Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i guess i am just going to have to suck it up and get bitten. it's bound to happen so it may as well be a teeny tiny little snake, right? =D

any handling suggestions???

-Tia

Biggest handling thing is do NOT put it down when it bites. Be firm, not tentative. Reach in and scoop it up, yeah, don't go for the frontal assault. "sneak attack" from the rear works best. When holding, don't grasp, support. Be the warm tree, not the predator.
-----
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:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I wonder if this works out similarly to what I do with geckos. I tend to start out with juvenile geckos by simply putting my hand down in their terrarium and letting them come check me out in order to build trust. Usually it takes a couple of minutes, but they get curious eventually. (Takes patience, but works wonders - I have a leopard gecko who seems to be begging to be picked up sometimes.)

Does this work at all with snakes, or do you have to kind of trick them into it as you've described? I've handled juvenile snakes before, but never actually had one of my own, so they've always been handed to me rather than me being the one to get them out of their enclosure. (My younger brother has 1.1 BRBs a juvenile coastal carpet python.)

This is strictly a curiosity thing for me at the moment (can't really get any more pets right now), but I'm interested to know if snakes work out similarly to geckos, given enough patience from the human involved.
-----
0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko - Tigger
0.1 Crested Gecko - Pooh-Bear

I see it quite often when a local customer comes by where I reach in and pick up a baby easy as can be, no 'tude at all, then hand it over and the 'tude comes out big time. I think they can sense either individuals (recognise my hand as that same ol non threat that comes around from time to time) or can sense the comfort level of the person handling them.
-----
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:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I agree with Dave on everything, but would like to add. Wash your hands before handling. I was a little slow on this one, and it took several bites to realize most happened when I had recently handled one of my cats. Thus, I smelled like food and was the right temp too

Also, pay attention to the snake. It takes a while, but you will be able to figure out if it is grumpy and should be left alone or handled with extra care.
-----
Mike

7.13 BRB
1.2 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King