Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello. i have retic thats about 2-3 months old (16-17 inches). he eats well and has great temperment (except when feeding). hes a perfect specimen Except when handling. when i handle him he dosent bite and just slithers all around me, but after about 5 minutes of handling he always defecates on me. i ve tried to handle him two days after feeding he defecates. i ve tried a week even two weeks he still defecates. ive tried after i see him defecate in the tank and the ill pick him up and he will defecate again. i jus wanna kno is this normal or is it like a defense mechanism or is it a problem because i am begining to worry. thank you for any information available

Some retics can just be a lot more flighty and skittish than others. And then, maybe there is a particular scent on you that is freaking him out. Like if you pet a dog and then pick up the snake, his instinct may be screaming, "PREDITOR!!!". Or maybe you are handling him in a manner that frightens him. Try to avoid holding him by his head or neck. Most retics do not like this and feel threatened by this. Also, try to allow him to flow through your fingers without grasping or squeezing him. Whatever you do don't put him back in his cage after he deficates on you. He can quickly learn that this behavior results in him being freed. Besides,. once he's deficated he is likely all empty and the worst is over. So just keep holding him. Try to establish and build a trust with him. It may take time, but it is a lot better that you put out this fire while he is small rather than having to deal with it when he's bigger, and stronger.

Hope this helps.

>>Hello. i have retic thats about 2-3 months old (16-17 inches). he eats well and has great temperment (except when feeding). hes a perfect specimen Except when handling. when i handle him he dosent bite and just slithers all around me, but after about 5 minutes of handling he always defecates on me. i ve tried to handle him two days after feeding he defecates. i ve tried a week even two weeks he still defecates. ive tried after i see him defecate in the tank and the ill pick him up and he will defecate again. i jus wanna kno is this normal or is it like a defense mechanism or is it a problem because i am begining to worry. thank you for any information available
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Human "progress" equates to nature's demise.

Brian makes excellent points- dont throttle the snake and dont get too close to the neck. one other thing to consider is whether he is pooping with brown hair balls, is he peeing, or is he musking? Scared snakes pee and musk, active snakes will poop and pee. snakes dont have bladders do if their tail hangs down and they are active, they often will just have to relax and the cloaca will empty as well as what gravity draws from the ureters.

Another suggestion is to give him a little bath before handling in mildly warm water. Swimming often acts like a laxative and he should be dryer when handling after this.

Winslow

Once I have a retic that feals comfortable with handeling I make it a point to handle there heads/neck. After having adults try to constrict me for restraining them, i decided to "train" them as babys to expect such handling. The reasoning behind it is to gain trust in a manner that will alow me to restrain them as adults easier. At the moment several of my retics will allow me to hold them by the head without struggling(too much), and some will even allow me to open there mouths quiet easily. It makes it much easier to inspect there oral cavity and treat if nessisary. Does anybody else make it a point to gently restrain there animals it the same manner, or am i just full of radical (off the wall) ideals??? -Shaun D

You are just extremely radical. Actually, many dolphin/cetacean trainers will train their animals to do a variety of activites that serve no other purpose except to prepare them for vet checkups or any other dolphin maintenance tasks they might need to do. As long as your snakes aren't becoming too disgruntled with you, it might not be a half bad idea...

I'm trying to train my blood python not to be head shy, just because I'd love to use him as an educational animal. I couldn't tell you if it's actually working. He's a very insecure snake.
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

I think its important that they be totaly comfortable with handling before they will alow you to touch there heads without stressing them. Just a thought... Shaun D

Well.. he's great with sitting on my lap and being petted on the body. I'm kind of working up to the head. We're at the neck. For some reason he minds his tail more.
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?