Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just acquired a 5 year old Honduran Milksnake. She is a little timid and not big on being handled. Any suggestions on how to ease her into being handled?

It just takes time and gentle handeling.

Try not to startle the snake when you pick it up. Move slowly.

If it has a tendency to freak out when you touch it try taking the lid off its cage, and when it starts to crall out slowly bring your hand up underneeth its body where it is coming out of the cage and it should not notice the difference between your hand and the edge of the cage. That way you can pick it up without spooking it.

Let the snake crall on your hands and arms for a little wile but not too long at first. As it gets used to being handled it should get more calm and relaxed when handled.

Good luck, hope this helps.
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1 BP
4 Cal Kings 3 alb 1 het
3 Alb Corn
1 Rev Alb Nelsons

Good advice!!

Yes, I've been heavy into Hondurans and other Lampropeltis for many years, and as a general rule, they can be pretty nervous as a whole. Most individuals will become very manageable especially after about their first year, while others can remain spooky the remainder of their adult lives. I have some that are absolute sweethearts to hold, and others that still go "bonkers" no matter what!..LOL!
As you mentioned,...slow, calm, deliberate handling without quick movements are key to this. And NEVER put your free hand in front of their face,....they will always see this as a threat, and bolt-off the other way. Extremely slow handling in an "escalator" fashion from underneath seems to work very well with them.

best regards, ~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

also,,don't pick at them with your finger before picking up,,just go at is slow and deliberatly,,,
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Ball Python
Jungle Carpet Python 1.0
Eastern King 0.1
Mexican Black King
Great Basin Gopher
Hypo Brooks 1.0
White Sided Bull 1.0 (Envy)
Striped Pacific Gopher (Envy)
Axanthic Brooksi 0.1 (Mark Kenderdine)
Goini King 1.0 (Mark Kenderdine)
Northern Pine 1.0 (Nick Puder)
Arizona Mtn. King 1.0 (AAM Snakes)

I love the smell of aspen shavings in the morning...lol

"To serve man..it's...it's a cookbook!"

In addition to what everyone else has said, if you JUST got him, give him a few days to settle in before you start. Also, keep him close to the ground or a table top or somethng at first, so that if he launches himslef he won't aquire as bad of a fear of falling...
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

I like to think of young milksnakes as the Acapulco Cliff Divers of the snake world. Just loosen your grip on a young milksnake, and..........Gone. My hypo honduran pictured below was never like that. He's been pretty calm pretty much even from the day I got him.
Doug, long time no see. Glad to have you back on the forums.
Steve

BTW,...nice hypo there!

Yes, it's nice to be back. Finally got my old computer checked out the other day, and it wasn't really worth all the money to invest into it, so I got another really nice one to replace it. Yes,...I should have done it LONG ago!..LOL!

take care!, ~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

"Doug, long time no see. Glad to have you back on the forums."

I second that, Steve. Good to see you back, Doug!

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

Thanks for the kind words guys!,...it's great to be a part of the forums once again!..LOL!

take care all!, ~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"