Obnoxious newbie questions.

[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

[KMG]

Good choice going with the BP. Hognose love to hiss, puff up, and strike. They strike with a closed mouth but I dont think that would matter if your uneasy around snakes in the first place. Mine does this no matter what when she is in the tank. She puts on a nice show. They are characters.

[357]

I learned a few lessons that seem to make sense on snakes biting.

1) If you smell like food they may bite you! (duh)

2) Snakes don't like when you touch their heads too often, avoid it.

3) Contrary to a post on here earlier, holding the snake closer to his head will stop him from striking. A snake uses its neck to strike so if you hold him closer to his neck he can't coil-up like a spring and strike you.

4) Snakes make an S before striking, if you see that just touch his backside (mine usually will ball up or straighten out and move).

5) Kind of like 4, don't surprise your snake. No fast movements, just keep calm and move normal. Hesitation will probably get you bit as well, every other animal knows fear and it is most often what triggers animal attacks of all kinds. In the animal world things only get scared before they get eaten or challenged, don't give him a reason to do either.


Honestly, my wife had the idea to get our BP, she'd had one before. I was TERRIFIED the first time I held him. Now I put him on my neck with no issues (clearly in my avatar). I've had some friends who were scared of snakes come over and they too have found that it isn't that bad. After a while of having our BP I've noticed they really DO NOT want to bite. There is a reason they are called ball-pythons, they ball up when scared.

[Poseidon]

3) Contrary to a post on here earlier, holding the snake closer to his head will stop him from striking. A snake uses its neck to strike so if you hold him closer to his neck he can't coil-up like a spring and strike you.

I wouldn't restrain him.


It's okay that you are nervous.
I would use one glove on your dominant hand. Once you have the snake out out you can hold it in both hands. If you're comfortable at that point, you can take the glove off but don't panic if you aren't at that point yet. I used a gardening glove the first time. I am sure in five years when I have owned 15 snakes that it'll be easier to pull out the "Don't own an animal you are scared of" card.

Don't own an animal you are afraid of.

Looking at you.
I was wondering, Rob, in what circumstances you held your first snake? Like did you have to pick it up? Were you nervous? And how long from that point did you own a snake?

[Rob]

I was wondering, Rob, in what circumstances you held your first snake? Like did you have to pick it up? Were you nervous? And how long from that point did you own a snake?

I see what your trying to do here lol. Sorry to disappoint you, I was very young maybe 8 or so I would catch garter snakes in my back yard. I never had a fear of snakes, guess it wasnt in me. I still stand behind what I said. Was it a little too harsh, yes that's not my normal approuch. But I don't think people should own an animal they fear. If you want a snake test the waters handle one at the pet store or a friends and prove to yourself that you can become comfortable with the animal before you make the commitment.

[Mike41793]

I agree with Rob.

Thatd be like me just going out and buying a horse.

[Bellatrix_LeSnake]

I haven't had a snake for very long, but I do disagree about the horse analogy, sorry. I have owned horses for 15 years and ridden them for even longer. Am I scared of horses - no, absolutely not. Do I wear a helmet every time I get on - every time. I know that the chances I will fall off are minimal. I own a very safe, placid horse and have had him for the past twelve years. I also insist on jumping with a breast-plate. In twelve years, I've fallen off maybe eight times. I ride five times per week. There are a lot of gung-ho people at my barn who ride with no helmet and wouldn't dream of riding with a breast plate. If I was riding a horse I did not know - I would take every precaution, even though I would not fear the animal. Riding with a helmet makes me feel automatically safer, more confident etc. Anyone who owns horses and does not have at least a healthy respect for the size and power of the animal has even less business owning one than someone who is a little nervous.

I don't understand why the OP's choice to use a glove to take out her snake would be materially different to riding a with a helmet. If the piece of equipment makes him/her feel more comfortable and send those signals to the animal, why is it a problem?