Wiggles, the Children's Python

[Homebody]

Last night I had a bit of a set back in my choice-based handling program with Wiggles. For those that don't know, choice-based handling seeks to reduce the stress inherent in handling by only handing the animal when it chooses to be handled. Unfortunately, sometimes you just have to handle the animal whether it wants it or not, like last night.

After dinner, I noticed that Wiggles was surfing the glass, so I decided to let him out to roam around a bit. There is only one FREAKIN' place in my whole living room Wiggles is not allowed to go. It's in the narrow space between his tub and the side of the enclosure.

So, of course, that's where he went. 3 times. The last time he reminded me why he's not allowed to go there.

Now, I can see why he wants to go there. I don't blame him. It's a cave, a tight dark place. The problem is that I can't get him out of there. The first couple times I caught him before he got too far. But that damned reptile patience got the better of me. He just sat there, still, for like an hour. I get distracted and the next thing I see is his tail disappearing into the crevice.

I decide to wait until he chooses to come out. Two and half hours later, it's midnight, my patience is worn out and I'm falling asleep. I can't leave him there all night. Who knows where he'll end up? So, I decide a more forceful approach is called for. Fortunately, I can see him, so when I remove the tub I can see that he's not getting pinched against the side. Unfortunately, he can see me too and he buries himself in my carefully secured electric cables. I try to pull him out, but he's wound himself in there. So, I fix myself a cup off coffee and go back to waiting him out. I changed his substrate and secured the heat tape that had come loose. While I was working, I noticed that he was no longer so tightly wound among the cables and managed to pull him free.

In any training program, there will be set-backs, but I really need to figure out a way to avoid this one. I like giving him the freedom to move about on his own. Watching him do so is my favorite thing to do, but I've got to figure out a way to keep him from going back in that gap.