Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok this might do good for more than just me.... i know striking is part of the game when getting a new baby and the key is to move slowly or let them do all the moving. I find it easier to have the snake in one hand and then move that hand to something else, otherwise the snake strikes at any shadow or fast movement. This might be a good topic for those who get new babies to know how to approach it and why it strikes etc, so they won't get fustrated and blame the breeder. Hell Abbi is a bull whip but slow is best and let her do all the movement time is also the key. Any other suggestions one might want to add for those roaming this site that might ease the problem? Ok now back to the bandaids....LOL
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1.4 various boas(Flicka,Felony,Nova,Alias,Abby)
0.1 BRB Abalone; ABBI
1.0 Rott X (OSO)
2.0 cats (Simba, Morris)
fish & feeders

IMO, part of getting a new baby should be to leave it alone for a few days. As much as you want to play with the new "toy" what may be best is to just leave it alone. I'm sure everyone would agree that shipping has to be stressful for the baby. And that it's a good idea to let it settle in before attempting feeding. IMO that also applies to it's attitude. It's most likely spent it's entire life since birth in one enclosure. Now it's been packed into an even smaller enclosure and tossed around for a day. Then it gets taken out and into yet another enclosure, this one probably much larger than it's ever been in. I really believe they just get scared. Once it's had a few days to explore, it gets used to it's surroundings and is less scared.

BTW, nice addition to your sig file!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
19.29 BRB
13.18 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

When I bought my first BRB she wasn't all that nippy. I did put her in her new cage and pretty much left her alone for a week. I did take a couple quick pictures (I believe, it has been over three years) before putting her in her new home. After she ate (and I waited a few more days of course) I did take her out. I don't recall her trying to strike. She started doing that only after I had her for a year.

But then again, I feed her in her cage and I don't take her out enough to break her out of the 'what comes into the cage is food' mentality. However, if I bring her cage down, remove the bungi cords i have on the cage to keep it securely closed, and let it sit for 10-20 minutes, till she goes back into her hide, I can take her out fine without her trying to bite. Once she knows its not feeding time she is very docile.

My second BRB I bought as an adult...so kind of missed all the baby nippiness. My first female wasn't really young when I got her but still under a year (bought her in February, she was born the previous summer....not completely sure on her birthdate, I forgot to ask when I bought her and now I forget who I bought her from LOL. I know it was a young man, shaved head, with earrings...but then again, that pretty much describes half the male breeders at the reptile expo *grin* Or at least the one up here near where I live.