Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I have a female yellowhead retic. She was born in 2000 and I've had her since early 2001. She is knock out beautiful and generally handleable. I've noticed as she's gotten bigger I've been handling her less since I generally have a hard time getting a spotter and she is now about 13'. She has always been a tad skittish but calms done quite well. I made the mistake on Sunday of wanting to get some pics outside and when I took her out she got totally Freaked. She started to to try to get away and then she began to strike. I dont think she was trying to hurt me. I think she was just scared. I got her back into container w/ the help of my reluctant spotter and then got her back in her cage. I feel like I've violated the trust I had built w/ her. Some people say I'm over-reacting but I 'm now wondering if she is going to strike and bite at any time or if it was just her response outside. I f anyone has feedback I would appreciate it!

Hi,

I personally wouldnt worry about it TOO much, however, be concerned about the trust the snake has with you. I would try introducing her slowly to outdoor environments. If you work slowly and calmly with her, I feel she will be fine. Patience is certainly a virtue when working with these animals.

Good Luck and have fun!!

Best wishes,

Chris

>>Hi,
>>I have a female yellowhead retic. She was born in 2000 and I've had her since early 2001. She is knock out beautiful and generally handleable. I've noticed as she's gotten bigger I've been handling her less since I generally have a hard time getting a spotter and she is now about 13'. She has always been a tad skittish but calms done quite well. I made the mistake on Sunday of wanting to get some pics outside and when I took her out she got totally Freaked. She started to to try to get away and then she began to strike. I dont think she was trying to hurt me. I think she was just scared. I got her back into container w/ the help of my reluctant spotter and then got her back in her cage. I feel like I've violated the trust I had built w/ her. Some people say I'm over-reacting but I 'm now wondering if she is going to strike and bite at any time or if it was just her response outside. I f anyone has feedback I would appreciate it!

I would just resume behavior as normal -- pretend it never happened and hold off on the outside trips for a bit to make sure she's not still agitated.

Sunlight and the great outdoors have a way of instantly bringing out the "wild" in pet snakes and lizards. Take the outside trips in baby steps.

Bill

have you ever had it outside before ? My male burm did the same thing the first couple of times he went out IMO I think its just sensery overlode. all the new smells that are carried in the breeze just remember dont put it down until you are sure its calm enough. Ive heard stories of even the most gentle of giants getting a bit huffy the first time they go out. take it slow be carefull. good luck

Snakes don’t hold grudges, humans do. I’m sure she’ll be just fine. On another note, I personally would not ever take her out again. Lucky for you she did not bite you, or worse, even get away. Unless a snake has been acclimated to the outdoors from a very young age (which yours is no longer) I think it would be unwise and it would unnecessarily stress her out. I equate taking a snake outside when it’s been acclimated to being indoors and in a cage, to taking a person that’s lived in the US their whole lives and then stick’em in some sub-Saharan nomadic tribe. That person would friggin’ lose their mind.