No, not timid handling- I've grabbed every wild water snake and black rat I ever had a chance to pick up and admire, bites and musk sometimes startle but don't frighten me, I keep my mind on calming the animal.
Overall the situation is easing a little, but so far these get more agitated as handling time lengthens, don't settle. So I've found that lifting them firmly in hand, letting them choose how to coil around a hand, keeping the sessions short, is the best bet so far. Typically they start out tense, relax enough to start cruising, then get frustrated and agitated that I keep shifting hands to resupport them, then tail rattling, etc.
They have been eating f/t adult mice just fine, are calmer for a couple of days after eating, I've been feeding them in a separate enclosure.
Their strikes aren't full out, haven't even drawn blood, but are defensive warnings. I don't put a snake right away if it strikes, but continue to hold it at least until it settles (usually the strike discharges some tension) or longer, until it starts back to getting tenser.
The main problem with the situation as I see it is that I have the two housed together in a temporary ?Herpetarium? while I get Visionariums, my intent is to start them in two 20Ls, until they outgrow that, it's my thought the present close quarters are making the situation worse (yes, my eyes got bigger than my cage supply at the Expo at Dorton Arena.)
Definitely one is more tense than the other, but both react to handling with increasing tension rather than relaxation. And so even if I give them some "out" time successfully without either getting too scared and striking, I know the one I've already handled and replaced might strike while I replace the second one, but I'm calm and try not to flinch about it, they aren't biting hard, just a quick tag.
When I handled them at the show they were typically calm as blue beauties, no tail rattling or tension, so I'm hopeful they will settle when they get some more room and privacy, and patient handling.
One other issue- they seem to get more agitated when my cats are in the same room- only snake of mine that ever really reacted to felines.
Conrad- I know you're in my area- and are experienced with these snakes (no I didn't get them from you, which maybe tells you where I got them but I'm not pointing fingers, I see this as my issue with transport and housing)- so if you'd be interested in checking them out and assessing the situation and giving advice (number one is to get them into proper cages, I know), just e-mail me and we'll set it up-
John
