I can usually coax an aggressive snake using my hook out of it's cage into a shallow tub that is just below the level of the cage as long as the snake doesnt have to drop down more than a foot or two nor stretch very far out of the cage to start into the tub. i keep the tub lid slid back just a bit so the snake starts down into the tub but wont easily come right back out. I also have a garden hose fitted retractible spray coil hooked to and primed with hot water in case of a feeding reaction during the transfer. hot water in a consticing snakes mouth or head changes behavior to a flea respnse and doesnt hurt the animal as long as the water is not scaldng hot.



you should have a spotter or 2 depending on animal size as well as a blanket or head tarp to throw over the snake if all hell breaks loose and it hits the ground running. you should also clear a wide area around the cage so if things dont work out, the snake wont have lots of things to grab onto.



try some betadine mixed with luke warm water in the tub to make it dark tea in color and give the snake a good soak. you might also try crumpling up newspaper and sticking it in the tea to assist sheding. after a few hours soak let the animal come back up into it's cleaned cage over a wad of paper towels and as it is in about 1/3 of the way start gently assist shedding as it goes into the cage.

this tub thing works great dry as you clean the cage as well and is a safer way to rebuild trust for you and the snake.



good luck! hopefully the snake wont just come racing out fighting for it's life, though if you take your time, let the snake decide when to start moving and coax gently with your hook as to the direction of travel, this might save the animal.



keep your animal clean and dry in the future.



PS, in college back in the late 1970s when i started trying to breed retics i got 3 adult retics as free rescue animals (i had to go to the owners house and do an angry retic extraction) for similar challenges you are having and they all became handlable and healthy FYI

i produced several clutches of eggs but never got the incubation thing down.



winslow

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