Behira - 2016 Female Ivory Ghost - First BCI

[dakski]

Ok, so an interesting evening on the Behira and Katie front.

We were having a good night with the reptiles. The geckos were left alone, but all the snakes came out, as did Frank (the BTS) and we cut his nails (I hold, Katie cuts, although he's pretty good about it).

Behira left a lot of urine, urate, and a little poop, and although I don't think all the poop is out, I weighed her at 1,000G even.

Back to the story.

I took Shayna (BP) out and Katie held her for a bit while I checked water, etc. Katie then took Figment (corn snake) out and held him for a bit.

Then, she blew my mind. I said I was going to take Behira out. She took the drape down herself, I unlocked the door (she was sitting on top of her house, away from urine, with her nose basically against the door) and opened the door slowly and took a step back. I went over to reach for the hook and there was Katie walking over to Behira, with hook in hand. She rubbed her a few times and I explained Behira's changing body language to Katie. First, a little startled and curious, then relaxed on the house and loose; ready to be picked up. Katie started reaching for Behira! I took the hook and showed her that to be safe, I often put the hook handle between Behira's head and my arm until she melts into my hand. Katie picked her right up and spent time with her while talking to her dad on the phone and while I cleaned the tank.

She asked about letting her wrap around her neck and I explained it's okay to drape her over your neck, but not okay to let her wrap around, especially when she's bigger. I also explained to always know where the tail is, so if she does squeeze a little, you can gently unwind her.

Things were going fantastic!

We put Behira back and took baby Solana (scaleless corn) out. Katie and I were discussing how she's very much Katie's snake and how calm she is.

Katie started talking about Behira and how she didn't understand how big Behira was going to be. She said it scares her because she bit me. I explained that I understood she was fearful, but that it wasn't rational. Behira has never so much as coiled into an "S" while being held, it was an isolated incident, and since hook training, has been a non issue. I also explained that a younger, hungry and growing Boa, is probably more likely to have a food response bite, and that even after Behira nailed me, she let me pick her right up. Not a mean bone in her body. I told her snakes bite because they are either thinking of food or being defensive. Behira has never been the latter and the bigger she gets the less fearful (not like she is fearful at all now) she will be. I also said that the bigger she gets and the less she needs to grow, her food response might lessen a bit.

I pointed out that we were planning on getting a male and that she wanted Behira for her looks and I wanted her for her temperament. I had told Katie to research it, come to shows and see adults, etc. but she ultimately said, you are going to take care of her, and I like this one (Behira) as well as you, so let's get her. I don't care that she's a female even if they get bigger. She's basically your responsibility.

Katie now points out that she didn't have all the information and that Behira has darkened up and seems scarier now not being as light.

I told Katie it's great that you took her out tonight and that you are spending more time with her and learning her body language just like you have the other snakes. As she continues to grow you will have more comfort with her as well.

She didn't let it go. I asked, what would you like to do?

She said, "maybe get rid of her."

STOP THE TRAIN! HOLD THE PHONE! WHAT!

I told her that would only happen with an ultimatum, her or Behira, and that I would regret and resent giving her up if forced too.

About an hour later Katie apologized and said she was overtired and got anxious and it just came out and she was sorry.

Okay, but I keep thinking that a drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts. Are an overtired and anxious Katie's words a calm and awake Katie's thoughts?

Plus, it totally caught me off guard. Look at the juxtaposition. She takes Behira out of her tank for the first time ever and chills with her and then 20 minutes later she's the enemy!?!?

I am not sure what to make of all this, but I am choosing to focus on the positive. Katie took her out of her tank, hook and all, had a good time with her, and she just recently saw an adult female BCI, so it's still a shock.

Deep breathes and hoping Katie relaxes a little and lets this go.

To be clear, I love Katie more than anything, and would never purposely make her uncomfortable. I did not knowingly misinform Katie. I offered a ton of information, but Katie basically said, whatever.

She told me tonight she is glad we got Solana. I am not sure she has ever been so glad about Behira and feels I was too pushy about getting her. I very much might have been. Behira was basically my decision and Katie agreed, but wasn't 100% on board. This doesn't help the situation. Solana was 100% Katie approved.

Anyway, I'll continue to keep everyone in the loop. In case it wasn't clear, Behira is doing amazingly well, and is as calm and docile as ever.

Below is the picture of Katie while Behira was out tonight.

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