Best time to handle?

D Grade · 02-13-15, 02:24 PM

Hey guys,

Wanted to ask this question since Ive taken a couple nips and one 20-30 second feed response bite from Amani in the past couple weeks. I wanted to ask when is the best time to pull him out to handle him? I know not to handle him for at least 48 hours after a feed. I also try not to handle him when hes in his hide or "sleeping", or should I? The nips and feeding bite I took when I last handled him he was out and about in the wide open.

So when is the best time to "bother" him I suppose is what Im asking.

yeloowtang · 02-13-15, 03:17 PM

I will start by saying i don't know anything about kings, but i do have a few ideas and tips that work for other species.
this could help you out..

for nocturnal hunters, you want to handle day time, wake them up, guide them out of the cage and then once in your hands, they may calm down and be curious.
just don't do any quick movements in front of them or do anything that can startle them.. always from behing/under.
handling them day time, will associate handling day/feeding night patern

for agressive snakes that feed anytime of day. you could use the snake hook training that we use with reticulated pythons..
in order to switch off the feeding response, you gently touch them on the head with the hook, then carefully take them out of the cage..

if yours is really nippy, you might want to practice using a snake hook on a regular basis.
use it as part of your routine.

unfortunately, some snakes are always that way.. if young it could be a simple defensive reaction still, in time it may relax and get use to you..

best of luck

D Grade · 02-13-15, 03:38 PM

Thank you, bud. I always try to pick him up from the rear. Hes a quick lil booger so sometimes it takes a few times to get him and I think thats why I got nipped before was from multiple attempts of picking him up. I usually never handle him after dark but I do feed him in the early afternoon on Sunday.

Cmwells90 · 02-13-15, 04:40 PM

I agree with the hook training. My boa is very cage defensive and this is the only way I can get her out without getting tagged. Once she's out she's a sweetheart but it's their home so we need to handle it carefully. I use a hook even on my babies because it helps avoid them confusing me with food.

D Grade · 02-13-15, 05:20 PM

I might try this if it fails to stop. It doesnt hurt me at all when he bites but I want him to stop the habit well before he becomes an adult.

Cmwells90 · 02-13-15, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D Grade

I might try this if it fails to stop. It doesnt hurt me at all when he bites but I want him to stop the habit well before he becomes an adult.

Exactly, nip it in the butt now. The bites never really hurt for too long, unless they latch on and wrap up. But it's the fact that you don't need them biting at all, causes stress on both ends.

jjhill001 · 02-13-15, 11:35 PM

Pick him up and hold onto him until he realizes that biting you doesn't get him anywhere. If you put him down every time he bites you he learns this is a way to get you to let go and will do it more.

D Grade · 02-13-15, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjhill001

Pick him up and hold onto him until he realizes that biting you doesn't get him anywhere. If you put him down every time he bites you he learns this is a way to get you to let go and will do it more.

This is exactly what I did when I took the feeding response bite. I pulled him out of his enclosure while he was still latched on. I told him "you know thats not gonna do anything, right".

. Like I said, Im not scared or do I flinch when he comes after me, but I do want him to stop. I have a three year old daughter who loves him (and snakes in general) and a wife who finally overcame her fear of snakes (last thing I want is for that to return).

On a side note, I did decide to handle him tonight and I pulled him out of his bedding he was buried in (first for that). No bites or issues besides him trying to get away. Tonight was a good 30-40 minute handle and he did great.

Derek1 · 02-14-15, 12:21 AM

My King is almost always in hide. She's an Albino, so not sure if that plays into that. But I can just reach into the hide and handle her no problems. Pass her off with not issues. She's awesome. Great eater too.

That said. I actually tried to get her to bite me the other day or actually test her patience.. Approached to handle from the head, touched her nose many times, and I nothing. Which is a good sign. But see is a violent eater and never skips a meal.

Not sure when the best time to handle is with a King, but most of my handling is done from 7-10pm. Which is a nono for some species of snakes. But I could handle her at anytime and never worry I feel.

Keep it up! You're doing really good D!

jjhill001 · 02-14-15, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D Grade

This is exactly what I did when I took the feeding response bite. I pulled him out of his enclosure while he was still latched on. I told him "you know thats not gonna do anything, right".

. Like I said, Im not scared or do I flinch when he comes after me, but I do want him to stop. I have a three year old daughter who loves him (and snakes in general) and a wife who finally overcame her fear of snakes (last thing I want is for that to return).

On a side note, I did decide to handle him tonight and I pulled him out of his bedding he was buried in (first for that). No bites or issues besides him trying to get away. Tonight was a good 30-40 minute handle and he did great.

Well snakes don't have ears so talking didn't do much. But it's. Young snake it's not like a puppy gets house trained in one day. Just keep working at it.

Derek1 · 02-14-15, 12:40 AM

D I think you need to increase your feed size too. Like I posted about a week ago. Also don't got in timid. When mine was a baby she was nippy and it's intimidating. But now I jut grab her and she's cool. Gotta show her who's boss.

D Grade · 02-14-15, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek1

My King is almost always in hide. She's an Albino, so not sure if that plays into that. But I can just reach into the hide and handle her no problems. Pass her off with not issues. She's awesome. Great eater too.

That said. I actually tried to get her to bite me the other day or actually test her patience.. Approached to handle from the head, touched her nose many times, and I nothing. Which is a good sign. But see is a violent eater and never skips a meal.

Not sure when the best time to handle is with a King, but most of my handling is done from 7-10pm. Which is a nono for some species of snakes. But I could handle her at anytime and never worry I feel.

Keep it up! You're doing really good D!

Thanks bud, I see the same thing in mine too. Just gotta get past the cage defense and we'll be good to go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjhill001

Well snakes don't have ears so talking didn't do much. But it's. Young snake it's not like a puppy gets house trained in one day. Just keep working at it.

Yeah I know, more or less the action of continuing to pick him up after hes latched on. I talk to him a lot, its a habit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek1

D I think you need to increase your feed size too. Like I posted about a week ago. Also don't got in timid. When mine was a baby she was nippy and it's intimidating. But now I jut grab her and she's cool. Gotta show her who's boss.

Thanks again bud, and I just upped his feeds from two pinkies a week to one fuzzy a week last week. Took him a while longer to get it down but he accepted it without hesitation.