New addition , no name as of yet..

[cletus]

I know, right

You would never expect the SPEED they can have. They can strike something behind them lightning fast. And hit HARD.
Very strong snakes, too.

If you have a nice and tame one, so rewarding, though !!

I had a Borneo that got huge. They don't really "wrap" and hold on like other snakes, they are like stiff fat slugs, LOL. I used to wrap him around my waist and then use both forearms to support his upper and lower third in front of me. And we would walk around that way, LOL. He seemed to like it.

I had no idea they were so fast either. I was watching random unboxing vids on youtube and a guy tried to pull one out of the bag and it went NUTS as soon as he touched it and started flipping around and went splat on the floor. It wasn't a full grown adult but was good size. if I had to guess maybe 2000 - 3000 grams or so. They are impressive.

[zina10]

Such a good boy. Still nervous if we walk around or anyone comes close, but already learned the "hands" don't hurt, as he is trying to hide between the fingers as we walk, instead of trying to get away Also not doing anything bad, just tensing up and looking around. When we sit down, he is happy to sit as still as a statue, LOL. If I carefully touch and stroke him (getting him used to being touched) he doesn't tense up or huff at all, I can sit there and "pet" him the entire time and he is good with that.

I swear these snakes are intelligent. He "watches" everything, and he recognizes the room his tub is in, when we walk through that doorway his head and body "head toward" the tubs direction. He also slides off the hand nice and easy when I put him in the tub. With all the snakes I like to keep my hands in their tub/enclosure until they get off by themselves, instead of "putting" them into the tubs. It seems to me it takes some of their anxiety away, when the "return" is slow and gentle.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

That's an AMAZING new addition.

[zina10]

That's an AMAZING new addition.

Thank you, I'm SOOOOOO excited to have a fattie again.

I had a Borneo years ago, and he was an amazing snake and the only one I ever lost due to injury/illness. He got a nasty abscess in his mouth and the vet and I figured he broke a tooth and it got infected. He always hit his FT rats SO hard he made the cage shake. He was treated for 4 long weeks. Abraded and cleaned up twice, different antibiotics tried. In the end, I went every other day for shots. I can give shots to snakes, but my Borneo was an adult by then, huge and SOOOO powerful, there was no way it could be done alone. Even between the vet and I, we struggled holding him still. During all this, this wonderful snake NEVER ever threatened to bite or got in any way nasty. He just tried to get away. It broke my heart, but finally I had to put him down. The growth kept coming back and disfigured his face, his eye was being pushed out. One night I watched him restlessly cruise back and forth in the cage and I knew it was time to let him go. He was such a rewarding snake to keep, such a sweetheart and so funny. Never moody, never seemed upset. I was lucky to have him for 4 years but I sure wish it had been longer.

Which brings me to Sandor. Definitely not as tame and easy going as Conan was. YET. He is already doing awesome in those couple sessions, though. We have all the time we need to go as slow as he needs to feel safe and not threatened. Even this process is rewarding to me.

[CALM Pythons]

Has he been out today or are you waiting till later? Thats a good yet simple idea you have about keeping your hand in the tub as they crawl back off.. I thought about that last week when I was putting Snappy Sully away and he went in off my hand nice and easy, turned around, "S'ed" up and hovered.. I called him a Nervous Nelly, swore at him and closed the enclosure hahahaha

[zina10]

Has he been out today or are you waiting till later? Thats a good yet simple idea you have about keeping your hand in the tub as they crawl back off.. I thought about that last week when I was putting Snappy Sully away and he went in off my hand nice and easy, turned around, "S'ed" up and hovered.. I called him a Nervous Nelly, swore at him and closed the enclosure hahahaha

You and him just have a complicated relationship, LOL !!!!

Yes, had him out for our 15 minutes of quiet contemplation Maybe today one more time, then he is "off" until the next time he eats and for 2 days after.
He is being a good boy and I'm enjoying being able to sit quietly just observing. All my others won't sit still long enough LOL. I know once Sandor gets more comfortable, he will move around more, but they make great "hang out on the couch" snakes.

[zina10]

Sandor took his first FT meal ever perfectly A nice plump rat weanling
Such a good boy

[CALM Pythons]

Thats GREAT!!!! Sounds like you got a good heathy boy to build a relationship with

[CALM Pythons]

Ohh I wanted to ask you.. are you using something to pet him with before you pick him up? I figured you are but i wanted to ask ya..and what does he do just Huff?

[zina10]

Ohh I wanted to ask you.. are you using something to pet him with before you pick him up? I figured you are but i wanted to ask ya..and what does he do just Huff?

The first couple of times I used a hook, especially since his face was turned the other way and I wanted him to know he was about to be picked up. I just do a short stroke over the back, and then pick up with hands. Last time his face was towards me and he was aware and awake, so I just picked him up.

First couple times he jumped and flinched a bit and moved his front towards me, huffing a bit. No striking. Last time he just did this short exhale sound, doesn't even count as a hiss. The pickup is best done gently hut deliberately. Not dragging it out. It's when they are most nervous and defensive in the beginning..