anger management for retics

[herpetologist12]

Im in a hell of a bind here guys. I have a sulawesi yellow headed retic and it is a female *we all know how mean females can be* Anyway...she is having serios isues with her anger, attitude, disposition, etc. She usually nips here and there, but the last few months she will go out of her way to destroy me!! shes tried to eat me twice! not to mention she swollowed one of my gloves...and almost swollowed a towel...ive tried every trick in the book, i was hoping you guys might have some suggestions.

[Herp Whisperer]

Hey there, H12
I feel for you- I'm nuts for Burmese and Retics, and I've had more than my share who weren't nearly as nuts for me, lol. :medgrimac
I finally came up with the only thing that works, for me anyway, about 15 years ago. So far it's worked 100% of the time, but as you know there are no guarantees with herps.
Pick up a mesh bag- they sell them in the camping department as laundry washing bags for backpackers, you can probably find them elsewhere as well. (Mesh similar to fishnet, with holes small enough to prevent her head from passing through, of course)
Put her in the bag and handle her often- I usually do this in the evening while watching tv, or anytime I'm not busy. Really get aggressive, like when you green break a horse- touch her all over, ignore hisses and muscle spasms. Be gentle but persistent, and don't avoid her head. Set the bag down occasionally and pick it back up, so she gets used to your hands coming for her
You can do this with a soft collection bag as well, but I've found that soft mesh works best, as the snake can see what's going on as well as feel it.
In my experience, a week of this, say 2-3 hours each day, will do the trick. If you go more than a week without handling her you may have to do this again a bit, as retics particularly lose their trust after a short while, but...this is the only method that works for me.

Best of luck!

James

[herpetologist12]

wow, that makes allot of sence, thank you, ill do what i can.