I can't stop lookin' at my new Snake!

[skin78]

question,,, how do you hook such a small snake??? It really is a beuaty by the way

[Gregg M]

Very small home made hook....... I use modified coat hangers for baby puffs, gaboons, and rhinos........ Works great...... Hey Matt, did you get that eye cap/skin off yet?????

[Mustangrde1]

Matt I am jelous man that is a real gem to any collection.

[Jeremy]

Het Matt,
Cograts on the awesome little prickly head! I currently have a pair of squams and they are hands down my fav arboreal vipers.

I didnt read every post to this thread so excuse me if this has already been adressed but I wanted to share a few feeding stratagies with you that I have learned from the masters of Atheris. (York and Derek Morgan)

As you know, baby squams can be a pain from time to time. However, they are much easier then others in the genus and much, much easier then the trims (minus the purpuremactualtus:-). They key here is to get them to strike. Squams instinctivly hang on to prey due to their arboreal life styles so getting them to strike will usualy results in a hanging on bite.. The easiest way to do this is to piss em off:-) Through many feeding sessions with tons of baby squams I have found that tapping them gentley, about a third of the way down from their head, ususaly gets a reaction. It really seems to tick em off and I ususaly get a strike. Also very gently tapping on the head work almost equally well.

Now these methods may only enduce a defensive strikes at first but if you are presistant(not too presistant though) they will eventualy get mad enough and give a good chomp[. Once they have their fangs stuck in it pretty much a cake walk from there. Just remeber to be very still untill the pinky part reaches the point of no return!!!!!

Another teasing method is to gentaly tap there tail and see if you can use their cuduual lureing instinct to work in your favor. I still find the above mentioned loaction to be more of a G spot if you will:-D

If it comes down to it, senting with frog may be required but I have never had this happen with a squam.

If everything goes well and you do have a female, you will be wishing for that stubborn feeding response!!! Females get horrible feeding responses and strike at every movment around them! Its extreamly cute but always expect it. If a squam gets ahold of you they wont let go and im sure youve read how lovely their venom is:-)

Anyway, sorry if im preaching to the choir:-) Just passing down this time tested method which has worked great for me and my freinds. Good luck and that is truley a beautiful squam!!

All the best,
Jeremy

[Linds]

OMG she is too cute!!! Congrats and good luck with her!

[Matt]

Jeremy,
thanks for the advice man, i really appreciate it....Ive been trying to tease feed her, but have yet to get a defensive strike from her.....although she had no problem striking at my fingers when i had the camera in her face

i know Im going to need all the advice i can get on getting her to eat, so thank you very much for sharing your experince...i may need it again sometime

Gregg, thanks for the scotch tape idea, it worked beautifully on the skin around the eye! i owe ya one man

thanks for all the complimenst guys...i really didnt expect this many replies in the venomous forum....its nice to know people are lookin'

[Gregg M]

Glad to here you got it off....... Its nice when you dont have to get your hands too close to their face....LOL.... Talk to you later.....

[BoidKeeper]

Glad to hear it's all good Matt! She is awsome! Congrats!
Trevor