First time handling

So, my snake has had two good feedings and I'll be feeding again within a few days. I haven't handled my BP yet. I was waiting until I had 3 good feedings under my belt with him before I tried handling.

What is the best way to "introduce" myself to my snake? He spends most of his time in his hides from what I see. Should I take the hide out and pick him up or wait until he is out and snooping about in his tank? I feel like picking him up while he's hiding isn't a good idea, but I'm not sure.

I don't want to get bitten, but I'm more worried about stressing out the snake and freaking him out. I want to get him used to being handled.

just see if the snake is amenable to being picked up, most of them are. Some take a little while to calm down a bit after being picked up at first. It's not too hard to see if the snake is stressed and really wants to go back in its home.

Move the hide and touch him with something (hook, hanger, papertowel roll) to make sure he is awake and alert. Most people get bit by just reaching in on an asleep snake. As long as he is good and alert before you pick him up he should be ok. And remember, no sudden movements right in front of his face.

Yesterday his head was poking out of his hide and I put my arm in his tank and just held it still for a minute or so. It looked like he was trying to figure it out. I started moving my fingers then realized he probably thought it was prey. :P I was just trying to get him used to my hand.

I can only say what I do. If he's in his hide I'll just move the hide and pick him up where he can see where my hands are. My Pastel is a big baby and pretty easy to handle putting him back is the hard part. Don't be afraid of the snake although they can draw blood if you do get bit atleast their not Hots. Reach in there pick him up gentley and handle him regularly. I don't handle much around shedding time or a day or 2 after feeding. I also wash my hands before and after.

Good on ya' to wait for a couple of feedings, most don't have the patience...

Like others I make sure the snakes are awake, by enclosure openings, a light tap on the table or glass etc. When picking up I pick up from the middle/front of the body. Some are snippy or shy up if touch near the tail end, or near the head.

I would not dangle anything in front of the snake in the way of fingers or hand,

I have always been lucky to have easy going snakes and our current BP comes to the top of the opening shortly after opening, even from the hide. Hold my hand out, and a couple of wraps and it is bonding time.

PS - Make sure to wash your hands before to remove any food type smells...

I got my first hatchling BP a week ago then 2 days after her first feeding I tried to handled her. It was fine, I just moved her hide and picked her up. she didn't even roll into a ball. maybe it also depends on the snake though

All snakes are different. If he is young a bite will not hurt much, I have had mean snakes clam down and calm snakes strike. Over time you will learn to read your snake, but you never know. Slow movements, support the body, and if he hisses hold him a while longer. If he bites, do not jerk away. Mist him, run him under cold water, or find a safe way to get him to release. Give it a week or two and try again. At least he is eating for you.

Before I pick my little guy up, I wash my hands then use the same type of hand sanitizer every time so the smell is consistant. The I take the top off which ever hide he's in, and rub his sie a little bit to let him know I'm there. Then I slide my hand under him and pick him up. He rarely balls up, and never tries to nip me. Once he warms up in my hand, he's off to the races.

If the snake is in the hide I tap on the hide once or twice to let him know something is going to happen. I pick up the hide and move it and then pick up the snake. For the most part, they are very docile animals :)

It's my boas I have to read.... :P

They really are an easy snake to handle... but the not waggling fingers is a good idea. :)

Be consistent. I always scoop from the side and do not come in from the face.

If he is attending to what you're doing, does not mean he is going to bite, just means he is being a good snake and keeping up on what is happening.

I do both, pick them up while they are out slumming around, as well as lift the hide. Just don't make silly errors, like lifting the hide by the door way... fingers in the door... pretty tempting stuff to nip at. :)

Bruce

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Originally Posted by Bruce Whitehead

They really are an easy snake to handle... but the not waggling fingers is a good idea. :)

Be consistent. I always scoop from the side and do not come in from the face.

If he is attending to what you're doing, does not mean he is going to bite, just means he is being a good snake and keeping up on what is happening.

I do both, pick them up while they are out slumming around, as well as lift the hide. Just don't make silly errors, like lifting the hide by the door way... fingers in the door... pretty tempting stuff to nip at. :)

Bruce

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im guilty of the doorway lift.if i get bit i do,oh well.i kinda want it to happen sooner or later.

I'm a doorway lifter as well..the first few times I did it I was like "Ehh..I'm not sure this is a good idea", but did it anyways. Now I don't think twice about it, which means I'll prolly get nipped in the somewhat near future

Alright well I'm going to give him a third feeding today and then in a few days I'll give it a go with handling for the first time. Thanks for all the input everyone!

I'm new to snakes too... one thing I learned that works for me is to lift the hide and if her head sticks out like she's being super-alert, I would put my palm flat over her, which makes her duck her head, and then I would use the same palm on a smooth movement to go on the thick part of her coil (she's usually coiled up when she's in the hide) and lift slowly. Lately, I've been using both hands to lift as she's starting to get too big for me to lift the entire coil single-handedly. The open-palm thing makes your hand look big to the snake so she won't easily mistake it as a rat or something.
Needless to say, I haven't tried lifting her when she's out and about and not coiled up. But, I've watched my husband lift her off her log plenty of times (she likes to climb at night - I guess trying to check if we left her some escape routes) and what he does is the same flat-palm routine over the top of her neck (not too close to the head) and another hand about 2/3 down her body and then just fold his fingers gently around the body and when he gets a firm grip, then lift. At which point he would guide her body into a coil so she sits firmly over his hands.
Then, of course, after a little while she would start to do laps... she would uncoil and crawl out of our hands. So, we would just let her crawl over one hand then when she gets almost half her body through the hand, then we would move the other hand under her neck and let her crawl through that hand, and on and on until she settles down again. Almost like pulling rope, I guess, but without the pressure. We don't try to restrict her. She's quite strong for a 3-foot long snake so we would have to apply pressure to restrict her and we just don't feel it is necessary.
I'm really new to this, but hopefully this helps! And I'm sure if I'm doing something wrong, somebody would be along shortly for a correction.