Tips to hook arboreals out of trees/vines??

[SkYyaMe1623]

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f376/1MileNorth/meetTooch.jpg
meet Tooch. He is a gorgeous jungle carpet python. Even though he could be a handful he has been a pleasure to work with.

Him and I are currently working on taming him down. He's a bit nippy but I've been taking him out about 4 times a week and unless he was in a particularly nice mood last night I think I'm seeing some improvement.

However he is very cage aggressive. He spends all of his time up in vines and I hate to stress him out by trying to hook him out of the vines right before I handle him - but this tends to be the case. I usually hook him somewhere in the neck and gently lift him. It's pretty tricky though because he keeps his tail wrapped around the vine, and I'm not about to pull/force him off. I've found some success in gently touching his tail with the hook and it makes him uncomfortable to the point where he will change positions and hopefully make it easier to lift him out.

I basically need tips on how to use a snake hook to get an aboreal out of trees/vines in the quickest, least stressful way.

Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks! (need to get better at this quick before I move him into a cage that only opens from the front. Tooch's current enclosure opens from the top as well as the front)

[stephanbakir]

When I build arboreal vivs, I leave some space at the top... When I want a snake out of the vines and its in good, I tickle its tail with the hook and it climbs to the top where I can work with it easier.

[red ink]

Make the climbing perches themselves detachable from the enclosure...

[Gungirl]

Make the climbing perches themselves detachable from the enclosure...

^ thats what most people do to save them self and the snake the aggravation to you picking them out of their hiding spots.

[SkYyaMe1623]

Make the climbing perches themselves detachable from the enclosure...
Any recommendations on how to set up a perch like this? I'm pretty new to the whole aboreal thing but I am enjoying it. Tooch actually likes to play on the vines and branches I set up for him

In fact, this morning when he was curled up on top of his hide was the first time I've seen him out of the vines in like 2 weeks. Maybe it's because he ate last night but who knows

[shaunyboy]

you could take all the vines and perches out the tank

then put them back in a few months from now once he's tamed down

cheers shaun

[millertime89]

Any recommendations on how to set up a perch like this? I'm pretty new to the whole aboreal thing but I am enjoying it. Tooch actually likes to play on the vines and branches I set up for him

In fact, this morning when he was curled up on top of his hide was the first time I've seen him out of the vines in like 2 weeks. Maybe it's because he ate last night but who knows

something like this, find some way to get it to stay on the side of the viv (suction cups are awesome) and set up how you want it. You can buy cheap rubber ones that are closed and just cut them as well
open flange closet rod supports - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?gcx=w&q=open+flange+closet+rod+supports&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=475)

edit: what's your viv made out of?

[Lankyrob]

We use the hook under the first third of their body with our JCP and GTP and they then tend to climb onto the hook and use it as a perch, if they are a little reluctant to come out then i touch their tails and that usually moves them along. A good set of gardening gloves will protect hands until he is happy to be lifted.

One thing with arboreals (most snakes in fact) if you are approaching from above they think you a re a bird swooping down on them and tend to strike - we come at ours at the same lvel that they are in the viv (the advantage of front opening doors)

[SkYyaMe1623]

Thanks everyone for the responses!

Rob-
Tooch's current enclosure opens from the front as well as the top. It seems to be much trickier from the front and I need to get good at taking him out from the front before I move him into a 20" by 20" by 20" that ONLY opens from the front. Thanks for looking out though. (I don't keep any snakes in fish tanks ;) )

[SkYyaMe1623]

edit: what's your viv made out of?

http://www.herpcages.com/cages/202020b.JPG

I like to get them from herpcages.com like my hero viperkeeper. Plastic I believe.

[millertime89]

then use self-tapping screws to hold the mounts I posted above in, drill from the inside out. then place the perch in there.