My hiding baby burmese

[CALM Pythons]

flash: i just finished a good session holding him and while i was writing my last message a minute ago he has now burried himself back in the coco bark bedding. i did leave the hide out of the aquarium. i don't think what he is doing is good. i've had him for five weeks now. i don't take a newspaper so i can't use that instead to keep him from hiding.

For a man that has owned snakes since the 70’s you should know what your seeing is normal behavior. Its a snake not a domesticated pet. Almost every Python specie will hide if provided the opportunity. I do use hides now, i didn’t in the 90’s when my first Burms were born. I have had no ill effects using hides and I didnt have ill effects without them. Burms are defensive about their enclosures period at a young age. You Must Tap Train. I even use a hook on a adult. If you don’t, you will someday be panicking with a 13 foot Python latched onto you. Accidents happen, do all you can to take steps to prevent that. I always use a Hook and pay close attention to their body language. I have a 8 month old Burm that would tag me if I did not read what he likes, doesn’t like or use the hook to manipulate him while I take him out of his enclosure. Turning him and pivoting so that he cannot strike at me while I take him out. Then you sit calmly with him in your lap. Do not let him take off, keep holding onto him so he gets use to that, let him explore but hold the last 3/4 like a leash. He will then start to use you as his safe place as he reaches out to smell. Only take him out for 10-15 min. Longer might be to much for him at this point Handle him everyday if even for 5 min.
As far as you talking about not knowing if he is shedding, you should know by the signs all snakes show. He is no different. Are his eyes cloudy? Skin wrinkled? Color pattern dull?
It sounds to me like you have had him 5 weeks without handling sessions.
Start today, 10 min each day. Then next week 15-20 min every other day. You need to get on the road to building trust and you wont get there by watching him and wondering why he is hiding in Substrate like he would in the wild. In the wild he would be Prey at this point. Use gloves at first if you need to but start handling After 10 days all my snakes are use to me somewhat. Keep us updated.


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