question on taming burm

[lakeridgekennel]

I just got a new burm 2 weeks ago and i don't know what i did. one day he is nice and pretty tame the next he thinks he's a cobra hissing and striking and biting me. I want to know what i can do to keep this burm tame because he is very unpredictable.
Any help would be great.

Thanks
Sean

[lostwithin]

Hi, 2 weeks isn’t that long too have had the burm, he’s probably just settling in, when I get a new baby in I notice they are normally "tame " at first because they are disoriented, then once they snap out of the shock they get defensive because they are in a new surrounding, am I correct in assuming your new burm is a baby?? If so naturally seeing a large hand coming at him would scare the hell out of him at first. Give him time what I do is just pick them up with a long sleeved shirt on, if he takes a shot at me chances are he'll hit that not the hand that’s holding him, and they tend too stop trying too bite when they think its not working, (that would be why some animals don’t do a thing when you have gloves but nail the first bit of flesh they can find) by using no gloves and a long sleeved shirt the snake gets used to your skin/hand touching him while at the same time giving up on biting because it cant get through the shirt. This is completely based on my own experiences so it might not work, but most burms tame down quite easily. And if your burm isn’t small like I assumed it might be a bad idea too go with.
I also find if your scared of a snake they bite MUCH more. I don’t know if they can "sence" you’re nervous and become nervous as well, or if it’s the jerky movements your hand makes while nervous that bothers them. But either way, I find if your calm they are much less likely too strike. Which could explain the sudden change if he was fine for a while then struck at you I you were probably more cautious and nervous the next time you tried too get him. When you go to pick him up do it as if he has never struck at you before every time. (within reason)
Good luck,
Devon

[Samba]

I got my burm when he was already 2 years old and close to 10 feet in length. To tame him (he was very scared and had been through some trauma), I put him in a giant rubbermaid with some of my dirty laundry. It sounds weird, but the logic is the animal will associate comfort and saftey with your scent. It worked for us. My Bandula has never ever tried to bite, and has only hissed when startled. I haven't even heard him hiss in the last two years.

2 weeks isn't really giving the animal a chance to get to know you... try leaving a piece of clothing (sans cologne/perfume) in it's enclosure for a week (leaving the snake completely alone). Then try handling it. If your snake is a baby, you must understand that they are naturally defensive.

Good luck with your baby!

[lakeridgekennel]

My burm is 8 feet long and is aroutd 35-40 pounds i have a pair of pants and a shirt in his tank.
lostwithin I am not scared of the snake i have respect for it but am not scared of it he is the smallest burm i own.
thanks for the help.
Sean

[kevyn]

Sometimes taming a snake can be fun...

http://www.aussiepythons.com/albums/kevyn/100_2240.sized.jpg

[lakeridgekennel]

Nice pic!!! I have bled from my head two from reptiles one of the pirks i guess.

[sapphire_moon]

wow, that looks painful!

[Samba]

Yeah, THAT's something to be proud of... eh