Most Aggressive Snakes you've worked with

IW17 · 01-27-14, 10:58 PM

Well its late and I figured I'd start something. Wondering what species in particular you've worked with in the past that you would consider Aggressive or defensive. Not necessarily one animal that broke the rule, but a species in particular that keeps you on your toes. I myself have never owned any Snakes that didn't calm down after due time and I was curious to see if other keeper's experiences were different.

Mikoh4792 · 01-27-14, 11:25 PM

I think many carpets are defensive as babies. For my carpets that I've gotten as hatchlings, all but one has tried nipping me at one point or another. But they've all calmed down.

Both my cay caulker yearlings have been hissy and bitey in the beginning, but have also calmed down.

SSSSnakes · 01-27-14, 11:34 PM

Rock Pythons, Big and BAD

kwhitlock · 01-28-14, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

Rock Pythons, Big and BAD

What's it like working with rock pythons? I remember seeing you talking about you have then for educational purposes that not every snake is a big nice puppy dog tame snake. I can't imagine working with a rock python..

infernalis · 01-28-14, 12:09 AM

My black racer... he will never "calm down"..... that's why I like him so much too.

xSerpentGoddess · 01-28-14, 12:20 AM

We have a 3 1/2 foot argentine boa that launches out of her bin when you pull it out.

We have a couple kofiau locality green trees that used to hit the glass when you walked by. Now we are able to pull them out by hand and they are kittens.

SSSSnakes · 01-28-14, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwhitlock

What's it like working with rock pythons? I remember seeing you talking about you have then for educational purposes that not every snake is a big nice puppy dog tame snake. I can't imagine working with a rock python..

They tend to be fast and aggressive. They attack as soon as they have the chance. When you open their enclosure, you have to be ready to defend yourself. They strike repeatedly and never seem to run out of energy. I love them.

Will0W783 · 01-28-14, 08:43 AM

I think most people mislabel snakes as "aggressive" when they are generally actually "defensive." They are not coming after you, and if given the choice they will retreat rather than attack. I've worked with a number of hyperdefensive snakes, including WDBs and retic rescues.

However, I did keep one snake that I would call genuinely aggressive. I no longer own this snake for just that reason. I had an albino monocled cobra. The thing was nuts- it would try to get out and during feedings he'd often feint toward the food then lunge to the opposite side of the cage to try to escape. The one time he did manage to slip out of the cage, he hit the floor and charged me rather than running away. He was a snake who wanted to chase me away...very aggressive. I ended up giving him to a friend who breeds monocleds, because I just got tired of dealing with an animal that actively tried to figure out how to kill me every day, lol.

IW17 · 01-28-14, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

My black racer... he will never "calm down"..... that's why I like him so much too.

I've always wanted to keep a racer. I grew up in Florida and used to catch them all the time. I've heard so many stories of wild caught specimens not fairing well in captivity that it always turned me away from keeping an individual. I've since been hearing of several people keeping them successfully, such as yourself, and would jump at the opportunity if I was able to aquire one that was eating.

pdomensis · 01-28-14, 09:05 AM

I've had some gophers that were extremely grumpy and would strike at the glass if you walked by. That was a long time ago though, and I think if I had provided better care (eg more hides) they might have been better to deal with.

IW17 · 01-28-14, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

Rock Pythons, Big and BAD

Is your experience that most rocks are Aggressive/defensive or is this a particular animal?

kwhitlock · 01-28-14, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

They tend to be fast and aggressive. They attack as soon as they have the chance. When you open their enclosure, you have to be ready to defend yourself. They strike repeatedly and never seem to run out of energy. I love them.

holy cow. sounds like quite the interesting snake! whats the biggest rock python you have? I cant imagine duking it out with an adult rock python bit to much snake for me.

**Tsubaki** · 01-28-14, 10:02 AM

Hmm, i have worked with several reticulated pythons and even though most of them calm down when they get older. Especially the larger ones, they still needed to be handled with caution. Not all of them give warning to when they are going to nip at you. And some just never calm down! But i cant say they are all aggressive by nature, i think more often than not they become reasonably docile. Or at least manageable.

However, i used to have one retic who would put up such a fight.. it always left me in awe, i would say the most aggressive snake i have ever dealt with. Lunging at the glass, had to keep her tank covered up. Couldn't even take a picture 8/10 times she would lunge. She hurt herself once slamming against the glass, had to take her to a vet to get a tooth extracted and the wound cleaned.. that was, interesting..... To say the least! Exhausted the vet techs who had to help hold her. (the next time i called the vet, she asked twice to make sure i wasn't bringing the same snake again or she would call extra help

) Think i still have a picture of her tooth sticking out of her lip somewhere.. ill look for it later.

I never owned a rock python so i do not have owners-experience, but my friend did and i helped out at times.. and they were not very friendly. Rather agressive

mclund · 01-28-14, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will0W783

I think most people mislabel snakes as "aggressive" when they are generally actually "defensive." They are not coming after you, and if given the choice they will retreat rather than attack. I've worked with a number of hyperdefensive snakes, including WDBs and retic rescues.

I was waiting for someone to mention Western diamondbacks...they are all nasty. I do agree they are more defensive than aggressive. Never had one charge me. Most of the crotalids will stand there ground, but seldom come out of the cage after you.

Quote:

However, I did keep one snake that I would call genuinely aggressive. I no longer own this snake for just that reason. I had an albino monocled cobra. The thing was nuts- it would try to get out and during feedings he'd often feint toward the food then lunge to the opposite side of the cage to try to escape. The one time he did manage to slip out of the cage, he hit the floor and charged me rather than running away. He was a snake who wanted to chase me away...very aggressive. I ended up giving him to a friend who breeds monocleds, because I just got tired of dealing with an animal that actively tried to figure out how to kill me every day, lol.

I have a number of Monocles and most of them are pleasant to work with, but my albino male is the worst of them all, but I still wouldn't define him as aggressive.

infernalis · 01-28-14, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IW17

I've always wanted to keep a racer. I grew up in Florida and used to catch them all the time. I've heard so many stories of wild caught specimens not fairing well in captivity that it always turned me away from keeping an individual. I've since been hearing of several people keeping them successfully, such as yourself, and would jump at the opportunity if I was able to aquire one that was eating.

Got mine as a neonate, little monster refused to eat anything but anole lizards for the first few months.

It was a challenge, he's a full grown rodent eater now.