Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I try to handle it every few days so it could get used to my hand but everytime I try to pick it up, it starts squirming like mad and keeps trying to get away as fast as it can. I handle it as gently as possible and try not to make any sudden movements. What else can I do to establish a bond with my snake? By the way, I got her about a month ago so she's still a baby.

Most snakes do try to get away - it's not like they 'enjoy' being handled. Plus your talking about a baby so that's more likely to occur. Just be sure your hands are warm, clean and don't smell like another snake or food, don't surprise your snake or grab by the tail or head (like a predator) and keep trying. I think if he's not musking or rattling that's a good sign. Some even put used/dirty tshirts in their snakes tanks to get them used to their owners smell.

Congrats on your little one!

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We had a baby like that last year. Don't try to restrict his movement on your hand, offer one hand in front for him to run to and then as he leaves your first hand move it in front for him to run to etc. (I hope this is making sense--create a treadmill for him to run as long as he likes). Eventually ours would slow down and relax. Also try to keep the room as non-threatening as possible (no loud noises, no cats or dogs in the room).
I told the kids that when they were handling snakes they had to calm themselves, since the snakes would sense the rapid pulsebeat. I'm not sure if this was true, but it seemed to work, and eventually we all found ourselves using handling the babies as a way to get ourselves to calm down (I wonder if we could market corns as biofeedback devices to hospitals).
Corinne
dragonfly@w-link.net

when I handle my snakes it relaxes me. You have to be calm to handle them. They can sense if your nervous by vibrations and if your nervous they will feel it.

My pack:
1 amel corn
1 ghost corn
1 jungle carpet python
1 tangerine honduran
2 dogs
4 cats
?? new additions at a future reptile show

My husband is so relaxed everytime he holds one of our snakes the snake goes into a trance like state.
Nancy
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Some of my best friends are snakes
Snakes Rule

That is the only way they get used to being handled. I have a honduran milk, along with corns, and he was like that too. Now he is a yearling and is much better with handling. It took constant, gentle handling. Even if he is squirming like mad. I kept holding him and when he was calm then I let him back in his enclosure.