Flighty, fearful Burmese

[Gilligan]

I bought an albino male burm on Craigslist last summer. He would not feed on FT for a while but I eventually got him switched. He is really small for his age, probably 2 to 3 feet long, but body condition looks good, he is thick and full looking in my opinion. So I don't know why he's so small.

Anyway. He's the only snake who's ever bitten me, and he bit me the first time I held him. For a while, I was trying to just pick him up or touch him once a day, and it seemed to help a teeny bit, but I'm just not seeing much progress. He tenses up when I go to pick up, then will freak out and trash around to get out of my hands. He has not successfully bitten since day one, but has struck, and even last time was striking at the cage walls. I feed a small or medium rat once every 7 days.

What can I do with this guy to get him to come around? Is there hope of that? I'm a little worried about managing him when he's grown.

Just went to hold him to take a picture. Today, he was nervous, but let me pick him up and he stayed pretty still and calm, then I placed him back in his cage before it had been long enough to start making him freak out. I always try to make the handling end on a good note. This was a good day for him. Other days, he can be a different beast. None of my other snakes have such a varying mood. My retic is absolutely wonderful.

[bcr229]

Have you tried hook training him?

[Tigerhawk]

First he looks very nice. If you can spend time by his cage for a couple of hour or two a day. That will help him to see that you are not a threat. Do not handle him during this time. Just watch tv or something and ignore him. After a few days pick him up for one minute and one minute only. Weather he is calm or not. By doing so you are teaching him that you are not a threat. After a few days of this increase the time you hold him. It takes a while to download all of this. However you are trying to build a long term relationship with him. I take some of my worst snakes to work with me and have them at my desk while I work. Usually by the second week they are couch potatoes. This is just what works for me.

[Gilligan]

I haven't tried hook training. What hooks would be recommended for him? I figured I'd have to replace the hooks frequently with growth... But he's not growing much.

Thank you for the guide Tigerhawk. The snake homemade rack/shelf is in my bedroom near the bed. I have no other room in my house that can be kept closed and warm for the snakes needs. It is reassuring that you've tamed some of your worst with that technique. I'll start working on it diligently.

[John1982]

I haven't tried hook training. What hooks would be recommended for him? I figured I'd have to replace the hooks frequently with growth... But he's not growing much.

Thank you for the guide Tigerhawk. The snake homemade rack/shelf is in my bedroom near the bed. I have no other room in my house that can be kept closed and warm for the snakes needs. It is reassuring that you've tamed some of your worst with that technique. I'll start working on it diligently.

The size of the hook doesn't much matter. You're simply using an object to administer a tactile cue to let the snake know that a handling session is about to begin. What does matter is that you cue him the same way each time so as not to confuse the poor fellow.

Another idea is maybe to just let him bite you a few times next hissy fit he throws. There are snakes that will always seem to want to draw blood and there are those that are just nervous animals testing the boundaries of a new relationship. Some will calm down faster when they realize the bite is ineffective. I reckon better to find out which category your boy falls into now rather than after a couple more years of growth.

[bcr229]

The size of the hook doesn't much matter. You're simply using an object to administer a tactile cue to let the snake know that a handling session is about to begin. What does matter is that you cue him the same way each time so as not to confuse the poor fellow.

This. It's not for picking him up or controlling the snake, think of it as a tap on the shoulder to announce your presence. Just rub him lightly on his back for a few seconds before handling him. You can even use an empty paper towel roll, so if he's startled and whips around to bite whatever is touching him he hits that and not you.

[Gilligan]

Okay, that hook training. I have been using my finger to touch his body before picking him up to let him know what's going on. But using an object that's not part of my body seems like a better idea haha. A paper towel roll seems certainly cheaper than buying a hook that is only used for rubbing him.

I will attempt the letting him bite me thing. It's just difficult as moving away is kind of an automatic response.

Thanks for the advice thus far!

[bcr229]

Okay, that hook training. I have been using my finger to touch his body before picking him up to let him know what's going on. But using an object that's not part of my body seems like a better idea haha. A paper towel roll seems certainly cheaper than buying a hook that is only used for rubbing him.

I will attempt the letting him bite me thing. It's just difficult as moving away is kind of an automatic response.

Yes, it is. That's why I prefer to let mine bite the paper towel roll. Also, if that's too short the cardboard roll from wrapping paper works.

[Andylee11]

Great looking snake, the second Burmese I got when I started getting into them came to me very defensive and is still very defensive to this day ,despite countless efforts to try and work him out of it . It's just how he is . Where as I've had others that were able to become quite docile through consistent slow and controlled handling . Good luck hopefully he comes around for you.

[LightningPython]

Good luck with him- He looks beautiful!
Hopefully one day he would be pretty much puppy dog tame.