Obnoxious newbie questions.

[Kodieh]

I'll tell you what, though. I still am a little tense with Houdini at times, just because he'll S his neck and being pointed right at me. But, if you havent been struck at yet then there's not much to worry about.

Heck, watch the couple episodes of Snakebytes where they talk about picking up a grumpy snake. Well, I really recommend watching Snakebytes, anyway, but that's just cause its a fun web show!


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[SRMD]

Heck, watch the couple episodes of Snakebytes where they talk about picking up a grumpy snake. Well, I really recommend watching Snakebytes, anyway, but that's just cause its a fun web show!

Ye you should watch snakebytes tv lol and watch how they get bit, by green tree pythons which have huge and or loads of teeth lmao, quite educational to watch also

[KMG]

Ye you should watch snakebytes tv lol and watch how they get bit, by green tree pythons which have huge and or loads of teeth lmao, quite educational to watch also

While GTP do have larger teeth than a ball they are not huge. The Emerald Tree Boa however has a nice set of grabbers, most people get these two confused.

When my GTP bites me I will usually have 6 little red spots and 4 will bleed, if she got me good. It still is not a bad bite. The teeth are like little needles and almost everytime I get bit I dont realize it til it has already let go. The bottom jaw of the GTP is something else, it reminds me of the jaw Predator has in the movie.

I love my GTP and cant wait to have more. They get a bad rep but with work are great snakes.

[SRMD]

While GTP do have larger teeth than a ball they are not huge. The Emerald Tree Boa however has a nice set of grabbers, most people get these two confused.

When my GTP bites me I will usually have 6 little red spots and 4 will bleed, if she got me good. It still is not a bad bite. The teeth are like little needles and almost everytime I get bit I dont realize it til it has already let go. The bottom jaw of the GTP is something else, it reminds me of the jaw Predator has in the movie.

I love my GTP and cant wait to have more. They get a bad rep but with work are great snakes.

Emerald tree boa, GTP i get confused lmao.

[doganddisc]

Ok, one at a time, here we go. I see you have a few questions and will try my best to answer them fully.

Thank you! Thank you so much for your help!!

First allow the snake to settle in, leave it alone for at least 5 days to settle down and relax in its new home during this time do not try to feed. Handle it as little as possible during this time.

This was going to be another question. I took him out to weigh him today and that was it. He wasn't happy with me at first but got very curious when it came time to put him on the scale.

I'm kinda scratching my head about why you would buy an animal you are afraid of.

I'm beginning to wonder if "fear" was the right word to use. I am VERY nervous picking him up out of the cage, but once I'm holding him I'm fine. I have always wanted a snake and my only experience handling snakes is zoo club when I was 5 and when I worked at Petco a few years back. I was a grooming assistant but would occasionally go and hold the snakes in the morning when the store wasn't open yet. I usually took the ball pythons out but one time decided to try for the red tail boa. As soon as I opened his cage and put my hand in, he struck. I knew you weren't supposed to give in to that so I managed to get him out with a snake hook, at which point he struck at my face. I stopped handling the snakes after that :/

My interest in snakes hasn't died out though and this past weekend I had to handle my client's (I'm a pet sitter by trade) very bitey cornsnake. I was able to get her out and clean her cage without any problem. I decided that since handling snakes is part of my profession, I had an excuse to go ahead and get one of my own.

I looked at hundreds of snakes at the show but eventually had to decide between a ball python from Outback Reptiles and a hognose from BHB. (Obviously I went with the bp but was VERY tempted by the hognose- the show comes back in September though ).

Also I suggest keeping notes for your new pet. Keep track of feeding, cleanings, water changes, sheds, etc. I track everything I do or they do. I will even track when I placed new items in the cage. I know thats alittle much but aleast keep track of feeding, cleanings, and sheds if nothing else so if a problem comes up you will have the information for the vet.

I do this for the mice- great idea! Thank you!

Thank you for answering all of my questions!!

I understand the fear of picking up a snake. Confidence takes a little time to build but once you realize the bites are the least scary thing on the planet, you will be just fine!

I don't like to be surprised so I think what I'm more afraid of is the "strike" than the actual bite. But you're right- I'm sure once I get used to it happening, it won't be a big deal.

This will usually make the snake "ball up" and is much easier to grab.

Here's a question- my boy does ball up when I go to grab him. Is he still capable of biting as quickly in this position or does balling up prevent him from having as fast of a reaction? (Am I in the clear if he has balled up?)

Thank you!!

Heck, watch the couple episodes of Snakebytes where they talk about picking up a grumpy snake. Well, I really recommend watching Snakebytes, anyway, but that's just cause its a fun web show!

Haha- Last week when I was trying to figure out how to pick up my client's snake so I could clean her cage, I checked YouTube for instructional videos. Everything I found was Snakebytes and I spent two consecutive nights watching half of their videos. Come the reptile show yesterday, I'm shopping around and run straight into the same people I've seen in those videos. It took me a minute to register *why* I recognized them though.

[Kaorte]

I don't like to be surprised so I think what I'm more afraid of is the "strike" than the actual bite. But you're right- I'm sure once I get used to it happening, it won't be a big deal.


Here's a question- my boy does ball up when I go to grab him. Is he still capable of biting as quickly in this position or does balling up prevent him from having as fast of a reaction? (Am I in the clear if he has balled up?)

Thank you!!

If they are properly balled (head in the coils) then there really is no way for them to bite. But if the snake just retreats back to an S shape, they still could bite. I usually tap them on the head and then pick them up right away. I don't give them the chance to strike. I've only been bitten once and it was because I was removing an uneaten rat from the enclosure. It was much more surprising than painful. Actually, there was no pain that I can recall. Just surprising. But after feeding 5+ snakes for the last few years, I am used to the sudden strike. You will get used to it and it won't be so scary

[prettyballsy]

Heck, watch the couple episodes of Snakebytes where they talk about picking up a grumpy snake. Well, I really recommend watching Snakebytes, anyway, but that's just cause its a fun web show!


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Yes! This! I love the the Bite-Off episode. Chewie is ridiculous lol.