Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi everyone, i was wondering what the best taming process for a 3 foot female with a decent attitude would be.thanks.matt

Lot's of handling and patience. Wear gloves and control the head. I would also get the animal used to a hook. The more jumpy and jittery you are the more fear the snake can sense your fear. Be calm and just handle as frequently as possible but without overstressing. At first keep it to short sessions maybe just a quick in and out of the enclosure. Gradually increase these sessions as you and the animal feel more comfortable. Before you know it she'll be begging to come out and explore with you. Good Luck and be persistant. If you need any future help or have more questions send me an email!

Jonathan T. Lane
Owner/Operator
Snake Lane Reptiles
Chicagopythons@hotmail.com

I agree totally, my retic was somewhat aggresive when I got her but after she got used to the hook she became really docile. Right now I have to give her oral batryl injections because of a really minor scale rot issue and she does not even mind that. Just be patient and move slowly
Good Luck

Will this method work with a 6' individual?

can I tame a retic without the hook, because I tamed my blood and my anaconda without one because i want to be able to reach in and grab the water bowl without a hook. Im ot scared of being bitten and I'm not nervous either so I think it will work without the hook.thanks

The hook is essential with retics. You are dealing with a totally different animal here with different behavior. When in feed mode a retic is a "legless t-rex"-lol. Unless you cancel that feeding response you will get bit. The reticulated python with its sleek body and speed for its size is more of a hunter. They have food on their minds all the time. The way a retic is programed to survice is to eat and grow big so nothing else eats it. Also they are territorial in the cage and sometimes as they are settled into their cage for awhile they seem to be more aggressive. This is the feding response and cage territory thing. I have some snakes that I can just reach in the cage. NONE of my retics will let me do that and I would neve try. In fact andy time I change wate or work in a retics cage, the retic is taken out first. I just don't go on their turf. Get a snake hook and start touching the snake on the head/nose every time the cage is opened EXCEPT when feeding-then don't even let the retic see a hook. They will soon be conditioned that the hook means "no food" and should calm down for you. Avoid restraining a retic'shead if possible-the hate that and are unforgiving. With all this in mind, think down the road when that retic is 16 feet and you will be glad you used the hook training. 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.

I see a lot of people using hooks but i have never had to. I have had a lot of retics and NONE of them ever struck at my bare hand unless they were imports or never handled before i had them, thus not being "trained" for better lack of words. The way i look at it is that i am not afraid to get bit because 9it is just part of the territory. If they bite, they let go when they realize you are not food (assuming they dont think you are food With my retics, i quickly put my hand right up in and down over there head. It is similiar to the hook method someone used, but i use my hand. This works great and i have NEVER been bitten with this procedure. On the other hand, i think this is partially credited to the fact that i had the forethought to work with my retics daily. If not, and i was strictly a breeder that does not care to handle my animals, it could very well be a different story. But in my case, a hook has never been needed. Each retic has an individual personality. Get to know it and how it reacts to you and your approaches. Then go from there. I dont think it is a cut and dry science. Just trial and error on each particular animal.

Good luck!
Dallas Quarles
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