Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Not really sure if this is possible but I have to find out. I got my first pit a month ago, a sonoran gopher. Immediately, I saw the intelligence of this new animal. I designed a good tank for him, he is very active and always searching. Most the time he is calm when I go into the tank but some days he is a real pain in the butt with the hissing. My question is, is this common for pits or could it be something I am doing. I do nothing different to him that I would not do to my other docile snakes. Another question, when I designed the tank I tried to stay as close to the animals natural habitat as possible, before I put him in there he never hissed. Could it be the tank?

Thanx,
NYCsnakehandler

Pits are very susceptable to those hissing fits as they are so aware of the surrounding them live in. Very seldom will you be around the cage when they do not know it. If they see anything that is startling to them or triggers the defense mechanism in the little brain that runs them here comes a hisser as I call it. Most of the time they are bluffing, but we do have some individuals in the collection that will bite at times. I have one southern that is an touchy animal to say the least and she loves to play her role as godzilla on a regular basis. The only way to get her to shut up when entering the snake house is to pull her out handle her for a few minutes and put her back up, after that she is fine and settles down. If left to her own devices she will continue for hours and even bite if you make the mistake of reaching into the cage. But after the handling session she is tractable and easy to work with.

Sonorans though are some of the calmest of the pits we have in most cases and as you little guy gets older with a little handling will settle down.

Quit scaring the poor little guy to death you "giant bent on destroying the poor little thing". ( that is a joke, but meant to give you a little perception) LOL. All kidding aside move slowly, handle often and you will be fine.

Here is an off topic pic. a resident of this forum sent that I think is really cool. (Albino American Alligator)

Good Luck,

John Cherry
Cherryville Farms

Cherryville Farms - Reptiles

You ask about the tank he is in as the possible cause. The answer is yes it could be, if there are not enough hiding spots, constant movement arund the cage or something like that. Snakes and pits in particular need a feeling of security not to be stressed out on a regular basis. Consider this, when they are exposed in a cage with no or too few hiding spots they are exposed to whatever predator that may be around. Again a perception thing for you to consider.

John Cherry
Cherryville Farms
Cherryville Farms - Reptiles

some snakes do indeed have bad days. my great basin gopher has never, hissed, puffed, struck out, or anything. hes a big wuss. my young pine, on the other hand, can have some real attitude. sometimes i come to feed or clean, and she'll stand up and hiss like some rattlesnake with athsma(sp?). but she immediatly calms down once handled, and with time has become more and more docile. just give it some time, and it will most likely chill out and become a very tame snake.