Handling Protocol

[ckuhn003]

This may sound silly but I could use some handling tips on my young BCI. I’ve had him for almost a year (currently weighs around 350-400grams). I try to handle him at least once a week but when I do, I always find a time when he’s in his hide to grab him. Whether it’s a confidence thing or what, I usually pass on trying to get him out when he’s out of his hide. I guess my fear is that I’ll struggle trying to pry him away from a branch and he’ll defensively strike at me. For the record, he’s only ever struck once when I first got him and once or twice at night time against the glass when walking close to his enclosure. He’s very food driven! Otherwise he’s been super docile when I have him out.

Am I making a mistake by only choosing to take him out when he’s in his hide??

Here’s some pictures of the little guy.










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[Alter-Echo]

Yours is about the size of my guyana bcc. With her, I started by using either a snake hook or leather glove to get her out of the enclosure, and once out I held her with bare hands. After I realized that she shows no real feeding or defensive reaction, I started just reaching in and scooping her up from behind and she always comes willingly.

With a truly food agressive snake like my Aussie water python, I always use a glove to get her out, and take it off once she simmers down in my arms.

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[Bogertophis]

Actually, I'm sorta the opposite...I hate to forcibly remove a snake from their "safe place" (hide) unless I really have to. The only boa (BCI) I've kept was
pretty amenable to being picked up, except every once in a while when I approached her (& not when she was in shed) she just didn't want to be bothered &
she'd hiss up a storm at me. But all I ever did was gently stroke her coils (not in her face!) until she gradually "remembered" that yes, she knew me & knew I
was "safe"...when she quit being hissy, I gently worked my hands underneath her & picked her up out of her cage. Never once got a bite from her, not even one,
and she originally was given to me (at one year old) because she blew thru a number of previous owners by biting vigorously, lol. With patience I showed her she
had nothing to fear. Yours doesn't sound like he's at all eager to bite, & what I find is that snakes do NOT identify us visually...they rely on other cues (scent & our
touch) to recognize us...so if you don't rush them, they accept being picked up quite well. In fact, mine actually hated to go back in her cage once she was out of
her cage with me for a while...all because she learned to feel safe with me. That's really what you want to convey...safety...when you do that, your snake becomes
"putty" in your hands.

[ckuhn003]

Yours is about the size of my guyana bcc. With her, I started by using either a snake hook or leather glove to get her out of the enclosure, and once out I held her with bare hands. After I realized that she shows no real feeding or defensive reaction, I started just reaching in and scooping her up from behind and she always comes willingly.

With a truly food agressive snake like my Aussie water python, I always use a glove to get her out, and take it off once she simmers down in my arms.

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I use a snake hook each time I enter the enclosure to just tap and let him know that it's not feeding time. I've never used the hook to get him out, only to gently rub his side, etc... He's always been great when I get him out from under the hide but I'm always hesitant when he's already out and perched on a log.

[EL-Ziggy]

Your boa looks great CK! As long as I tap them with a hook my boas are really easy to get out of their enclosures . They're usually pretty mellow as long as there's no food around.

[CloudtheBoa]

I've seen people who only take their snakes out when they're out and about, but imo that can be pretty risky if you're trying to avoid bites. When they're out and about, they're more likely to be food responsive and/or defensive. I usually take my boas out when they're in their hides, or if they're sleeping out in the open, but I don't risk taking them out when they're active.


I didn't used to do this when I only had one or two snakes, as they were very docile and not food responsive, but as I've owned more and more, I've come to feel that giving them their space is optimal. Especially now that I've got my retic, it's best practice for me to be cautious at all times so as not to slip up. lol Retics can take foreeever to snap out of feeding mode some days.

[AbsoluteApril]

Am I making a mistake by only choosing to take him out when he’s in his hide??

no, not at all.
He is looking wonderful btw!

As others, I usually take mine out when they are resting after a nice hook touch to make sure they wake up and know it's not food time.

[dakski]

I do both. Either way, hook taps galore.

Neither Behira or Feliz mind as long as I tap first.

When Behira and Feliz are cruising and looking for food, lots and lots of taps and until their body language relaxes and shows me they are ready for handling.

I never pick them up with the hook. I also use the handle to tap, not the hook part.

[ckuhn003]

Great advice everyone! I'll continue with what I'm doing (i.e. tap training and getting him out when he's in his hide). I have my lights on a timer so when they go off at 8pm, he's out and about looking for his next meal. Lately, he'll be out a couple hours earlier which makes it hard for a holding session. Basically, I need to get in their earlier