Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hmm, ok ok....My friend has left for a long time and gave me her snake to take care off. The last time i know she handled it was a while back and it had pee’d on her.
Ive had it for about a week now and it gets all hyper-like when you take the lid off and tried to jump out of the cage a few times when she feed it also.
So ive been watching it, and i can now reach up to the glass (some-what slow) and it not freak out.
Shes had it for a couple of years...im preety sure it was BC
Was wondering if i should try and handle this snake or just forget about it.
The times i doo reach into my hand it takes about 10 mins for me to sit still before it comes out of its little covering/hiding spot. It'll approch my hand, get really close to one of my fingers and then go back to its covering/hiding spot.

Handling is something that reptiles and amphibians do not need to be "happy" (or for a better word, healthy). Handling is a personal preference by the keeper. It sounds like the snake in question is pretty skiddish so handling it might just stress it out. So you don't HAVE to hold the snake as it won't die or be "sad" if you don't handle it. But you could always try if you want. Just limit the amount of handling as it may stress the snake out if it is not used to being held. So in the end, it is your choice.
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Andy Maddox
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The Reptizone

"A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika. Nothin' proper about ya propaganda. Fools follow rules when the set commands ya. Said it was blue when ya blood was red. That's how ya got a bullet blasted through ya head"- Rage Against the Machine

Hmm when picking up a/the snake do I go after it slowly or is it supposed to come to me?

The slower the better when approaching and handling. They key on movement, so the faster you move your hand/arm/self, the more threatened the snake will feel and the more defensive he will act. Keep your movements slow and gradual, and it's more likely he'll settle down. (But be ready to react quickly if he darts out of the enclosure or your hands!! )

The skittish behavior sounds more like a ribbon snake than a garter to me; they're known for being somewhat restless and trying to take off the moment the lid is opened.

How big/long is the snake? If he's that nervous, it's almost certain he'll musk ("pee" when you first hold him, and he may well strike. But with persistent, gentle handling they usually settle down after a while.
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MichaelB

Yes, it is a ribbon snake. If i said it was a garter, My mistake.

Well Its about 2 ft in lengh. And since I'm not fancy in having it run out of my hands in my house, I have decided just to get my own "garter". Most likely a BC so I can start fresh. She said it had been acting more mean (Defensive) lately anyways.

The other possible problems with handling a little garter are a) it gets away from you and you have a snake on the loose or b) the snake goes ballistic, you have to restrain it, and it gets injured in the process. Garter snakes are sensitive to spinal injuries. I don't typically play with mine but if I have to work in his cage I'll just reach in and grab him. With it being a long term captive I doubt you'd have a problem picking it up but you should know the risks.

If only a few weeks, or even months, you might be better off leaving the snake alone and just feeding it and handling it when you need to clean out the tank. If, however, you will be caring for the snake for a much longer period of time, you will want to decide if you wish to invest the time handling the snake so that it (hopefully) gets more used to it. I disagree with the "go slow" approach....That only gives the snake more time of being "chased"...Just grab it and handle it gently but firmly until it settles down. Do this once or twice a week, and see if it becomes easier (for both of you) after awhile. Duffy

Yeah shes gone for only a about a month. So i've decided to just leave it alone.

I some what agree with your method, because when I go slow, it eventually runs to its hiding place...and i'm not sure what it'll do once it's cornered.