Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok i know they might be by nature but at first both my retics were very calm. They get held alot but a few weeks ago both started striking when i would go to get them out and have not stoped no matter how much they are held. No after i get them out in a few min they calm down but i can put them up and get them out 10 min later and they will strike again. any comments or suggestions?
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Greg

Hey Greg, how y'all doin over there? We're good.

You know, it probably isn't that they are "aggressive" persay. It's most likely just that something is scaring them. And actually, one scared snake can set off another otherwise calm snake. If one that is scared urinates "panic pee" as I call it on you then any snake that smells this can instictively be put on the defense. Reptiles are pretty basic creatures and can easily be thrown into instinctual modes when something frightens or threatens them. Their instinct is strong (reptiles) and will always override any conditioning or learned behaviors or adopted dispositions. Just try to understand them and to be patient. With enough time of not being harmed their instinctual panic will decrease and then their domestic conditioning will begin to take over. Try to reduce any alien smells that may be on you. Try to always use the same soap, etc. They will become accustomed to one smell and get used to it.

Best of luck with them.
Our Website

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David Beauchemin
High End Herps.Inc
http://HighEndHerps.com

How old/large are your retics? When you take them out do you touch them with a hook or bump them on the nose a few times to cancel their feeding response? All of my retics would bite me repeatedly if I just took them out. The retics drive to eat and grow over shadows every thing else. Bill.
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...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.

Check their enclosure for any signs of a change. Make sure the temp, humidity and all other factors are where they need to be. The animals may just be stressed. How often are they recieving food? I might try to feed them more often to take the hunger edge off and curb the feeding response. Do you feed them inside their enclosure? They may have learned to have associated the opening of the enclosure with food. If they don't eat pk or frozen thawed prey already make the switch. Move them to a seperate location for feeding. Have the prey hidden and let the snake discover it rather than just tossing it in their with them. It also may be a good time to start hook training them. This can lead to a much easier time in and out of the enclosure and it minimizes stupid errors owners can make. I|Overall it leads to less times where you have to take a strike. Be persistant in your handling and always control the head. Try shorter sessions to reduce stress and slowly build you confidence level as well as the snakes. Wearing leather gloves might not be a bad option as well.

Jonathan T. Lane
Owner/Operator
Snake Lane Reptiles

The hook training is essential for retics. Concerning feeding I strongly recommend feeding in the cage. All of my 24 constrictor are fed in the cage and all are very easy to handle-including a gren anaconda. Moving a snake after feeding stresses a snake. moving alarge retic after feeding is more than dangerous. Some of my retics hold onto their feeding response for as long as 48 hours after eating. I would sooner have the retic think it may be fed when the cage is open and it is contained rather than the retic think it may eat any time it is taken out of the cage. Retics are treeitorial any way and always think of food. Every time you open the cage EXCEPT to feeed touch the snake on itshead/nose with a hook. When food enters the cage don't even let them see a hook. This should work well for you. Bill.
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...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.

Thanks for all the input. As for the question of how old. they both are very young. No i do not use a hook. Can anyone tell me where i can order one? I see from several people that it would be a good idea to use one. Right now i use gloves when taking them out and then take them off after they are out. I feel the same way about feeding them where they live and yes i stil do. If i can order a hook i will start doing that and maybe that will help out..
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Greg

Sorry about the typos in my last post-I have 34 constrictors-lol. I think the feeding response is what you are dealing with. When you reach in with the gloves the retics just see the movement and think "hey, here is something to eat". The hook will help a lot. Until you cancel the feeding response you will get bit. A bump or two on the nose with a hook and you will see the retic drop its head or turn away and then you can pick the snake up. You will learn more about their behavior and body posture. If I reached in or just opened one of my retic's cages I would get hit like a freight train. Once out it is ironic that they are one of the calmest snakes and I have very rarely been bit by a retic. You never let your guard down with a big one hough.

Check with www.midwesttongs.com or any of the vendors in the cage/supplies secton of the classifieds here for hooks. Best of luck-Bill.
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...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.

Thanks. I went to the site and ordered one. Maybe this will take care of it.
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Greg