Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, everyone. I've only posted once before on this forum, so I am still kind of new to it all. I have had my Peruvian Rainbow Boa, Weasley, for about 6 months now, and just got a new one, Potter, yesterday. I haven't figured out how to post pics yet, so if anyone could tell me how, that would be great. Anyway, the reason for my post is Weasley is making me nervous. I'm not exactly a snake expert yet, but Weasley has always been a fairly docile snake, never once having struck at me. He's been acting more and more nervous when I get him out the past month or so, and today he actually struck at me. He's definitely up to a size where I don't want to get bit, and now I'm afraid I am always going to have that fear now. He did just eat yesterday, so I'm hoping that has something to do with it. Any suggestions/reassurances? Do you think he will get back to his docile ways if I start handling him more (I've been getting him out only a few times a week lately)?

I think you've just learned a good lesson. Snakes are snakes. They really don't tame down as much as they become tolerant of being handled. Even though I have lots of snakes than have not tried to bite, it's always in the back of my mind. I'm also always very careful when I let others handle my animals. I usually start by letting them take the body while I keep a loose hold on their heads. As I feel the snake becomes more "comfortable", I'll let the other person have more control.

I've also found that having a snake stick around is not a bad idea. Sometimes, even with "tame" animals, I will go into their cage with a stick first. I'll hook the snake and then lift them into my hands. I will even do this with babies in shoeboxes (using small sticks). I think it makes the animals more comfortable being picked up with a stick and then taken hold of from below rather than having this large, looming figure come in and grab them from above.

Now that he's struck at you, don't be afraid of him. Just be cautious.
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

Is your snake nervous when you go to pick him up or the entire time you are handling? If it's just when you approach with hands maybe it's something as simple as going slower and allowing him to small you first. When I reach for mine I slowly remove the hide (usually sitting under one) and wait 20 to 30 seconds so I don't scare them and then slip one hand just in front of mid-body and drag them over a liitle closer before using a second hand to take most of it's weight.
I'd like to see a pic of them. I love the PRB's. On the main page of Kingsnake there are a group of headers...one is photo gallery. You just need to hit upload photos and follow the instructions.

Where did you get you Peruvians from?

I got my first one for Christmas from my boyfriend, he bought him at a reptile show in Indy, I can ask him later for the breeder name if you would like. My newest one I got yesterday at the show in Orlando from a breeder named Brian (I didn't get his last name, but he is in Florida and I have his number if you are interested). I keep both of them in tanks with bed-a-beast as substrate (my boyfriend's choice), which I don't really like, because they are almost always completely buried, not just under a hide. I think that may have something to do with Weasley being nervous when I get him out, because I am just randomly digging around to find him. I wouldn't be happy with someone doing that to me, either. Do you think it would be helpful to go to a different substrate, so the hides are the only thing to lift up? When he struck at me today, he was already out of his tank, on a blanket, but he had been acting nervous since I got him out a few minutes prior. I should have just left him in there. I just don't want him to continue to get shyer and shyer. Thanks for the reponse! I am working on photos, but the photo gallery keeps telling me my photos aren't in the right format. I'll keep playing around with it.