Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My northern pines have decided that they wont be held or touched.I decided they are not going to win.I purchased my first real hook from midwest.Now mind you I have tried gloves and the fast grab.Neither worked and everyone lost some blood.I used my hook for the first time Saturday and it was like I had 2 different snakes.I never even got a hiss from either.As a matter of fact I freehanded them and put them back without the hook.I came home tonite from work and used the hook again with the same response.Was it the hand grab that got them so strung out to start with?Thank you..M

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If lead paint is so deadly why do they make it so delicious?

How old are they? Were they mild mannered and all of the sudden changed temperament? If yes, then you might look for a change in the external environment. Something could be stressing them out that you might not realize. Is their cage in a high traffic area? A new cat that could be teasing? Kids with their face to the cage? Maybe even a new cage? It's just an idea. Some animals are just moody also. I have pines that are sweethearts and one that is just a grouch! Maybe the cage temperature has crept up without realizing it. This time of the year it happens easily. I don't know if I helped or not but its just some thoughts. Good luck and take care!

Jeremy

I think the hand grabbing is what they're scared of the most. I've found that all large wild constrictors I've caught don't bite once I get them off the ground. But reaching down to pick them up is near impossible! Also reaching for the head slowly seems to set them off too even when being held.

The trick I use for angry pits is to just reach in and yank them up real quick. Don't give them any notice, just grab them as fast as you safely can. Or the hook method will probably continue to work.

I think the defensive instinct is triggered most when they are being reached down for. My tamest pit just lashed out at me for the first time after I put him in a new cage that sits on the floor. Used to he was eye level and had no problem being picked up. Now that he's ground level I have to be quick!

>>I think the hand grabbing is what they're scared of the most. I've found that all large wild constrictors I've caught don't bite once I get them off the ground. But reaching down to pick them up is near impossible! Also reaching for the head slowly seems to set them off too even when being held.
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>>The trick I use for angry pits is to just reach in and yank them up real quick. Don't give them any notice, just grab them as fast as you safely can. Or the hook method will probably continue to work.
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>>I think the defensive instinct is triggered most when they are being reached down for. My tamest pit just lashed out at me for the first time after I put him in a new cage that sits on the floor. Used to he was eye level and had no problem being picked up. Now that he's ground level I have to be quick!

The fast pick up works for me with all my other snakes,rats,milks,etc.The problem I had was them nailing me when I put them back.That and having them strike glass.Im waiting for uncle sam to get my refund and Im switching over to a cb 70 rack from vision.
Once again tonite I picked them out with the hook and had not even a hiss.Actually Ive been harrassing all my snakes with the hook.The mushrooms are starting to pop here and I will take my hook with me.We have some nice bulls,jet black rats,blue racers,milks,etc.Peoria and Pekin illinios have some outstanding size bulls that Im ready to tangle with now.lol..Thanks S
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If lead paint is so deadly why do they make it so delicious?

>>How old are they? Were they mild mannered and all of the sudden changed temperament? If yes, then you might look for a change in the external environment. Something could be stressing them out that you might not realize. Is their cage in a high traffic area? A new cat that could be teasing? Kids with their face to the cage? Maybe even a new cage? It's just an idea. Some animals are just moody also. I have pines that are sweethearts and one that is just a grouch! Maybe the cage temperature has crept up without realizing it. This time of the year it happens easily. I don't know if I helped or not but its just some thoughts. Good luck and take care!
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>>Jeremy

The male just hissed but the female has been full of piss and vinegar since the get go.Nothings changed in the 11 months Ive had them.The temps in my room stay between 75 and 80 this time of year and Ive unplugged all the uth for all my snakes.Im pretty sure it's been me going for the fast grab.Thanks Jeremy.
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If lead paint is so deadly why do they make it so delicious?

IMO the reason your snakes didn't freak out on the hook is simple....your hand is much larger and more intimidating than a hook...So when you reach in to pick up the snake it feels threatened, and it reacts to the perceived threat by biting. After all, your hand is HUGE from the snake's perspective and instinct tells the snake that when something big and scary tries to touch it, it has to defend itself....no matter how "cb" your snake is, it is still a wild animal and is primarily governed by survival instincts.

The hook on the other hand is slender and not intimidating. Some snakes aren't crazy about being "hooked" but they will not perceive the hook the same as they would a hand or arm, therefore you won't get the same reaction.

-AzAtrox

>>IMO the reason your snakes didn't freak out on the hook is simple....your hand is much larger and more intimidating than a hook...So when you reach in to pick up the snake it feels threatened, and it reacts to the perceived threat by biting. After all, your hand is HUGE from the snake's perspective and instinct tells the snake that when something big and scary tries to touch it, it has to defend itself....no matter how "cb" your snake is, it is still a wild animal and is primarily governed by survival instincts.
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>>The hook on the other hand is slender and not intimidating. Some snakes aren't crazy about being "hooked" but they will not perceive the hook the same as they would a hand or arm, therefore you won't get the same reaction.
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>>-AzAtrox

23 years of keeping herps and Im still learning.Never even thought of it.I thought it might be the heat from my hand but the large thick welding gloves yielded the same response.
Thank you Atrox.
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If lead paint is so deadly why do they make it so delicious?

I am speaking for myself and probably for many Pit enthusiats.. Pits are major bluffers.. I have Black pines, Northerns, Bulls and Gophers.. Many morphs as well... they all do the Rattlesnake impersonations... they coil and rear up , hiss and tail shake... however with every single one of mine it BLUFF.. I reach right in with all that action and NEVER get bit .. dont get me wrong, they strick .. but they never bite.. once in a while i may get grazed by a tooth but these guys are all bark... you can grab em and pickem right up ... after a minute or 2 they will settle right down .. all the juvies are liek this , adults usually just loosen up and realize its futile.. You dont need a hook for these snakes ... just reach right in and grabem.. I I love these snake because they put on such a show but when it comes down to it , they are chicken ...

Trust me
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Safari Tom
See'em Touch'em Save'em
www.SafariTom.com

>>I am speaking for myself and probably for many Pit enthusiats.. Pits are major bluffers.. I have Black pines, Northerns, Bulls and Gophers.. Many morphs as well... they all do the Rattlesnake impersonations... they coil and rear up , hiss and tail shake... however with every single one of mine it BLUFF.. I reach right in with all that action and NEVER get bit .. dont get me wrong, they strick .. but they never bite.. once in a while i may get grazed by a tooth but these guys are all bark... you can grab em and pickem right up ... after a minute or 2 they will settle right down .. all the juvies are liek this , adults usually just loosen up and realize its futile.. You dont need a hook for these snakes ... just reach right in and grabem.. I I love these snake because they put on such a show but when it comes down to it , they are chicken ...
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>>Trust me
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>>Safari Tom
>> See'em Touch'em Save'em
>>www.SafariTom.com

Hi Tom,
My female does not bluff.She would even take shots after I had her out.While im not afraid of a few dropplets of my own blood or the teeth pussing there way back out of my skin.I want to minimalize the stress to the snakes.I also dont want them breaking jaws when they hit the glass.I know where your comming from and have just grabbed everything from wc burmese and retics to everything inbetween.Hopefully like you said they will outgrow this phase...Thank you..M

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If lead paint is so deadly why do they make it so delicious?

I totally understand you not wanting your pine smacking the glass.. thats never good ..

All the best with him ... ive also done great with other biety snakes just by handling them for extended periods .. one yellow rat i just used at a lecture was really vicious .. striking , biting and chewing .. I brought her to an Earth Day Lecture last Friday and had her out ( expecting a show ) but she completly calmed down after about 2 minutes and was perfect , in and out of her transport for over 6 hours... since then ive been in and out of her habitat about 3 times and she has been flawless...

All animals are different .. some calm down .. some dont .. but to my experience .. most do

Good luck with her !
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Safari Tom
See'em Touch'em Save'em
www.SafariTom.com

I have a 3 year old Hwy 277 bull that is about 6 feet and girthy and has no bluff in her at all. She bites and then bites again and continually hisses. She stays in her defensive posture and strikes whenever you get in range. If she tags you, you bleed. She gets so worked up that I rarely handle her. I have been told that I should handle her often and that she will calm down, I'm not sure if that is true, What I do know is that if I bother her she will coil and hiss loudly for an hour after I have put her back into her cage even with the glass covered over to block her view. I figure it is to stressful on her so I just don't handle her unless its necessary. Jack

Thats a typical Pit ...

They strike and strike and hiss and hiss .. they put on a major show... t Id love to see a pic of the one you just caught !

Ive been working with pits for a few years now ... They are my favorites .. but im telling you ... with my experience .. they are bluffers... Yest they strike , yes they hit .. they strike with their mouth half open and crooked while they are hissing ... i have had them draw blood .. several times.. my point is that they are ( for the most part ) bluffing ... With all of my pits.( except for the docile ones) they act as though they will rip you apart .. striking over and over hissing .... but i can reach right down and pick them up with out problems...

its scary ... its a mind thing ... you think they will tear you up ... but they dont ...
Im not saying there are no pits that dont bite , the majority of all pits are EXTREME bluffers
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Safari Tom
See'em Touch'em Save'em
www.SafariTom.com