Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yes, I bought a bullsnake about a week ago without even knowing what i was getting into.
Honestly, now im sorta scared of it. BUT I do think its the cutest thing in the world.
Its just, I got him an under heating pad, UV light, and some coconut fiber soil? For his tank... But Im scared to pick him back up because he doesnt seem very happy with me

So.. What do I do???
It was very very very tame at the pet store, and i know reptiles get stressed out about moving. I already changed his carpet because he made it "dirty"... It was not happy with that. (It was perfect because he was under it when i got the carpet out out)
But like, I guess. What are some tips for handling him in the state hes in. Because i gotta do this stuff for his tank so he can be more comfortable. He isnt tiny, like 5 feet..

Sorry!!

Ditch the UV light - it doesn't need it.
Coconut fiber is fine, but aspen is cheaper and a hell of a lot easier to spot clean.

Pick him up - he may bite, but a baby bull bite is not going to be severe. Handle him for 10 to 15 minutes every few days and he should calm down. Do not put him down if he bites, as that will only teach him to bite when he wants to be put down.

If you are really freaked where a long sleeve shirt and gloves. But it really isn't necessary.

I can guarantee this baby snake packed a much more powerful bite while I was taming him -

Once you have been bitten a few times it won't faze you anymore.
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Arrrggg!
It's like Shalom, but for pirates.
- iCarly

If you are really freaked where a long sleeve shirt and gloves.

should be

If you are really freaked wear a long sleeve shirt and gloves.

I swear my mind is beginning to go. Those kind of spelling misteaks are on the increase.
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Arrrggg!
It's like Shalom, but for pirates.
- iCarly

Uhhmm.. Didnt go so well. Soon as i took the hide box off of him and reached in he started shaking his tail. Then he started hissing. Then he rammed into the glass.. And i finally put his hide box back on.. But he was like spazzing for quite a few minutes. He looked like he had rabies cause he was hissing and looked like drooling and his eyes looked like they had a film thing over them..........
I reallly need some help....

If his eyes looked like they had a film over them then he is probably "blue" or in his shed cycle. When in this state he is partially blind and so may defensively strike out at any movement. I'd make sure there is enough humidity in the hidebox and or cage and just leave him alone until he sheds.

Sean.
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1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

What is the inside of his enclosure setup like. What is the hidebox? Size, shape, entrance size, bottomed or not, etc...
If the hidebox is enclosed enough then you may be able to work arround it or even move it with him inside it. The more details the better we can help you.

Sean.
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1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

Ohhh okayy! That explains alot then
Uhm, his hide box is this crappy box thing. I gotta wait until next friday until i can buy him a proper comercial hidebox from the pet store.

I can most likely work around him. I just got kinda sad he freaked out so bad when i moved the stuff... I was gunna wait until he was gunna come out of his hidebox but my friend was in a hurry. I learned my mistake ^_^''''
So what do i do now? What do i with him while hes in this stage? How long does it take?
and thank you thank you everyone!!!!

I'm not sure the exact length as it's been awhile since I kept pits but most of my snakes, except the rainbow boa's, seem to take somewhere from 2 to 6 days to finish the shed cycle. My rainbow boa's on the other hand seem to take more like 5 to 14 days for their shed cycle. But then again my boa's only get fed twice a month since they are both adults now.

Hopefully one of the other forum members who has bull's can give you a more precise expected duration.

Sean.
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1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

a bit of advice on hides

unless you're really worried about the appearance of the setup, don't worry about commercial hide boxes.

Over time they can collect bacteria and cause illness, thus they must be periodically cleaned. Many people will use cardboard boxes from various sources as hides. For baby snakes, use empty toilet paper tubes. For larger snakes, use paper towel tubes or Pop Tart boxes. Cereal boxes, shoe boxes, the box that your toaster came it, these are all good for hides.

If they get dirty, trash them and replace them with a fresh box. My hide boxes usually last 7-10 days.
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1.0.0 Great Plains Ratsnake
1.0.0 Corn, Lavender Aztec het for Amel
0.1.0 Black Ratsnake
0.0.1 Texas Rat (tame)
1.0.0 Broad Banded Water Snake, Hypo
1.0.0 Black Bassador Retriever
2.1.0 Godchildren, 1 Evil, 2 possible hets

unless I missread the post they were saying it is a 5 foot bullsnake which is definitely not what I would call a baby lol. Given the size I would suggest, if you are worried about being bitten, to wear sleaves and gloves when pulling him out. I would also suggest setting a piece of paper or other light object over it's head so it does not see you reach for it. It is much less likely to bite once you are holding it. Don't flinch or hesitate when grabbing it because just like putting it down this will reinforce aggressive behavior in the snake.

There are many other tricks for handling without being bitten like pulling out with a snakestick but you'll just have to try stuff out to find what works for this specimen. Once you are handling it regularly though it should get comfortable with you and not be agressive anymore. At least that was my experience catching and raising pacific gophersnakes. They acted aggressive to scare you off but I never once got bitten by one. Not even catching a over five foot one in the wild.

Sean.
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1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

n/p
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Arrrggg!
It's like Shalom, but for pirates.
- iCarly

Beginner bullsnake??? A 5 foot bull can be intimidating to say the least. As the other poster stated, the UV is not needed. Also, if it's sitting on a heat pad, they can get cranky when thoroughly warm. One trick you can do is put a large cereal box in the cage and let him crawl into it. THen you can remove the cereal box and slide him into another tub or into your hand. As you are not sticking your hand in there, many times this takes some of the aggression off. I've done this many times and works often. It may bite but it may also just give you a hard bump (bluff). I've worked with many wild caught bulls and this works quite a bit. Once they are handled, they usually start to calm down. Hope this helps.

Scott Robinson

The cereal box thing is one thing I'd suggest, too. As well as dropping a pillowcase or t-shirt over the snake. Done that quite a few times with angry 4-6 foot Texas rat snakes and also some wicked mean wild-caught kingsnakes.
I prefer to use leftover boxes from the kitchen for all my snakes. Everything from tiny Jello boxes to big bulk cereal boxes depending on the size of the snake. They're free, disposable and somehow I feel like I'm recycling when I find a use for something that would otherwise go straight into the trash. I do the same with little plastic food containers (whipped cream, cheese crumbles, dip, etc.) I wash them, cut holes in the top, toss in some moist paper towels and use them for humidity boxes. That may also help with the bullsnake in question, as it sounds like he is in a shed cycle.
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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo, Het Anery
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Pueblan Hypo
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0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
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