Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do they grow out of it? I know that this is the case with many python species, such as sawus, macklots, carpets, and even spotted and children's pythons. They seem to go through a defensive youngin' stage, and then almost always change into placid, easily handleable adults. I have recently become interested in BRBs and would like to learn more on their temperment. Quite frankly, I don't mind a bitey snake, and I believe that after becoming accustomed to the routine and used to handling, most snakes will calm down a considerable degree. It's when they become big and mean that it's a problem. Ron's (a.k.a. Serpentguy) recent success with his BRBs breeding has sparked an interest. We both go to the same school and both share a passion for snakes. I know that his adult male is trustworthy and calm. He doesn't hesitate to pick him up as I would my columbian boa. I'm pretty sure that most BRB's would become trustable snakes, but I'd like a little feedback from the experts . Thanks for your input.

-Mack D.

Mack,
Both of my adults are passive snakes, and I don't handle them a great deal. Often I have to drag them out of a tight spot and they've resisted but never have shown the slightest aggression. My neonates all seemed nippy, though there may have been one or two that did'nt (but it did'nt seem like it). The two I kept are now 18 months and neither bite anymore; and one was always more aggressive than her sister.
Paul

Mack D.,
. I have dozens of adult BRBs here and they are all calm and easily handleable. I firmly believe that any BRB can be tamed and that when one in captivity is not tame it is because the keeper does not handle it correctly. The keeper who retreats from a striking snake conditions the snake into "thinking" that striking is an effective tool for chasing bad humans away.
Jeff

>>Do they grow out of it? I know that this is the case with many python species, such as sawus, macklots, carpets, and even spotted and children's pythons. They seem to go through a defensive youngin' stage, and then almost always change into placid, easily handleable adults. I have recently become interested in BRBs and would like to learn more on their temperment. Quite frankly, I don't mind a bitey snake, and I believe that after becoming accustomed to the routine and used to handling, most snakes will calm down a considerable degree. It's when they become big and mean that it's a problem. Ron's (a.k.a. Serpentguy) recent success with his BRBs breeding has sparked an interest. We both go to the same school and both share a passion for snakes. I know that his adult male is trustworthy and calm. He doesn't hesitate to pick him up as I would my columbian boa. I'm pretty sure that most BRB's would become trustable snakes, but I'd like a little feedback from the experts . Thanks for your input.
>>
>> -Mack D.

I totally agree. I think that snakes can "learn" from their the owner's reaction to a strike that if they do it again, they won't be held or taken out. I have to admit that it's hard to "take the bite". It's not even the actual bite that's bad, it's the strike, being startled. I have heard of people wearing kitchen cleaning gloves with snakes that are very bitey. Snakes do not like the taste of these when they bite into it, and supposedly will stop biting. I don't really agree with this. The snake may stop biting, but not only will it still object to being held, it might dislike the interaction even more as a result. I believe that with correct handling techniques, it is possible to calm most snakes, and from what I've heard, BRBs calm with age anyhow. Thanks for your input,

-Mack