaded up into the snake-bag at the Phoenix show! But I just knew you'd soon become quite adept at handling such a challenging dragon...and I was certain that with your constant, loving attention, he'd eventually learn that not all life is out to get him. :hug: He's one BLESSED snakey!!!

Aww, Sheree, that is just terrific! I am really thrilled for you, and believe me, I completely understand getting teary over it.

See what some TLC will do :D .Congrats to you both :rockon:

Thanks you guys! I love my dragon... I couldn't be more proud of him. :)

Glad to hear he's behaving. :) Now to get my pissy carpet to behave!!! :snake: Struck me 4 times in one handling session.
By the way, Kelly named him "Carpet" :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Blu Mongoose

Glad to hear he's behaving. :) Now to get my pissy carpet to behave!!! :snake: Struck me 4 times in one handling session.
By the way, Kelly named him "Carpet" :rolleyes:

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Nancy,try not to clean "carpets" clock for biting you :8: :8: :8: :P .I guess you could rent a rug doctor machine to make him fresh:P .I know lame,i could not resist:oops:

That is just awesome.

One great way to start getting him to allow handling is use a snake hook to get him out. It is really amazing how much calmer a mean snake can be using a hook.

I have had snake that were ruled to mean to handle and had them calm with one session by using a hook and proper technique.

All buy my former Mangrove, he was just an *******, :twisted:

I gave him to a guy that just had to have a mangrove. After a year and a half that jerk made no progress, just mean as all get out. Almost like he enjoyed being mean. He is someone elses problem now,

That's wonderful Sheree.. he's quite the impressive dragon!

He needs to talk to Rusalka I think.. my little She-devil. :)

I dunno if letting them talk things over would help or hinder us, Shelby! ;)

It's amazing how a ton of patience can pay off. :) The hook is a good idea, but there's not a whole lot of room for that where I am now. When we move and get a room just for teh snakes, then maybe I can get a nice hook and see what Neptune thinks of it. In the meantime, I'm just glad he's relaxing!

Hehe, "Carpet" that's adorable! :P Course Karen wants to get a gopher snake and name him or her "Leezurd" so who are we to talk?

And awh, Mangroves are so pretty but woo I wouldn't want to mess with an angry venomous dude like that! Back fanged or not! :O