Taming Breeder BP

Does anyone have any advice on how to tame an adult female that was never handled before? I acquired her from a big breeder & was not told (I also neglected to ask) that she was not handled (he has over 1000 snakes, so I understand).

She is healthy & gorgeous (YB that is breedable already). She has not struck at me, only hissed & growled. I only handled her to get her out of the bag & into her tub (& she flailed around quite a bit).

I've only had her about 2.5 weeks, so I know she needs a lot of time (she also has not eaten for me yet. I tried last Thursday, so I'm trying again tomorrow), but I was wondering how best to go about taming so that at least she does not hiss when I clean out her tub.

I have 9 other BPs & all are tame (one is not that much, but he is not as vocal-or big- as this girl). I've been hissed at before, but I've known immediately what I did wrong & have corrected it & never had it happen again. I try to handle all of my snakes for very short periods of time, 2-3 times a week, so that I don't have any issues working with them.

Anyway, any advice is welcome!

Thanks.

PS I have a snake hook (never used) & some handling gloves (only used when feeding. All of my BP's are on F/T, but some of them are feisty feeders).

I would begin by just allowing the snake to get accustomed to my non-threatening presence by doing daily environment chores like changing the water bowl and just sort of having my fingers around. I would not stop the activity if she puffs up or hisses, since that will reinforce her behavior.

After this, I would just pick her up. If she bites then so be it. Don't put her back into her environment until she is calm with you (again, you don't want to reinforce the "I will bite you so you will put me down" behavior). :oops:

It is my feeling that your persistence and patience will pay off in the end. Just be calm and mellow so she'll pick up on that. I have also heard of some people putting in a small article of their clothing so that the snake will clue in to the scent. Never done it myself, but I have heard others doing it and they believe it has helped with "training".

Good luck!

In addition to what Starmom said just keep in mind that some snakes may have an aggressive disposition to them. My pastel male is over 2 years old and he's calmed down a bit but he always hisses when I first pick him up out of the tub. He puffs up and makes his body twitch and I just laugh at his tough guy persona. I think the fiesty ones are fun, they keep you on your toes :)

Thank you. I kinda thought that was the best way to go about it, but I wanted to know from more experienced BP keepers. I really think she is just very stressed and afraid, so your advice makes very good sense. Hopefully there will be no biting, but if there is, c'est la vie! I had one of them almost get my face the other day when feeding, so I am a bit more careful now.

Thanks again!

Just wanted to let you all know that the YB took a good-sized F/T rat this past Thursday. I was very excited. & I was able to clean out her tub today with no hissing/growling.

I won't attempt to handle until she's fed for me at least 4 times, though. My priority is to get her established.

Thanks again to everyone for your advice!

Yea!!!! Huge congrats on the feeding and the baby steps in the right direction!!!! I think you're being smart in not trying to hold her or anything for a month. Just let her understand that your intrusions into her space for cleaning and feeding are peaceful and nonthreatening. There is plenty of time for handling lessons!!!

Great job!! :gj:

Starmom, your support really helped. I have a lot of experience with many types of snakes, and reptiles in general, but I'm a newbie with BPs. I wait until my newest one is an established feeder before I get another one (that's why I only have 10...lol), but I thought I was headed for trouble with this one. Hopefully, she'll stay on track with the feeding, etc. &, like you said, there's plenty of time for handling.

Thanks again!

I can tell you from our past experience taking in some fiesty females that what you've been told is true. Just go about your business with this snake, wear gloves if she gets serious about the biting stuff, be gentle, calm but firm and confident in your handling of her. If you need to restrain her to move her safely, do so quickly, hesitating on a behind the head grab will get you nailed (I've been there and it only took one lesson to learn that LOL), don't allow her to set the tone for your interactions.

While it's appropriate to respect the snakes we own and not push them past what is reasonable, for some of these bigger ones that are unused to handling or have been handled roughly, you need to rebuild a handling pattern with them. Make sure that removal and return are done as you were advised - with calm and assured movements. Don't allow her back to her enclosure until she is calm, even for 2 seconds.

Some will never accept much handling but most will do fine once you set a simple routine down with them. BP's really respond well to the same things happening over and over. Once they get that this routine causes them no harm, most will accept it other than the occasional "back talk". :) Some won't though. We have one female here that recently has started throwing her weight around so we're being cautious with her (she draws blood) and working to show her that we aren't intent on hurting her.

best thing to do is persistence...

I cant say much more then what has already been said... But I will say that I did have a fiesty spider ball male that was having no problems trying to nail me every chance he got...

After a while now he is used to me, has calmed down, and hasnt struck at me in a while. I make it a point to hold him near pulse points on my wrists and hands so that he feels my pulse and knows I am calm. I think that helps. I also make it a point to hold him for a few minutes everytime I clean his tank out.

Also one other tip... Make her tank/tub as crowded as you can. They love it! My spider loves having space issues, it makes him a calmer, happier snake!


Jason

Thanks i got alot of info from this thread!!

I have a year old BP that wasn't handled much by previous owner. I warmed the end of a snake hook in my hand and started stroking his body with it gently to get him used to being touched for short periods, then moved on to holding him with gloves, then one glove, then none once he got used to contact with my skin.

Has worked quite well and is comfortable being held now.Worked a bit too well, He has gone from very timid to bloody stubborn, the little beggar pushes his body down so i can't get the hook underneath to lift him out sometimes now!!:colbert:

drink some good rum or vodka first of all.once you obtain a buzzed state pull out the big girl and play with her.it will be great fun.the snake will notice your calm ways and begin tolerating being handled.lol

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Originally Posted by Butters420

drink some good rum or vodka first of all.once you obtain a buzzed state pull out the big girl and play with her.it will be great fun.the snake will notice your calm ways and begin tolerating being handled.lol

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Giving advice like this is, in my opinion, irresponsible. Encouraging an owner of any snake species to get "buzzed" before they handle is asking for trouble for that owner and for that snake. In the end that trouble can end up resulting in new and restrictive laws on all of us. Think Butters - one drunk owner, one large snake, one bad incident, one more community drafting even stupider snake keeping laws that every one of us has to live with.

This person was asking for responsible, common sense information to help him work with this snake. Let's try to provide that. :)

I came home at around midnight tonight to find my shy girl checking her tub-for the first time. I have not seen more than her head of out her hide since I brought her home. So I am thinking that these are lots of positive signs.

You guys are really being a great support. It's not that much that I am afraid of being bitten (not thrilled about the idea, but when working with snakes, it's a great possibility), but I'd rather do all I can to avoid stressing the snake (& myself).

So I'll keep posting the progress so you all know that your advice is helping me tons.

PS I don't drink alcohol, so no worries...lol.

lol.sorry,it was really just a joke though i see no problem in having a drink or two befor handling them.

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Originally Posted by Butters420

lol.sorry,it was really just a joke though i see no problem in having a drink or two befor handling them.

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.......... I'm pretty sure snakes don't like the smell of alcohol just like cats? Thats a really stupid thing to do you could hurt yourself or the snake.

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Originally Posted by Butters420

lol.sorry,it was really just a joke though i see no problem in having a drink or two befor handling them.

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Butters, there's usually quite a lot of difference between "having a drink or two" and "obtain a buzzed state" (well at least for some people, not so much for me but then I'm not really good at drinking LOL).

What you aren't getting here I think is that this person clearly states they are new to handling BP's. Many of our membership have little general snake handling experience and look to this type of thread to gather information to help them learn. Telling them to do something that common sense should tell you has the potential for problems just isn't right, even if you personally think it's funny.

they have 9 other bp's! if they are new to handling id be surprised

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Originally Posted by Chuck1289

.......... I'm pretty sure snakes don't like the smell of alcohol just like cats? Thats a really stupid thing to do you could hurt yourself or the snake.

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dude,chuckster.where did you come up with this?

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Originally Posted by Butters420

they have 9 other bp's! if they are new to handling id be surprised

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What part of this did you miss?

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Many of our membership have little general snake handling experience and look to this type of thread to gather information to help them learn.

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Your post was still inappropriate.

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Originally Posted by Butters420

they have 9 other bp's! if they are new to handling id be surprised

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If they weren't new to this situation with this snake I doubt they would have asked for help. :)

Your point though that this particular OP has 9 snakes is taken. I seem to have confused the OP with other even newer members that are participating in this thread and have asked previous handling/husbandry questions. Thank you for clarifying that for me.

However, my point stands....advising anyone seeking advice here to handle while under the influence doesn't seem very reasonable.

i understand.the way i say things comes out terribly wrong most of the time.i think not befor i speak.im sorry!

It's cool :)