Handling for the first time

[tonyaltn]

I agree on waiting until he has eaten for you, then wait 48 hours before handling. I always let him know I am coming into his tank, usualy by the noise I make taking the big metal screen off the 75 gallon tank, lol. After I lift his hide he is a little jumpy so I stroke his back a little bit and he calms down really fast, then I reach in and pick him right up in the middle of his body, once out if he dont wrap around my wrist right away I use my other hand to get him started so that way I have a free hand if I need it, and my free hand I use to control where he goes by letting his head go onto my hand then slowly moving him...because of how strong they are, if he gets started wrapping his head around something in reach you will have fun getting him off, lol.
I let him get to close to my railing once and it took about 10 minutes to get him out, for their size they sure are tough!
He never wants to go back in either, I have to let him cruise around the top of his tank for a bit, then he climbs in when he is ready, gets a drink and heads to his hide.

Dont be jumpy and expect him to coil his head back like he going to strike you, even he dont...expect it, it dont mean he will strike. Mine does it all the time and I expect it so Im not worried about it. You will learn all of his tricks, the way he moves and stuff and will become second nature to ya.

I have yet to have him curl into a ball though, he has never done that anytime I have ever held him..he did for the guy I bought him from, but never me.