Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Have a yearling male sunfire that was purchased recently from a breeder. The snake appeared to have no issues. Since he was brought home he has struck at everyone who walks by his cage. He will still tolerate handling. I know breeders with large numbers use rack systems and that there is only so much time that can be devoted to each individual snake. He is a really nice looking animal and we are trying to get him to calm down. He has a hide box and a water dish in a 20 gal cage with substrate. We have decided to block his view outside the enclosure to help aid in his and our plight. Have checked on him and seen that he still is in his water dish. Don't know what else to do. This worked for a boa with the same problem. We have other retics and they are a dream. Two healthy females with good attitudes and healthy appetites. Anyone have any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Daniel and Cheryl

That is a retic for you. There are times mine does that and it scares the you know what out of me. But once he touched with the snake stick and taken out, he is calm as can be. I could be wrong but 1. He gets startled as people walk by and fires out in defense, 2. He was fed in his cage so he seeks heat and movement and feeding response kicks in. Either way, as long as you can handle him without the snapping it is pretty common as far as I have been told.
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger (Dash)
1.0 Amel Retic (Mahola)
0.1 Ball Python (Cyeanne)
0.1 Red Tail (Memphis)
1.0 Coral Sun Glow Boa (Rodman)
0.1 Blood Python (Danica)
1.0 Green Ananconda (Prefontain)
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa (Bing Bong)
1.0 Ivory Ball Python (Hansel)
0.1 Bumble Bee Ball Python (Sissy)
0.0.2 Yellow Ackies (Ludmilla and Ivan Drago)

My 8 month yellowhead still bites the snake hook My other 2 are sweeties though.

snakes are just like any other animal. each one is an individual that requires different things. your snake just maybe one that will require alot more work to calm down, than others. the best advice, i can give, is dont let the snake win. what i mean, is a snake bite is nothing (in my opinion anyway), i have been bit by 15-18 footers and, yeah it hurts, but i would rather take a huge python snake bite than most any dog bites from scared, painful, sick dogs and cats that come into my clinic (i work in a veterinary emergency/critical care hospital). if you have the snake out and it strikes and bites you, and you put the snake immediately back, it will recognize that all it has to do, to get away and get back to its familiar surroundings, is strike and bite. but when the snake bites and you keep holding it, it will recognize and "learn" (in a matter of speaking) that you are in charge and it wont win. the biggest thing, is dont be afraid to take a few bites. plus its if bites are gonna happen, its better to take them when the snake is a yearling rather than when the snake is 15 feet.
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retic is king of kings

1.0 Tiger Retic
1.0 Albino Tiger Retic
0.1 Striped Tiger Retic (het albino)
0.1 Salmon Boa
1.0 Albino Boa
0.1 False Water Cobra

Thanks guys for all the help and ideas. It's mainly my wife's decision as to if he stays or goes. It's her snake after all. She is unsure of how to proceed. Thanks again.

Daniel