How too handle for beginers without stressing snake

[Ciriculam]

Don't Know how to handle snake without stressing him\her out.Actually, i don't know how to handle snake :mad:

[EL Ziggy]

Gently, confidently and consistently.

[REM955]

Same kind of issue I have. Not terribly concerned about the biting, but don't want to drop it.

It has been suggested to me that I first try holding while sitting down and also using a separate container while taking out to handle. Something like a shallow and wide plastic bin.

Would anyone have an objection to having a holding bin? I know there is objection to feeding bins, but I believe that is much different as there is no "petting" response that I know of.
Forgive me if I appear to hijack this thread. I intend to have a solution for both of us.

[jjhill001]

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable.

[Sylphie]

I never had problem with handling, but picking up was terrible. I still can't pick up two of my females, and I'm slightly concerned with picking my other two... but it's a lot better than at the beggining. What can I say... for me the best way was to have one really calm snake that I trust and pick him up as long as I was comfortable with it, and then move to another snake. Mine are all different so it was like next levels with new bosses :D Still there are 2 levels that I can't do...

As to handling... most of the people (me too) is trying to handle them like hamster or other mammal. With snakes it's totally different, you should not secure them, but already hold, slither your fingers all the time to have a "grab" on them. It's hard to describe but after few minutes you'll get it :D If you're afraid then holding near the sofa or with container like REM said is okay. The snake will be stressed at the beggining no matter what you do, he too needs time to get used to you and to being handle. Just be gentle and slow so he won't see you as predator who wants to eat him.

One more thing... if your snake will be really afraid then I recommend just pick it up, don't give him/her time to start freak out... I know it's hard but that was what my man tried to tell me and I see that it works with our more shy ones.

[Wingbeats]

How I pick up and handle my snake:

-Lift up hide she was in.
-Gently tap the ground next to her to tell her I'm there. (She sometimes huffs at me here, but is not aggressive)
-Gently "scoop" her up by wedging my fingers under her body and then lifting her. I tend to do this from behind, so I don't accidentally boop her face.
-Once she's out, I let her sit in my hand curled up, or deposit her whole body into my lap when sitting. When she starts crawling, I redirect her direction with my other hand, basically becoming a human treadmill as she threads between my fingers and such. I never "grab" her or try and hold her in place.
-I put her back when she shows signs of stress - really rapid movements, heavy fast breathing. (Usually I don't handle for more than 10 mins regardless, unless she just sits in my lap curled up and calm.)

I've had no problems with the above so far! I've only been struck at once - when I put her on the ground and then when I went to pick her back up. I think I moved too fast, and rainbow boas seem to get annoyed at being free and then "recaptured" lol.

I'm by no means an expert but I've held a bunch of snakes and things seem fine :)

[trailblazer295]

This is just from experience dealing with calm snakes.

1. Don't reach towards the head to pick it up. Most snakes are very head why, after 6 months my BP will let me stroke his chin and top of his head with a finger while I'm holding him. Generally they will flinch away from head contact.
2. Come from the side and hold the body, if it's a small snake you can pick it up with one hand. A larger snake might require a hook in one hand to help support it.
3. No quick movements, either before or during holding the snake
4. Have a light touch, don't grip the snake tight. Let it move around your hands. Simply re-position if it's going a direction you don't want.
5. If you have other pets that might cause stress IE a dog etc then lock them out of the room.

Pretty much the basics that I can think of. It depends a bit on what snake you're holding and how comfortable you are with that particular snake. Some can be very relaxed and not care much about anything, some might just be flighty and try and get away others might eye you up a bit (if you're getting eyed up keep the head away from your face)

[Doug 351]

Tie it in a knot....if it bites you it doesn't like that....

(Only slightly kidding here....I like to pick on and "play" with my pets)...I just recently acquired a a full grown Texas rat snake....(do the research....these things are mean) ....but ....it's all about confidence...gentle handling...and perhaps some luck....but I will probably be trying to try to tie this new rat snake in a knot soon.....

Anyway...I kiss my snakes, I pet my snakes, and I give them chin rubs....

They barely tolerant the kisses, they seem fairly indifferent to being petted, but they DO seem to enjoy a good chin rub!

[prairiepanda]

Until the snake trusts you more, it's important not to grab the snake or otherwise forcibly restrain it in any way(unless necessary for medical treatment etc.). Allow them to move freely so that they feel in control of themselves and can see that there are opportunities to escape. As others have suggested, using a hand-to-hand approach where you let the snake slither forward always putting a hand in front for it to go onto is a good idea. This lets them think that they're going in the direction they want to go and nothing is stopping them.


Would anyone have an objection to having a holding bin? .

A holding bin actually isn't a bad idea. But I wouldn't put the snake in the bin and then pet it or whatever in the bin, because it'll feel trapped and may become defensive. It would be good to handle them over a bin, though, so that if they slip out of your hands they won't escape too quickly.

[Lefitte]

I was pretty nervous about handling my first snake too. I had little to no experience with snakes and so I had to learn as I went. The thing that freaked me out was how tiny my little king was, I was afraid of hurting her! I started off wrong. Deliberate does not mean act like you're trying to catch her for supper. I didn't realize that I was doing this for a long time and once I slowed down my movements and showed more confidence, she seemed to have more trust with me. Now I lift the hide and give her time to realize what's going on. Then I'll gently reached in and try to get my fingers under her bellly to lift her up and out. The tricky part for me comes next because my king likes to quickly grab at everything she can to tangle herself. I don't want to grip ber body so I end up tring to untangle her before I lose what leverage I've gained on her body. This whole process usually ends with me successful, yet peed on.. I'm still working on a solution for that one. More recently, since her first birthday, she has been out far more than ever before and seems to know my footsteps. As soon as I get home from work and set my stuff down near her cage, she suddenly appears at the glass.

Be patient but don't stop handling. Your snake can't get used to you and you can't learn without doi g. Remember to listen to the snake, get to know your snake and learn when its had enough. Learn its habits and try to handle it when its out (but not every time or you'll never see it). Start small. I usually did 5-10 minutes at first, just enough for her to kind of calm down from the inital ah I'm caught! Then gradually increase it. You'll get there, we all started somewhere. Just be mindful of how your snake perceives you. You're this big thing that might be trying to eat it. Keep trying and don't give up!

[Doug 351]

Listen to the snake...just watch it...contracted body position means stress..straight and smooth means calm....

[Ciriculam]

Thanks for the info guys, I will use it when trying to handle.

[treaux]

I also recently got into snakes and had some of the same issues. Most people just don't know how to handle them right off the bat. Thankfully they are pretty forgiving and once they get used to you it gets a lot easier.

These two videos helped me a lot. The guy gets long winded about it, but the most helpful part was watching his arm movements and how he handles his snakes during the video. Watching that kind of showed me how to manage them (since mine like to move around quite a bit).

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f-TjNKrsQEQ

There was also a good video of how to do the "balling" technique, which is only necessary if they are absolutely flipping out and striking repeatedly. I can't find it though.