Laura,

Cool, it sounds like you have a pretty good handle on things. The handling 'regimen' I was talking about is also not something I think you will need to do forever by any means. I think if you work with him in a gradual way like I was suggesting, he should calm down very nicely, and you can probably go back to handling him just a couple times a week once he proves himself to be 'perfectly kid-proof.'

Since you said your presentations involve moving him around for several hours without necessarily handling him for more than 20 minutes at a time, maybe the longer handling sessions you could work up to would be to put him in his traveling gear and move him around throughout the house and the yard during the day - this could simulate the stresses of travel, and hopefully get him used to the idea that all that movement is not going to hurt him. This could also serve as a good way for you to gauge just how 'kid-proof' and predictable he may be.

Working with him like this has to hinge on him still eating regularly, and avoiding him getting stressed enough to cause you any problems... and give him a break after he eats! If you handle him after a meal, it could cause him to regurgitate his meal; I would wait a minimum of two days. During that time though, it wouldn't be terrible to continue with opening up his cage to check on him.... That is, if he is jumpy enough to be a real concern right now.

Good luck with your educational program! I think this is the best way we can reach out and positively change people's perceptions of snakes.

~Rebecca
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1.0.0 Dumeril's Boa '04
1.1.1 Ball Pythons



0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)

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