Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I am fairly new to Rat snakes and have recently aquired a juvenile yellow rat. I own a ribbon snake that is far more easier to handle, a little fiesty, but easier. My question is, are there any "secrets" or pointers that you all can give to make my rat snake not as "held back" when trying to be handled?

Current setup: 20g --> moving to a 29g
Substrate: --> cypress (was aspen)
Temperature: --> 80-82F

Please tell me if I need to make adjustments.
Thanks.

>>Hello,
>>I am fairly new to Rat snakes and have recently aquired a juvenile yellow rat. I own a ribbon snake that is far more easier to handle, a little fiesty, but easier. My question is, are there any "secrets" or pointers that you all can give to make my rat snake not as "held back" when trying to be handled?
>>
>>Current setup: 20g --> moving to a 29g
>>Substrate: --> cypress (was aspen)
>>Temperature: --> 80-82F
>>
>>Please tell me if I need to make adjustments.
>>Thanks.

What do you mean by heldback?

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

"heldback". When I put my hand in the terrarium, he will not come freely to me. Usually I will take my hand and set it in the terrarium and just let him come check it out. I will then "edge" my hand under the stomach (as he is usually elevated in a "strike position"

After I wrote the first post, he seemed more willing to be handled.

Should I keep this process going so he will get used to being handled or will that be too stressfull?

Yes keep it up, or go with the just scoop him and support from below. If given a choice, I doubt he will choose to come to you willingly, unless you hand feed him outside his enclosure and he associates the handling with dinner time. Keep doing what you are doing, I think letting them smell you first is the way to go.

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Todd Hughes

>>"heldback". When I put my hand in the terrarium, he will not come freely to me. Usually I will take my hand and set it in the terrarium and just let him come check it out. I will then "edge" my hand under the stomach (as he is usually elevated in a "strike position"
>>
>>After I wrote the first post, he seemed more willing to be handled.
>>
>>Should I keep this process going so he will get used to being handled or will that be too stressfull?

I just reach in and grab them.Some of my other snakes I hook.Once I get them out they settle down.
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If lead paint is so deadly why do they make it so delicious?