How much is too much?

[Teal]

Of my pair of Borneos, my female Siren has the typical blood python attitude. Though to me, it seems much more like shyness/defensive than outright aggression... She doesn't go looking for an excuse to strike at me, but you can tell she's very uncomfortable when her and I encounter each other.

My question is - Do I continue to provide interactions and try to acclimate her to them more? If so, how do I know she's getting too stressed by it so I can back off? Has anyone ever just let their ornery blood python be, and only dealt with it carefully when necessary?

I don't need her to be a squishy cuddly snake... I am just more thinking of what would stress her less throughout her lifetime - a bunch of handling now, possibly with no improvement, or having to deal with me sparingly over the years and me having to eventually work around a large female with no qualms about making contact? The only reason she hasn't tagged me yet is because I always keep something between her face and my hands - and she has tagged those various objects (always soft things, like towels or jacket sleeves) with force. She is young, June or July '13, which makes me think she could become accost ones to some level of interaction?

[jpsteele80]

Tough choice, obviously handling her right now is stressing her out, personally I'd continue to handle her for another 3 to 6 months, if she doesn't acclimate by then, then she probably won't and just go on a handling her on a need to basis. Just my 2 cents :D

[Teal]

Thanks for the input! Of course there is some stress involved... But when I thought about it more, I figured something like going off feed would be a sign of too much stress?

For handling, is one way better over another? Should I just jump right in and hold her until she calms down? I am admittedly wary of getting tagged... but I know it will happen sooner or later. Or should I go more slowly and try to let her gain some confidence?

[jpsteele80]

I had a burm I got one time that I had to hold the head for a while till he calmed down enough to give him some slack, might as well bite the bullet and just handle her, getting bit is part of the ride. I know bloods need to feel secure when your holding them as well, just make sure she is well supported when you hold her

[Teal]

I had her outside for photos while I was typing this... She finally started to settle down, so I put my hand slowly down flat infront of her... And she climbed into it (: We spent the next ten minutes or more with me just slowly putting my hands under her and letting her crawl through them. She seemed very curious, and crawled onto my hands every time. She climbed into my lap and looked up at me a few times too. So I'm hopeful that she will be just fine with a little work now that I've taken a different approach (:

[sharthun]

I had her outside for photos while I was typing this... She finally started to settle down, so I put my hand slowly down flat infront of her... And she climbed into it (: We spent the next ten minutes or more with me just slowly putting my hands under her and letting her crawl through them. She seemed very curious, and crawled onto my hands every time. She climbed into my lap and looked up at me a few times too. So I'm hopeful that she will be just fine with a little work now that I've taken a different approach (:

Awesome!!!! :):)

[jpsteele80]

That's awesome, like I said though they need to feel fully supported, I know some people will hold them up just by the tail to show how big they are, blood's don't like that at all. Sounds like your going to have a beast on your hands :D

[jpsteele80]

Any pics of this blood?

[Mikoh4792]

I find young defensive snakes easier to handle when I take them out with a hook and then place them on my arm.

[Teal]

I decided to be REALLY brave and just put my hand down right in front of her to get her out of the transport tank back into her regular enclosure when I brought her inside. She coiled back and was breathing heavy at me... but I persisted, and sloooooowly slid my hand under her. She was definitely not relaxed about it, but I was able to get both hands under her and put her away without even one strike!! Now I feel like a total wimp for not doing it like this earlier... but to be fair, she did bite the crap out of my sleeve the last time I took her out LOL But I am realizing she might have the same reactions as Manny to foreign materials... Manny will strike at a hook or pillow case, but if I put my hand down under his head he is fine.

Awesome!!!! :):)

Thank you! I was really excited to make such progress in a short amount of time!

That's awesome, like I said though they need to feel fully supported, I know some people will hold them up just by the tail to show how big they are, blood's don't like that at all. Sounds like your going to have a beast on your hands :D

I've NEVER understood holding a snake up just by the tail for showing it off or as a regular handling method lol I definitely like my snakes to feel like they aren't going to fall or anything. We stayed on the ground on the towel and in my lap while I was sitting on the ground (: I did raise her front end up a few inches from time to time while she was moving up my hand, just to give her a different feel to see how she would react.

Any pics of this blood?

Just cell phone pictures up until now... I am editing the pictures I took of her (and my male) today with my real camera right now and will post them when I'm done (:

[Tonka14]

I have a Ball Python that likes to do the same thing when it comes to handling her. What has worked the best for me for the many years that I have dealt with aggressive snakes is that I keep their attention with one hand and will go to the back of them and gently touch them until they calm down and then pick them up. I had a Burm many many years ago that I started doing that with and within a couple months he was as calm as can be.

[Teal]

I have a Ball Python that likes to do the same thing when it comes to handling her. What has worked the best for me for the many years that I have dealt with aggressive snakes is that I keep their attention with one hand and will go to the back of them and gently touch them until they calm down and then pick them up. I had a Burm many many years ago that I started doing that with and within a couple months he was as calm as can be.

Thanks for the advice! That is what makes me think she is defensive rather than aggressive, because there is no distracting her with one hand... she watches EVERY bit of movement, and if I try to touch the back end of her she will instantly whip around and strike, whereas slowly placing my hand under her face doesn't spook her at all (: But that information is definitely good to know, as I'm sure with the species I want I'll encounter an aggressive snake!

[Tonka14]

Yeah sounds like she is very attentive to what is going on around her. Sometimes they will come around and be the best snake in the world and other times they become satan.

[Teal]

I don't expect her to become ball python-level chill, but it's nice to know I can probably work with her a bit on being able to take her out and move her when I need to (:

[Pirarucu]

Hook training. Done and done. My half dwarf burmese can be like this if he's settled into a particular spot, I just use the hook to pick him up and he's fine after that initial interaction.

[Theweinz]

I think you are doing the right thing to keep handling her. Especially since she is not only a year old she will settle down dramatically in the next few months. I added a three year old male borneo to my collection some time back, and he was very defensive. Even as an adult he has settled down. Some days he is uptight, but most of the time he hisses but does not strike. I always try to end every handling session on an up note. Good luck.

[Teal]

Hook training. Done and done. My half dwarf burmese can be like this if he's settled into a particular spot, I just use the hook to pick him up and he's fine after that initial interaction.

I do plan on getting a hook at the next expo. I want to get some practice in using one before I get a species that requires one!

I think you are doing the right thing to keep handling her. Especially since she is not only a year old she will settle down dramatically in the next few months. I added a three year old male borneo to my collection some time back, and he was very defensive. Even as an adult he has settled down. Some days he is uptight, but most of the time he hisses but does not strike. I always try to end every handling session on an up note. Good luck.

Thank you! Yup, I always try to end on a good note as well.