Quote Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy View Post
Most of my snakes are pretty food oriented but I wouldn't label any of them as defensive anymore. I hook train all of my critters with a slight tap or rub just to let them know there's no food coming. After that they're all pretty easy to handle. The only snakes I didn't hook train were my kings. They weren't snappy and they're too small to do any damage even if they did bite me.
My Kings are the only ones I ever had any hesitation grabbing years ago. I was never afraid of their wimpy bites, but they were the most likely to strike when I reached in. Now, with my current King, Django, when he's in shed or in a mood (very rare) I don't even bother with him. If I reach in and he gets "excited" like he's being fed I just wait him out. He figured out pretty quickly and calms right down.

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Quote Originally Posted by SDA View Post
Let them get acclimated. Take things slow. No reason to rush handling when the snake you own will be with you for 10-20 years. You have plenty of time to get them to stop wanting to eat you.

I tend to feel most snakes are never aggressive just stressed and defensive. Time and a stress free environment works wonders.

Also, your temperament and willingness to be bit means the world to being able to handle a snake. You have to accept that on a long or short enough time line you will be bit and that is ok. If you constantly go in with fear and hesitation, you are going to have a snake that picks up on that and gets defensive. Learn your snake's movements and techniques to approach a snake. Figure out their habits and when they are active enough to be handled. You handle them when they tolerate being handled, not when you want to handle them.

Lastly, a snake never has to have physical contact for emotional support. They are not dogs, they can go their entire lives never being touched and be just fine. Handling is for your benefit, not theirs.
I like almost every word of this. Great reply.