Neglected BP wants to eat me!

[Lolo76]

It's actually not a bad suggestion. I have used a roll of paper towels if cleaning to lightly touch them on the head, or a water bottle to lightly touch the top of their heads.

It really does seem to snap them out of it.

Yup, it sure does! When I first got my het albino, Orlando, he was a little terror... he'd literally strike at the tub whenever I walked too close, and would jerk his body back if I tried to hold him. I used either a simple piece of paper or the lid of his tub, just to snap him out of it, and handled him for 5-10 minutes a day. He's still a little jumpy compared to my other snakes, but 110% better than that first month - hasn't snapped or struck at me since. So it's all about patience with these guys, and they usually calm down once they realize you're not trying to eat them.

[Lolo76]

P.S. As for the feeding response, I feed all 17 of my snakes in their enclosures and haven't had a problem... I've been tagged three times altogether, two of which were shedding crankiness (other was a nervous hatchling). I can literally put the mouse next to them with bare hands, and nobody will snap at me.

[angllady2]

I know that while a lot of information out there says to feed in a seperate enclosure to avoid "feeding response".

I can tell you after trying it with both ways with multiple snakes, it is a lot easier to feed in their tub/tank.

My big female, even though she was handled regularly when it was not feeding day, became very hard to handle and aggressive when we moved her for feeding in a separate enclosure. She unfortunately never outgrew that aggression even when we stopped moving her.

With my eight new babies, I feed them all in their tubs, and not one of them has become even the slightest bit aggressive. I handle them twice a week around feeding day, and each and every one is just a little doll.

Does that mean people can't or shouldn't move for feeding ? No. But, it is easier for myself and my snakes, so guess what I'll go with easier every time.

My thinking is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.


Gale

[Putrid186]

Thanks all for your help. The shock factor of gently tapping on the head actually works great as two of you had said it just snaps him out of feeding mode and doesn't seem to cause an major stress.

I did a couple of tests where I pulled him out and handled for about 10 minutes to let him relax. I placed him back in the cage and kept my hands in the cage for a few moments, sometimes taking them out and placing back in near him. There was no response. I closed the lid, walked away for about 2 minutes, came back and opened the lid and he went nuts again So yeah, he definitely has associated the door opening with food time. Just will take a little while to tame I guess! Cheers!

[A.VinczeBPs]

Good luck!

[BuckeyeBalls]

Thanks all for your help. The shock factor of gently tapping on the head actually works great as two of you had said it just snaps him out of feeding mode and doesn't seem to cause an major stress.

lol see told u it would work When we first got ours we would open the tub and he would stick his head out like he was ready to eat. Being as my son is still a little young he was afraid to just stick his hand in there. So Kaorte told me to just touch the head lightly and it worked (Hope you dont mind me giving u credit for the ideas i pass off )