Posted by:
snaker
at Fri Dec 19 10:26:29 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by snaker ]
Welcome to the "Bitten by Cals Club." While I can definately empathize with your plight having been there, you do need to realize that while cali's are some of the most common snakes in the trade and are generaly handleable they will occasionaly chomp you out of the blue for no apparent reason. While I am not enough of a pyschotherapist to help you over come your new found fears, I can give you a few tips to give you a little more handling confidence. The most important thing is also to the most difficult to learn and that is to recognize your snake's "mood." If you can see that he is overly aggitated or excited at something or just pissed off at the world, this may not be the time to pick him up. Make sure you do not have even the slightest amount of sent of food items on your hands. For a king this can be lizards, snakes, poultry and probably even fish as well as rodents. If I am going to handle my king I wash my hands even after petting the dog. While dogs are generally not pry items I don't trust that bb-sized reptilian brain to tell the difference. Also, don't startle the snake by picking him up unexpectedly or suprise him with your presence. Make sure he notices you and knows your coming as you approach and open the cage. Then this is very important, as you reach in never reach down for him directly from up above. This is how a predator would pick him up and he will react accordingly. Rather than that, reach in from across the cage a ways and place the back of your hand on the bottom of the cage with your palm up and slide your hand towards his mid belly and swoop him up with one steady motion and get him up off his belly in a swift but controlled motion. Once you have him up in the air support his body with both hands and do not try and restrain his movements. Kings will be in motion the whole time you are handling, do not try and restrict their movemnets rather gently direct them to where you want them to go. The other posts regarding using some form of improvised snake stick to get them off the ground will work too. As far as your fear of getting bitten, I can't really help you there. I have had snakes for the better part of 15 years and I hate getting bit and the thought of it still gives me goose bumps. Not to encourage you to throw in the towell on kings they are wonderfull snakes but if you can not get over the fear then cal kings may not be for you. My cali is perfectly handlable 95% of the time but that other 5% catches me off guard every time, I never see it coming. I have never owned an eastern, Mexican black or Florida but from the descriptions from people on this forum they sound a little less snappy than cals. Cornsnakes are also usually very handlable and maybe would be better suited for you. Hope this helps.
[ Hide Replies ]
- Overcoming snakebite fear.... - twinsmom, Thu Dec 18 21:01:32 2003
- RE: Overcoming snakebite fear.... - meretseger, Fri Dec 19 00:28:51 2003
- RE: Overcoming snakebite fear....(long) - mbdorfer, Fri Dec 19 08:18:44 2003
 RE: Overcoming snakebite fear.... - snaker, Fri Dec 19 10:26:29 2003- RE: Overcoming snakebite fear.... - thinmac, Fri Dec 19 16:27:20 2003
- gloves are great for this fear.... - munchkins, Fri Dec 19 17:11:16 2003
- RE: Overcoming snakebite fear.... - Rearfang, Fri Dec 19 19:45:12 2003
- RE: Overcoming snakebite fear.... - Iblis, Fri Dec 19 21:29:36 2003
- RE: M2C - Dann, Sat Dec 20 05:21:12 2003
- RE: Overcoming snakebite fear.... - jeeperscreepers, Sat Dec 20 20:24:47 2003
- RE: Overcoming snakebite fear.... - Bianca, Sun Dec 21 19:10:49 2003
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