No handlin for a while = agressive behaivior [Archive]

alessia55

07-12-12, 07:06 PM

Probably not. I feel pretty sure that if I didn't touch my BPs for a while they'd be just as gentle as they are today.
Edit to add: now that I'm home and have a new puppy and work full time, I handle them maybe once a week (sometimes once every 2 weeks). Of course I change water, etc, but what I mean is I don't handle them otherwise. I had a few friends over some weeks ago and took them both out and they were their normal "friendly" selves.

Are you worried about leaving Ice for a while without handling?

exwizard

07-12-12, 07:09 PM

Thats interesting. Ive always credited my snakes docility to frequent handlng but lately I havent handled them as much as I used to and I see no signs of any regression in their temperament. Thayre all still tame as can be. While I have no experience with Balls, Im just relating my observances of my snakes as I see them.

OSMDEATHOWNER

07-12-12, 07:13 PM

Thanks and yes alessia, I want to see my brother in louisianna and as bad as i wanna take ice i cant. i just wanna make sure me and her are on the same page if i leave and comeback because nobody else is gonna handle her if not needed and shes more of a friend to me then just a pet you know

alessia55

07-12-12, 07:15 PM

How long are you leaving her? Will someone be changing her water? Checking temps?
She'll be fine without the handling. :)

OSMDEATHOWNER

07-12-12, 07:19 PM

yes her water is always changed daily and her temps will be checked. im leavin for 3 weeks.

alessia55

07-12-12, 07:20 PM

yes her water is always changed daily and her temps will be checked. im leavin for 3 weeks.

She'll be fine :) So long as her water is changed and her temps are checked, she doesn't need to be handled. She might even appreciate the time off ;)

Enjoy your trip!! (also, check in more often... and update us with photos!)

OSMDEATHOWNER

07-12-12, 07:22 PM

sorry i haven't been, its been work but i will update more often and check in more often. Im also lookin for another python, baby or juvenile, male, morph non-normal!

alessia55

07-12-12, 07:34 PM

sorry i haven't been, its been work but i will update more often and check in more often. Im also lookin for another python, baby or juvenile, male, morph non-normal!

Woot wooooot! Let us know what you get :yes:

Lankyrob

07-13-12, 03:44 AM

Each of my snakes get handled either once a month or once every other month, none have them have become more aggressive or defensive - i used to handle all of them multiple times each week but over time have limited handling time more and more, i actually feel that they are more relaxed and settled than they ever were.

brylecc1989

07-13-12, 06:36 AM

Rogue628

07-13-12, 07:05 AM

Wildside

07-13-12, 07:43 AM

Honestly, I think it depends on their own individual personality, how much you handled it before, and how well it took to handling. When I kept in the past, I could go weeks without holding my animals and they were as docile as they were when I handled them frequently. My royals can become a bit head shy, but other than that, I never saw signs of defensiveness, stressed at being handled again, or anything.

To the OP, you shouldn't have to worry about your animal. Go visit your brother, have fun, and don't worry about him having a hissy fit when you return. :)

Agreed but I also think that if they've learned about human contact then they're probably not going to revert back to that initial fear they had as babies. I handle mine very little through the winter months as I just like to leave them be during their brumation period. The only one that ever gets a little aggressive is my Dum, but he's always been a **** lol

Jay

07-13-12, 07:44 AM

Snakes do not profit from handaling anyways, but that's another discussion. If he's got fresh water 3 weeks will be a great break from you.

MoreliAddict

07-13-12, 07:47 AM

Yes, a lack of handling could lead to aggressive behavior.

I've had this happen to a corn snake I had years ago. I handled it every week at first, and it was super tame. I slowed the handling down, and maybe 2 months went by when I only fed it and changed water, and didn't handle it. Sure enough, it was aggressive when I tried to take him out after those 2 months.

Jay

07-13-12, 07:51 AM

Yes, a lack of handling could lead to aggressive behavior.

I've had this happen to a corn snake I had years ago. I handled it ever week at first, and it was super tame. I slowed the handling down, and maybe 2 months went by when I only fed it and changed water, and didn't handle it. Sure enough, it was aggressive when I tried to take him out after those 2 months.

So your snake started acting normal.
You can't "tame" a snake.

MoreliAddict

07-13-12, 07:54 AM

So your snake started acting normal.
You can't "tame" a snake.
lol!

It depends on your definition of "tame". When I handled him frequently, he acted docile, which I feel is "normal" for a captive snake...

StudentoReptile

07-13-12, 08:01 AM

I have had the same ball python since 1993. In the past decade, I have handled him less and less, often weeks or months apart. Now, I rarely handle him at all, except on for cage cleanings every few months or on the rare occasion I use him for a education presentation. He is about as docile as he was 20 yrs ago.

Wildside

07-13-12, 08:03 AM

Yes, a lack of handling could lead to aggressive behavior.

I've had this happen to a corn snake I had years ago. I handled it ever week at first, and it was super tame. I slowed the handling down, and maybe 2 months went by when I only fed it and changed water, and didn't handle it. Sure enough, it was aggressive when I tried to take him out after those 2 months.

Maybe he was just mad at you :laugh:

Cornsnakes are funny little creatures. I had one take my hand hostage once.

Rogue628

07-13-12, 08:12 AM

Maybe he was just mad at you :laugh:

Cornsnakes are funny little creatures. I had one take my hand hostage once.

lol

And on the other side of the coin, my king, who's handled at least twice a week, will sometimes mistaken my pinky finger for a rat pinky. She will be so good, then Nom Nom will nom nom a finger. I haven't figured out what causes her to do this. She's being held for about the same amount of time, carefully as not to startle her. No indication of stress or not wanting to be held.....sometimes I think she's just bi polar :p

MoreliAddict

07-13-12, 08:14 AM

lol

And on the other side of the coin, my king, who's handled at least twice a week, will sometimes mistaken my pinky finger for a rat pinky. She will be so good, then Nom Nom will nom nom a finger. I haven't figured out what causes her to do this. She's being held for about the same amount of time, carefully as not to startle her. No indication of stress or not wanting to be held.....sometimes I think she's just bi polar :p
Kings snakes are the type of snakes to do just that. I was once holding one and it was perfectly calm, then decided to turn and start chewing on my hand...

shaunyboy

07-13-12, 04:27 PM

I had a few weeks where my Carpet Python wasn't handled at all. Now she is much more hissy, and will bluff at me. I definitely saw a direct correlation between the amount of handling and the amount of comfort my snake displayed while being handled. Just my .02.

^^^^^
thats a fair point mate

imo,carpets have way different temprements

imo,much more alert and willing to strike a heat signature,just incase its food

all the ball pythons i've handled,seem much more timid than carpets

i think if you didn't handle a carpet python for a year.....

then put your hand in imo...

it would hit it,as it would react to the unfamilar/could be food,heat signature

so imo the results would differ/vary from species to species

cheers shaun

exwizard

07-13-12, 05:07 PM

So your snake started acting normal.
You can't "tame" a snake.Seeing is believing. All my snakes are tame and some of them needed work at the beginning but eventually got there.

lol!

It depends on your definition of "tame". When I handled him frequently, he acted docile, which I feel is "normal" for a captive snake...This exactly but even after less handling theyre still as tame as can be, even my baby Macks. These are pics of all my Macks. As you know the babies and yearlings are quite bitey but they grow out of that with frequent handling. As you can see, the baby Macks are on my bare hands.

exwizard

07-13-12, 05:25 PM

These outside pics of my baby Macks were taken just in June 2011, just 2 months after I got them and they were already tame by then. Btw, they are cbb 10/2010 so that makes them 8 months old at the time these pics were taken

Aaron_S

07-13-12, 08:00 PM

lol!

It depends on your definition of "tame". When I handled him frequently, he acted docile, which I feel is "normal" for a captive snake...

Eh...I consider "normal" for a CAPTIVE snake to eat, poop and be healthy. Docility doesn't matter. Some of my snakes are a pleasure to handle whenever. Some are very skittish but none are aggressive by nature.

I do believe it does depend on species on how easy they just "settle down" with growth but sometimes they just want to be left the frick alone.

Bite_Me

07-14-12, 10:47 AM

(Keep in mind I'm a Noob)
Hi,
from my experience, when I do not handle my ball python (2 - 3 weeks) she sort of "tests" me out. It's been a few times where I feed my ball, and within 3-4 days she begins a shed. I hate for them to be hungry while shedding, so if i see blue ting in her eyes i feed her (if possible... do not overfeed your snake for kicks!).
In any event, having gone a couple of weeks, she usually tries to test me out by acting all crazy. Some jestures include: pushing me away, cocking her head back as if to strike, hissing (very rare), head butt (extremely rare... maybe only twice).
Keep in mind, this is your pet. While it is good to not stress a snake out while shedding, eating or during digestion, you need to control your animal. It is normal that your snake tests you, don't be scared. If you have had her for a bit, she'll know your scent and should not bite. My best advice is to be calm and assertive. Your snake will sense your stress and you will stress it out. It should feel secure with you, support her weight and don't take too long to grab her, just do it.

bcoop1234

08-04-12, 12:40 PM

I really think it has to do with the snakes themselves. I have a corn that I handled a good amount when he was little and now he's about 3 years old and I handle him maybe once every couple months. He never shows any real sign of aggression and has never even struck at me.

Bite_Me

08-10-12, 12:28 PM

I once had my BP eat a meal, I waited 3 days to handle her. When i lifted her hide, she was going into shed. This took a little over a week. After the shed I went to handle her and she was flicking her body at me to go away. while i don't like stressing out my snake, I am a firm believer that she needs to understand that im in control and will not tolerate aggressive behaviour. I grabbed her anyways and proceeded to "play". after I grabbed her she did a 180 and turned back into the good ol' girl I remember. Sometimes a snake will "check" you. In my demented head, its her way of seeing if i really want to play with her or not. It's your snake, you should not be afraid to handle her. If you see she is adament on being left alone then give some space. I always wait until she tries to have a go at me (bit) before I leave her. She usually bumps me with her nose and I have never been bitten. Obviously dont force a pick up after eating and shedding and give a few days for her to digest and get back in the program