Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It never ceases to amaze me how casually and comfortably so many large python keepers seem to be while walking around at reptile expos and other events with 10-15 foot pythons draped around their necks. Which is why I'm directing this otherwise very general question specifically to you all...

What is the best way to go about "training" (i.e. conditioning?) a snake, particularly a large boa or python, to be a trustable, handleable animal?

I'd love detailed information beyond the classic "five minutes a day" bit. This strategy seems to be a good jump off point but is far too simplistic and catch-all...

How about once your snake begins calming down after several days to weeks of the 5 mins/day technique? Do you begin to increase the duration of handling? For how long? At what point should others begin handling the snake too?

And how should one respond when that otherwise well-tempered python DOES bite? Should you stand your ground like you might to a dog until the snake "submits" and chills out? Or should you put the snake back as it's apparently too stressed to be comfortably handled? (For the record, I'm pretty sure I conditioned a ball python to be the meanest snake on the planet by employing this last method -- it seems now that every time he's ready to go back to his hide box he knows to just tag me on the arm 'til he tastes blood, at which point his chauffeur -- me -- returns him to his throne!)

I recently inherited a gorgeous and seemingly very docile Hog Island Boa from a friend who had to move. I was nailed by a large BCI as a kid though, so she and others like her make me a little uneasy handling-wise, even though I've kept and worked with a lot of snakes, many of whom have been chronic biters (the hondos, par example). This new boa seems super tame though and I'd love to be able to trust her enough to take her to educational programs with kids. If you have any pointers, stories, or other secrets to your success PLEASE share them here.

Thanks! And happy herping.

Brad
-----
1.0 ball python (Python regius)
1.1 hypo apricot pueblan milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli)
1.0 hypo tangerine honduran milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis)
0.1 montane egg eater (Dasypeltis atra)
0.1 woma (Aspidites ramsayi)
1.1 calabar python (Charina reinhardtii)
0.1 hog island boa (Boa constrictor imperator)

I have to say, I have seen those people at shows and do not understand it. OK, I get it, you have a boa, nice, I think I saw 20 just like them over there. Or wait is it more like "This is my riffle, there are many like it, but this one is mine" Because really that is what you are holding, somthing that can go off at any time.

No one should really ever trust their snake to that point. There was a story about a guy who use to bring his snake out to the bars for its birthday. It lived 20 years, but on its last birthday it bit the guy in the face. You never know. When you dealing with kids, you bring yourself the chance of lawsuit and worse yet negative attention to the hobby.

So, if you are looking to do shows, I would first say never let a kid get by the head. If you want to pursue this, go to the burmese site and contact Rob Carmicheal.

So, I agree with you, hold for 20 min and 20 min off, and repeat 7 times is not a good answer. You never know.
-----
0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
1.0 Amel Retic
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

I handle my Retics once or twice a week, I mostly only bother when cleaning and even then I just take them out and let them crawl around. Some times they'll go a week or so without handling. They are both tame, but no snake can ever be trustworthy!