Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got my little leucistic texas rat a few days ago and have waited to try and hold him. When I first got him out of his shipping box and then bag he was rattling his tail like a rattlesnake and was being aggressive. Now tonight when I tried to get close to him with my hand (not really trying to pick him up) he quickly scurry's away and seems afraid. What should I do to help myself pick him up. I don't want him to be afraid of me every time I got into pick him up. I bought my ball python when it was just as small and never really had this problem.

Thanks,
Alex

You just need to go in there and pick him up. Don't hesitate, just grab him. He may be frightened of you at first, but don't let that stop you from holding him.

The more you handle him (within reason - not more than 10-15 mintues each day before he's comfortable with you) the quicker he will come to realize that you aren't someone to be worried about. Right now he thinks you are some huge monster about to eat him.
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alstiver@hotmail.com

1.0 2001 Coral snow cornsnake
0.1 2002 Pastel Ghost poss Het Amelanistic cornsnake
1.1 2002 Bloodred cornsnakes
0.1 1998 Het Hypo, Het Caramel cornsnake
1.0 2000 Hypo Het Caramel cornsnake
0.0.13 2004 Eggs (potentially normals, hypos, caramels, and ambers)

My little leucistic texas rat was my only real "problem child" in terms of handling. He would strike out at me often, and even drew a few drops of blood a couple of times (of course, with his size I hardly even felt it). Now he's almost as easy to handle as my corns and other ratsnakes, maybe a little more "active" while being held. Once he realized that I wasn't going to maul him, I probably enjoyed handling him most of all since I had to work at it a little bit.
If all he's doing so far is rattling and running, you're off to a good start with a tx rat! Duffy