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Thread: Bitey Baby

  1. #11
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    Re: Bitey Baby

    Thanks so much! That was a very encouraging post! I like this forum already!
    I’ll try some of those techniques soon. I really hope my experience matches yours, that would be so lovely!

    Even though a few hours ago I said I wouldn’t feed him he was clearly on the prowl when I got home.
    so just out of curiosity a defrosted a rat near him and he was super engaged. I decided to feed him... there was no immediate strike so I left him alone, 15 minutes later it was gone I know it’s not the done thing to feed for a week but he just looked... keen?

    The extra cool thing is that he’s only eaten live pinky mice at the breeders so far... so no problem at all to convert him to f/t rats. I take that as a good sign!

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    Bogertophis (12-20-2018)

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    Re: Bitey Baby

    Quote Originally Posted by Paddy View Post
    Thanks so much! That was a very encouraging post! I like this forum already!
    I’ll try some of those techniques soon. I really hope my experience matches yours, that would be so lovely!

    Even though a few hours ago I said I wouldn’t feed him he was clearly on the prowl when I got home.
    so just out of curiosity a defrosted a rat near him and he was super engaged. I decided to feed him... there was no immediate strike so I left him alone, 15 minutes later it was gone I know it’s not the done thing to feed for a week but he just looked... keen?

    The extra cool thing is that he’s only eaten live pinky mice at the breeders so far... so no problem at all to convert him to f/t rats. I take that as a good sign!
    Thats a very good sign !!

    And if your husbandry is right and the baby is hungry, nothing wrong to feed it if its willing to eat
    Zina

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    Bogertophis (01-29-2019)

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    Progress report:

    Mr Bitey (hopefully not his final name) has now had two meals. No problem eating f/t rats it seems. must Be true that slightly aggro hatchlings are good feeders.

    I still havn’t picked him, but I can have touched his back a little. He looked a little defensive but didn’t try to tag me... maybe he would have done if I had done it for more than a few seconds!

    I guess I’ll leave him alone for another week.

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    Bogertophis (12-20-2018),zina10 (12-20-2018)

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    You're doing great! Every snake is a little different, & all our interactions with them are a "conversation" in a way: he still thinks it's creepy being touched (LOL)
    but he's eating & learning that you won't hurt him. Keep up the good work...

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    zina10 (12-21-2018)

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    Re: Bitey Baby

    My method with dealing with a bitey hatchling is to go in slowly and touch their heads. If they go and tag me I make sure I don't recoil (I go in expecting to get tagged) and be as gentle as possible. I leave them alone and only handle them once a week or so. A healthy well fed well cared for baby tends to stops being aggressive and gets as chill as most adults around 300 grams or so. At least that has been my experience, I do have a stubborn adult female that hisses more than a bullsnake but has not tried to tag me in awhile.

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    zina10 (12-21-2018)

  11. #16
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    Thanks for the advice!
    this is the snake in question for those interested... the first and last time I held him 😂



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    Bogertophis (01-29-2019),cincy (01-30-2019),zina10 (12-21-2018)

  13. #17
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    Gorgeous !!!

    If he eats well now, do short handling, if just pick him up and put him back once he is calm.

    Remember to come from above and touch him with light pressure on his head and body (gentle) and then just swoop him up.
    Cup him again if he goes back to S-curve, after that he should be fine.

    Deliberate but calm movements, not nervous stabby unsure movements.

    He will be just fine and so will you
    Zina

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    "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
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    Paddy (01-29-2019)

  15. #18
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    An update to give courage to those in similar situations!

    To begin with I just got him used to my hands in the enclosure, and occasionally touched his back whilst keeping his attention on my other hand.
    He’d still get defensive and actually has started to hiss... definitely a nervous dude.

    He also tried to tag me through the box, but I have persisted.

    Today I actually picked him up, briefly! he was tense but started to relax a little, slow tongue flicking. When I put him down he went back into a defensive pose but this was definitely an improvement.

    I only hehd him an inch or two above the ground still in his enclosure in case he freaked out; he’s still a bit twitchy.

    hopefully in a while I’ll be able to take him out and try the cupping trick if required...

    but definite progress! Im determined to get this guy feeling safe.
    Last edited by Paddy; 01-23-2019 at 04:35 PM.

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    Bogertophis (01-29-2019)

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    Another update.
    Almost a complete personality change overnight.
    Today no hissing, no tagging attempt and pretty much no defensive posturing... I was able to pick him up and he was just in explore mode, not freaked out at all. It’s like a new snake... so strange that it happened so suddenly...
    hopefully this new behavior is here to stay!

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    Bogertophis (01-29-2019)

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    Re: Bitey Baby

    Quote Originally Posted by Paddy View Post
    Another update.
    Almost a complete personality change overnight.
    Today no hissing, no tagging attempt and pretty much no defensive posturing... I was able to pick him up and he was just in explore mode, not freaked out at all. It’s like a new snake... so strange that it happened so suddenly...
    hopefully this new behavior is here to stay!
    Even if he regresses now & then, it shows he is learning (as snakes do) that he is "home" and safe with you.

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    Paddy (01-29-2019)

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