Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Buddy is one of my success story's. I rescued her almost 2 yrs. ago. I got her from this kid that was scared t death of her. She bit him the first year he had her. So he built a big room size cage and left her there for the next 4 yrs. She was a 9 ft wet nuddle when I brought her home. Took me 3 days, a total of 6 hrs. to tame her. She is now 12.5 ft and around 110 lbs. She is just a love. She's my main atraction at all my educational programs, along as she's not in shed. The last pic was my first time holding her after all my work. The next few are recent pic's. I'll get some new ones in a few days.

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Education is Everything.......

Can I ask a dumb question? How did you tame the snake in just a few hours? How do you know you have a tame snake?

I have had a burm for a few years now and it has never bit me and is really good when I take him out, he really needs a new cage..

Do you have any links or docs that can help me become a better owner?

Thanks!

Well, when I first got her you could not handle this animal. I built a 4x8 cage and made it so the top would open. I makes it easier working with a big snake like this to work over head and not a cage that you have to go in from the side. Atleast for me I felt better working this snake over head. I used a snake hook, I make my own, rubbing and using the hooks to block strikes. Which she had a nice strong strike, never got me though. I worked with her until she struck at me 3 times. Then I let her sit for a while to calm back down. After a couple of days she was good to go. I have a pair of burms that I got back in Sept. that were also not too tame. At this time I do not have the space or room for 2 cages that open from the top. So I actually take them out side and work with them in the yard with a hook.They were handled a little by my freind that I got them from but they were still snippy. They are doing very well now. To me a tame snake is one that does not want to strike at you when you get him out of the cage or act like they want to bite. I know I rambled but hope this helped.
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Education is Everything.......

"Do you have any links or docs that can help me become a better owner?"

Read every thread/post here in the forum. There's 6 pages readily available with tons of good info within 'em. And there's a whole lot more in the archives. Use the "Search Forums" link to search for any topic, keeping your search phrase to one or two words in length.

If I was only allowed to tell you two things it would be:
* Hook train
* Respect their territory

There are several posts on hook training, it's simple & effective. The basic idea is to use a hook to get the snake's attention before handling. Don't use a hook when feeding, only prior to handling. They learn quick & easy.

By "respecting their territory" I mean realize that their cage is their turf and they're apt to naturally defend it. Regardless of the snake's size or species, regardless of the cage type, I normally don't "go in after 'em" I let them come to me or drag them out of their cage onto neautral ground.

Hook training & respecting their territory go hand-in-hand, to me, at least. Even though I use a hook to get their attention I still let them come to me. And they do.

If you've got any specific questions please don't ever hesitate to ask. You know the ol' sayin' about dumb questions - the only dumb question is the one that doesn't get asked. None of us were born knowing what we do now.

Have a good one!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Beautiful normal Burmese Python, Ronnie! They're still by far my favorite of all.

It's always good to see when one of these beautiful creatures' life has been turned around for the better. Good job!

I've got one I rescued around September or October of last year but I'm still not comfortable with letting it go to anyone but an experienced keeper due to her strong feeding response.

She's never struck at me but she's got a lot of makin' up to do in the line of eating and she's set on getting all that she can when she can. She was 7yrs old & 7 1/2ft long when I got her. Kept in a parrot cage & not handled for years because the owner feared it because of it's strong feeding response. I wonder why?

Later!
Mike
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Ya Mike, the animal is the one that suffers in the long run. Dam, a parrot cage. I just wonder about people some times. Main reason why I'm soooo big on education. People need to educate there selves before the sale. It's just too bad that's not how it works for some people.
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Education is Everything.......

I remember that snake in the parrot cage. How is she doing overall? I know you mentioned that she has a strong feeding response, but is she fairly reasonable when being handled?

Hey Laura!
It's just a fluke that I found your post, what, over a month afterwards. I was searching for something else and just now read your post. I guess because you technically replied to "dadspets" post and not mine, he got the post alert instead of me.

Here's the Q you asked:
"I remember that snake in the parrot cage. How is she doing overall? I know you mentioned that she has a strong feeding response, but is she fairly reasonable when being handled?"

She's doing good, growing like a weed. No problem whatsoever when handled. No hissing or anything. But when she's hungry, woohoo!, she's jumpy, ready to grab anything/everything. Lightnin' quick stike with a whole lot of force.

She switched to rabbits like she's been eatin' 'em all her life but I know she hasn't. When I hold a rabbit for her with my grabbers, the force of her striking/grabbing the rabbit knocks my arm back nearly a foot. I'm a tough-guy, "snake bites don't hurt" type of fella but I do NOT want this gal biting me. The force would probably break my arm. Hahaha!!!

Just the other day I had to get her out to clean her cage and her eyes were cloudy (pre shed). She was smooth & gentle. A real sweetheart, as long as she's well fed.

Going to Daytona expo? I'm planning on heading down to my mom's in Plymouth probably the Tues or Wed before. I'm supposed to meet Randy & Michelle of "Art In Scales" probably Friday night in Daytona & we'll probably go to the expo together Saturday. Supposed to meet a few other people, too. I told Tom Crutchfield I'd take him out to lunch Saturday if he can slip away from his booth long enough. I met Tom there last year.

Take care!
Mike
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com