No handlin for a while = agressive behaivior - Page 2

Jay · 07-13-12, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreliAddict

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreliAddict

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

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

Rogue628 · 07-13-12, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildside

Maybe he was just mad at you

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

MoreliAddict · 07-13-12, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue628

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

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by brylecc1989

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreliAddict

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreliAddict

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