handling "nippy" snakes

rwg · 08-01-03, 03:04 PM

Hello all,

I've got a corn snake, but I'm looking at getting a medium sized boid for my second snake. Not anytime soon, but I'm an obsessive personality and I like to do my research first.

I'm a bit naive about handling practices so...

I'm wondering how you handle snakes that are a bit on the agressive side. For example, I have read that Macklott's pythons (which I find absolutely beautiful) are nippy as juveniles, and can often be agressive even as sub-adults, but will tame down as adults with regular handling. I would expect as juvies getting bit is not going to be a real problem. Handle them, and take bites...it wont hurt much anyway. When they start getting bigger if they're still bitey, what do you do? Take your lumps? Use a hook? Are there freehandling techniques to avoid bites?

Thanks

Pookie · 08-01-03, 03:09 PM

well i have a rainbow boa which are also known to be nippy as juveniles. I've had her bite me 3 times in one day. But, after the incident, i began to handle her more and more and i haven't had a bite since. You've gotta make the snake feel like it's not being threatened. Use slow movements to gain their respect for you. And although the bites won't hurt until the snake gets bigger, it's never a good idea to just let it go. Try to handle them as much as possible, that's all i can really say and they will usually grow out of the nippy stage. Good luck!

ohh_kristina · 08-01-03, 03:10 PM

hooks and gloves work wonders

Mike177 · 08-01-03, 03:25 PM

well i would just get it as a very yong hatchling and just kinda hold it as much as possoble and it will probly calm down quite nicely

unBOAlievable · 08-01-03, 03:27 PM

First off I have to tell you agressive snakes are my favorite,
but I do not think there is anyway to learn how to work with aggressive snakes other than experience with them. You have to learn every snakes personality because they all differ even amongst the same species.

Starting with neonates is your best bet, that away you learn as the snake grows. I will say I do not like handeling neonates to much until they are around 6 months of age and eating well.

I would get a good set of hooks and learn to use them, even if it is only with your cornsnake you can still get the hang of hooking.
Practice makes perfect.

There are methods for freehandeling nonvenomous and it just comes down to being able to read the snake and what it is going to do next, again it takes practice. Sometimes a little pain and discomfort.

Hope this helps, and a parting note, I have never been bit by a snake that I did not trust.

Invictus · 08-01-03, 06:36 PM

Some species of aggressive snake never calm down. From what I've heard, Macklotts are one of them. But, every snake is different. I know people with calm ETBs, and they are known for being aggressive. I think a few people on here have calm bloods, white lips, etc.

More handling CAN, but doesn't ALWAYS calm a snake down.

mikemcguire · 08-01-03, 11:55 PM

Like said before, the best way to "tame" a snake (even tho that statement is a bit redundant) is to handle them alot. My baby burm was very nippy when i firts got her, there was one point in time i couldnt attempt to grab here without getting struck at. I just bought a pair of gardening gloves for 2 dollars and handled her. She is still young, only 3 months but she sometimes jumps when i go to pick her up, but after that shes a doll. Handle handle handle, even if they bite, they will eventually stop. Instinct..if you keep handling even if it strikes it will eventually stop (however there are oddballs to the rules).

Good Luck

burmer · 08-02-03, 12:49 AM

Just keep handling it. Don't put it down just because it bites. If it knows you'll put it down when it bites it will always bite. I agree hooks and gloves are a great idea.

lordkovacs · 08-02-03, 10:51 AM

small hoooks and gloves are good I hear.... I asked a friend who has many many nippy snakes. good luck.

ReptiZone · 08-05-03, 01:24 PM

No such thing as a agresif snake no mater what it dose to you I have a 6 foot retic that bit me on the neck an it is not a agresif snake.

**Andy_G** · 08-05-03, 01:29 PM

In my personal opinion, hooks should be left for hots and gloves are just silly to have in most cases. Usually just simply picking them up and holding them gently is the key to taming them. Let them do what they want in your hands and don't restrain them and they will learn you are not a predator.

wyz · 08-05-03, 01:44 PM

For sure some snakes are categorised as "agressive" but even in these species you have tame and nippie "individuals".

Find the specie you want, then put as much time to chose your snake as an indivudual.

I allways buy them very young and I handle them without gloves or hooks. I know that it wouldn't be safe depending on the size of older snakes, but my longests are about 3 feet now, so a bite will hurt, but not too much.

My favorites are my nippiest,, my ATBs.. it can take me sometimes about 5 minutes to take them out of their enclosure. With gloves I'd do it in 10 seconds, but taking longer is more fun.. That how you learn to read them.

And repeating what someone wrote once on another forum, it's often the stupid move we make while removing our hands from the enblosure that causes pain when we hit the corn og the cage and not the actual bite

WYZ

rwg · 08-11-03, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wyz
My favorites are my nippiest,, my ATBs.. it can take me sometimes about 5 minutes to take them out of their enclosure. With gloves I'd do it in 10 seconds, but taking longer is more fun.. That how you learn to read them.

Thanks for the info WYZ. Excuse my ingorance, but what about it takes 5 minutes?

RG

MontyPython · 08-21-03, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chondro python
No such thing as a agresif snake no mater what it dose to you I have a 6 foot retic that bit me on the neck an it is not a agresif snake.

So by that logic you're saying that venomous snakes aren't aggressive?

ReptiZone · 08-21-03, 10:03 PM

Yes with that logic I mean venomous are not aggresive. tell me this if you are walking in the woods and see a rattler 12 feet away do you think it will get up and chase you....NO.

Now if you start being as stupied as some ppl out there and try to pic it up well that is your fault. Doun't mistake deffensivenes for aggresiveness.