Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I've had my FWC for about 9 months now, I got him when he was an adult. He's about 5 1/2 feet long. The problem is that he is totally insane. He is fine even when I feed him its just when you try to handle him he flips out and goes mad. I thought he would get use to me but no chance. He's been screened for parasites etc and the results were negative. Has anyone got an insane FWC? Do you think It might be because the last owner hardly handled him?

He's just expressing a little teritoriality. They do that once in a while...No big deal. That's why you have heard several of us mentioning removing them from their cage with a hook. Normaly, they calm down once their removed. It can be a bit dramatic though.....

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Ok, serious answer. Are you feeding him live food? If you are, stop it. Start giving him frozen thawed only. This way, he doesn't associate warmth and movement with food so you don't trigger his feeding response every time you get near him. That will help mellow him out. I free handle my FWC's and have handled 8 different FWCs in my lifetime...all of them have tamed down very quickly. The male I used to have used to shoot across the cage at my hand every time I openned the cage but after a few f/t feedings, he stopped doing that. Also, sometimes they just do that...they shoot to your hand, stop on a dime and discern you from food. Once you get used to it, it's no big deal but the first couple times, it will scare the pee out of you. LOL!

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I would have to disagree with your statement about live food. Mine have allways fed live and have shown no special aggressiveness because of it. What I have found is that the extreme behavior is based on motion rather than temperature or smell. When they are in this peculiar defensive mode I can open a door 20 ft. from the cage and they will still do the Hood dance. Invariably they stop when I lift them out of their habitat (on a hook) and then they are fine to freehandle. The only bite I have gotten was when I reached in and picked it up barehanded.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

I don't own a hook...and I've never been bitten from just reaching in. They don't hood either.

Above all, do what works for you Frank but for the other guy...Just try it.

You're braver than me on that. I had owned a few over the years before the one that finally got me.

Now...Now...(wrist slapped)if you are going to keep venomous you really need a hook....(lol)

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Thanks for all your comments. Ive never feed any of my snakes live food and never will. Ive also only seen him hood twice ever he just seems more nervous than anything just want's to get away from you. Oh well I will just have to give him time and hopefully he will calm down.

Could you describe the exact behavior little more?

Handling a FWC is not like handling a corn snake. FWCs, of those I have handled, consistently seem to be uncomfortable being off the ground and supported by limbs/sticks/hands. I would imagine they do not climb in the wild very much, based on this observation. It took me a little getting used to, and frankly, it scared me a little the first time I handled one (a large adult).

They will try to "hold" on to you by pushing their head into you, and odd things like that, where a climber like a corn would be quite comfortable.