angry little one

[zina10]

I find this very helpful..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7DQssbM0uk

Btw. hatchlings can be defensive and even a bit aggressive. That is perfectly normal. Out of the 14 hatchlings I've had, there were about 4 that were on the "huffy" side.

All 4 of those were GREAT eaters, btw, so their confidence can be a great thing. All 4 calmed down nicely, not a trace of aggression left by the time they were re-homed. I think gentle, deliberate and SHORT handling is the best thing to do. As a matter of fact, mine got handled only to clean their tubs, change water and for short photo and weighing sessions. Since I checked on them at least twice daily, they got used to the tub being opened a lot. I also cleaned as soon as there was a mess, so they would get picked up at a fair amount of times.

What I didn't do was handle them for extended periods of time to "tame" them.

Short and often is the key.

How you approach them is very important. Don't let them intimidate you, LOL !! I never use a hook. Don't come at them from the front, giving them the perfect vantage point to strike and hit. I always come at them from above (and slightly behind) them. With a flat hand. I GENTLY GENTLY lower my flat hand on top of that angry little head and ever so gently put the slightest pressure on. More of a gentle push down that says "calm down". Which they do. It "snaps" them out of that "i'm gonna kill you" mode. Then you can pick them up with your hand and set them down in your other hand. Be gentle but deliberate in your movements. No jerky, nervous movements. Hold them in your hand. If they want to go back to the angry s-shape mode you once again cup them with your other hand, gently pushing down, then release again. At this point they are usually quite happy to just start exploring.

These movements are solely to gently snap them out of the "mode". This is NOT a disciplining or rough touch AT ALL, I cannot say that enough.

If you do this every time, and handle often but for SHORT times, they turn into sweet and confident noodles in no time...

I actually think its funny when they can hiss like little tea pots.

Those angry noodles actually make GREAT pet pythons. With the right handling, they give up that defensive/aggressive behavior, but they keep that confidence and are great eaters One of the most angry little ones I had is now a cherished pet. He has ZERO head shyness, you can touch him all over and he never shies back. Nothing fazes him. The new owner is besotted with him He calmed down before he went to his new home, and all I did is what I described, no extra "taming" sessions or anything of that sort.