This is my Bredli. There are many like it...

[rock]

what a cool lookin little fella! i think he'll be your new best friend

Thank you! I am definitely working on it.

[Prognathodon]

My Bredli is *very* head-shy, if I tried to get her to back off with my hand over her head I'd get bit for sure. I also found out by getting tagged that it didn't work on my JCP, and he's not crazy head-shy. So yeah, you do have to get used to the not-BP things. But you'll get it; go in from whatever direction he's not looking (distracting with hook or movement with your other hand or something will help), and scoop him up with confidence - even if you have to fake the confidence part.

Once he's a big muscular seven-footer who wants to go over *there* right *now*, like my girl, you'll wonder how baby snake was ever intimidating!


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[rock]

My Bredli is *very* head-shy, if I tried to get her to back off with my hand over her head I'd get bit for sure. I also found out by getting tagged that it didn't work on my JCP, and he's not crazy head-shy. So yeah, you do have to get used to the not-BP things. But you'll get it; go in from whatever direction he's not looking (distracting with hook or movement with your other hand or something will help), and scoop him up with confidence - even if you have to fake the confidence part.

Once he's a big muscular seven-footer who wants to go over *there* right *now*, like my girl, you'll wonder how baby snake was ever intimidating!


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Good to know about the head. I've generally tried to stay away from it but it's difficult when he turns back around. I will definitely have to fake it before I make it here.

I've watched the videos and what you describe is exactly what I have seen done and I feel if I just bring him out from his enclosure it will all be okay...
But, he's fast. Did I mention that? Fassssssssst. lol

7 footer, eh? Maybe 8? From what I've read I think this will be the year he jumps 3 feet in length. Now is the time alright!

[EL-Ziggy]

My Bredli is pretty placid now but he was a little flighty and snappy in the beginning too Rock. Don't sweat it. He should mellow out after a few more meals and time to settle in. You've already gotten some pretty good advice. I'll just reiterate that confident handling, hook training, and patience are the keys to success. If the confidence is a little shaky, like mine was after my Olive tagged me , go with the gloved hand approach. This way you know he can't hurt you even if he did tag you and if he does he'll soon realize it's pointless. After he calms down take the glove(s) off and free handle him for a bit. Carpets are active and curious when you handle them but you'll get the hang of it soon. Keep those pics coming brother! Your guy looks awesome!

[rock]

Thanks, Zig. You are exactly right. I hate to be the one to ruin him with my hesitations while handling. Gloves, long sleeves and hook next because he should get to know that I am not going to hurt him.

Side note, he has been in his hide a good amount of time. Comes out at night and sometimes during the day I think but I'm obviously gone most of it. Wondering if a RHP would help him want to bask more or if I should cover 3 sides of his opaque sterilite. His warm and cool surface temps seem to be in order although I've noticed that the UTH is not exactly flush to the underside of the tub with the tinfoil in between and foil tape on the outside securing it.

Overall, just a week, I know. On Thursday, I will feed him a mouse before moving to a rat for the 3rd feeding. Not sure if I will bother him for a weight check this week. He is definitely over 2 feet in length. Maybe around over/under 30".

And, yes, I love his natural coloring! I'll be interested to see what variation he will have from head to tail but in person he is vibrant and crisp in his patterns. I think it's safe to say the het for stonewash will remain non-visual.

Olive tag? Yeah, I'm sure that will get your attention!

[zina10]

if you want to weigh him without the added stress of having to set him down into another tub on the scale, and having to pick him up again, weigh him INSIDE of his tub. Weigh the whole thing right before you are going to handle him.

Then, when you have him out to handle him, have someone weight the tub with everything in it but him.

The difference is the weight of the snake

[rock]

Thank you, Zina. I might try it but I think the whole set up outweighs the only scale I have at the moment. Good idea, though. I remember doing the same thing at Publix when the kids were babies!

[rock]

Dirty gloves, long sleeve shirt. Somewhat successful. Not a ball. I still love him.

[zina10]

That's the spirit

Soooo ?? Did he tag? Or just put on a show

no matter what happens, at least you can always say "but..he is beautiful!!!"

- - - Updated - - -

aww...and he looks so sweet and innocent

[rock]

That's the spirit

Soooo ?? Did he tag? Or just put on a show

no matter what happens, at least you can always say "but..he is beautiful!!!"

- - - Updated - - -

aww...and he looks so sweet and innocent

He didn't tag me at all. He is very sweet. Just curious. He just wants to crawl around and smell my arm/shirt, etc... He did move his head back and get "shy" or "on alert" a few times because I am still just a terrible handler.

Because he doesn't slow down completely and ball up like a ball python I act like he's a great white shark ready to swallow me. Terrible thought, I know, because he truly seems non-aggressive and non-threatening. Just a baby python trying to be cautious.

I just don't know what to do when he starts heading up my arm towards me. Seems like he wants to come right up towards me, under my armpit or over my shoulder and when I pull him back he will swing around or back up in an S and then I make him nervous because I'm nervous. He waits a few seconds and then proceeds to wrap around me again.

I spent a few minutes with him and then put him back. Once he was back in the tub he moved around quickly and wanted to come back out so I guess I stressed him a little at that point by trying to keep him in and closing the top. A minute afterwards he was laying still on the floor so I put his hide back in, which he crawled into, and I put his branch back in.

I checked on him an hour later after dark and he was relaxed on top of his branch so I believe it was an overall successful outing as he wasn't too traumatized.

I will likely let him be tomorrow and just go into the room in the morning and evening to check on everyone and then I will feed him on Thursday and let him relax and digest until the weekend.

Fingers crossed, I still have a chance to be an okay papa.