Afraid of the hook!?

[BPGirl]

OK so I got my male sumatran in August. When I bought him I knew he was really aggressive, but I got him anyway. They told us that he was hook trained, so after I let him settle in, for the first couple months I took him out with the hook. And he actually got MORE aggressive. I couldnt get near him when I had him out which caused even more problems. Surprisingly I never got bit even though I was struck at about 5 times a day. Finally one day I decided that if I was going to get bit I better stop bein a coward about it, so I took him out with just some leather gloves on, instead of even trying to mess with the hook. He did wonderfully! After a few minutes he relaxed and started exploring. So if I take him out withought the hook he does great, when its only just me around. Hes doesnt mind if I accidentally put my hand in front of his face but as soon as someoene else comes in the room he flips and tries to bite ME. But its usually a lazy warning bite. And the other thing is he gets really aggressive when I put him back into his cage after holding him. Its almost like hes aggressive about his territory, but I didnt think snakes did that. He just seems really unpredictable. Are most bloods like this or do I just have a crazy evil genius on my hands?

[Krazy99CL]

Ive had mines for some time now. She still hisses and looks like she going to bite but never does. I wear different cologne and she still doesnt care. just give him some time.

[Krazy99CL]

make sure you dont reach in cage while food is present or grab him near the head.

Best thing I could recommend is spend a little more time with him.

[littleindiangirl]

Hmm... very unique!

[Kara]

Are you using the hook to pick him up completely?

[BPGirl]

make sure you dont reach in cage while food is present or grab him near the head.

Best thing I could recommend is spend a little more time with him.

Well ya, hes really mean about food as most snakes are so I never even hold him on feeding day.

Are you using the hook to pick him up completely?

Well I was, and that was when he was really aggressive. Now I take him out of his cage with my hands and he does fine. I tried using the hook again the other day and he flipped and tried to eat my face off. Its like as soon as the hook touches him he turns on to defensive mode.

[Kara]

Approximately how big is he?

[2kdime]

I wonder if he's big enough and the hook is causing him pain everytime its used. Or was used.

And he's associating the big silver rod with pain.

[BPGirl]

exactly 1400 grams. About as big around as most of our adult female BPs.

[Shelby]

Yeah I wouldn't pick up a blood with a hook.. they're so heavy bodied you could injure them fairly easily. They need support.

If he's being aggressive I'd recommend using gloves instead. I've got some elbow length gloves for some of my less friendly scalekids. lol