Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a large bull snake (P. catenifer sayi) that I caught last week at work. He is a beautiful specimen that is around five feet in length. I've never seen bullsnakes here in Abilene, TX before (we mostly have W.Diamondbacks), so this guy was a thrill to deal with.

The snake was as tame as could be when I caught him, he had no trouble being picked up and handled. However, after I got him home, his temperament took a complete 180. He now stays coiled in the corner, and the slightest approach or movement produces loud hissing and biting if provoked close enough. He has remained as such for several days now. He finally accepted food today, but not while I was around.

Any advice on taming this guy? Will he eventually "cool down"? I know semi-regular handling can tame snakes...but what if they don't even let you close?

Remember, all that "Sturm und Drang" is mostly bluff. Just ignore it and pick him up-if you show you're not intimidated you're one step closer to taming him down. Once he's fed a few times, I'd try to handle him for a few minutes daily until he calms down.

Without this effort, he may never calm-a big pair I collected last year in Brewster county is still putting on their act!I haven't really made an effort to tame them, however.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

I would definitely give him a hide box. If he's out in the open all the time he's probably going to be freaked out even when you're not around, and then when you do come around he'll be super defensive.

That is the strange thing. I gave him a cardboard hidebox (approx 8x8x8) and he refuses to use it seems like. He stays on the empty side on the enclosure, away from the water and box.

I went ahead and ignored the "bluffs" and grabbed him. Sure enough, he struck a few times, but after actually getting ahold of him he seemed more calm.

Its my experience that for some odd reason they don't like hide boxes. I have had many w/c large bulls from West Texas and all of them rufuse there hides. I have a large female now that was pretty mellow when captured and stayed that way for a couple months and ate everything I placed in there for her f/t at that.
Well out of hibernation she is a total jerk and I have to keep her cage covered or she hits the front of the glass over and over and she hasn't ate a single item in months now.So weird.
L8r

I have a northern like that. Super nice during the year but a bear out of brumation! I call her Ms. B. Abviously abreviated but would have been more blatant in my younger days! I don't observe my bulls hiding much either. They all have the giant Van Ness crocks with the cut outs on the side that they could use for a hide but they never really do. I guess its there if they choose. Take care.

Jeremy
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Jeremy Pierce
Shade Tree Exotics
shade-tree-exotics@att.net