Evil baby - best ways to tame...

[JenH]

I hatched out this girl this summer and I want to keep her (figures, right?). I think she is pretty color and is a possible het albino, so I want to grow her up and try to prove her out.




None of the usual taming methods seem to be working at all - she holds the record for total bites. I take her out with gloves and she just strikes and strikes and strikes. She does this till she is so freaked out I put her back so she can calm down.

So, the question is, do I keep trying to tame her? Or just learn to deal with it and get a hook so I can move her around?

Anyone have any ideas?

TIA!

[FatBoy]

Well you just never know...I have 2 that cannot be handled without being bit. I have also had some mean ones that calmed once they started breeding. It may calm with persistant handling or may not...it's really up to her. I would suggest a hook either way, they really come in handy.

[AjBalls]

This is a thing I used to some success.

What I did was gently grab them behind their heads and I would blow on their face. This would cause them to strike (attempt to anyway). After a while of doing it, it seemed that they had given up and learned that they cannot bite me. Now I can pick them up no problems.

I'm sure some people wouldn't agree with my methods, but it has worked for me and I have never broken one of their necks or anything.

[roosterman2173]

I don't hold them behind the head but I do blow in their face and this normally stops them from striking. I have a hold back girl that started out the same way and now she only strikes when I open her tub.

[butters!]

i say if she is that bad get a hook and just let her be unless you really need to move her.

ps.the lil guy you sold me was the same way until a few weeks ago.i put him in a 20 long tank,he was in a 10 gallon.ever since he has had more room its a totally different snake.maybe you hatch out claustrophobic snakes!lol

[TooManyToys]

I have a small female that is a very persistent "biter" also. I find using a small hook to handle her works best, it doesn't seem to get her nearly as agitated as my hand.

[bigballs]

it seems like she is biting out of fear so i would stop trying to tame her and just leave her alone. she may eventually grow out of it. work around her, change her water, substrate and take her out only when necessary. shes still young and you have lots of time to work with her and i would think that putting her back after a fit of biting will only condition her to strike and intimidate you when she wants to be left alone. let her get used to you by working around her with only necessary handling and then see if her behaviour has changed within couple months.

this has worked for me and hopefully it may help you.

good luck!

[butters!]

it seems like she is biting out of fear so i would stop trying to tame her and just leave her alone. she may eventually grow out of it. work around her, change her water, substrate and take her out only when necessary. shes still young and you have lots of time to work with her and i would think that putting her back after a fit of biting will only condition her to strike and intimidate you when she wants to be left alone. let her get used to you by working around her with only necessary handling and then see if her behaviour has changed within couple months.

this has worked for me and hopefully it may help you.

good luck!

julian,i know the op and when she says she puts her back after several strikes,enough to stress out the snake,that is not giving in and letting the snake know you are affraid.im not meaning to come off rude in any way,but she already knows that method.this snake is truley wicked.

[BMorrison]

I have no idea if I'm the only one who's done this and it wasn't with a ball, I've had some racers and whatnot as pets and garters and such and the nippy ones... take them outside for about 5 minutes when it's cold out, seemed to work. They seemed to seek out my body warmth and realized daddy isn't gonna hurt 'em! haha! Good luck!

[Kryptonian]

This blowin in the face method, do you think that may work on a dummerils boa? Mine was as sweet as could be then just out of the blue started striking all the time, she can no longer be handled. I like her but have no interest in keeping an aggresive animal. I am stuck with a hard decision, try to retame her or sell her?