Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 4' hook, but I worry about breaking a rib. I have a 6' 11 pound female BCI who has been "defensive" lately. I place the hook under her about one third of her body length and try to support the heaviest remaining 2/3rds as much as I can, And I've had success so far with that method, but it still seems like a lot of weight on the hook and she ain't gonna get smaller. The "Gentle Giant" tongs from Midwest are wider (2&1/2 inches), but I think they were mostly designed for hots. How does everyone else handle their large "temperamentals?" Incidently, I suspect the reason she is defensive lately is because she hasn't defacated in over a month-it's happened before. Once she drops the "motherload," she'll be nice again. Always clean, fresh water on the cool side, and I always soak her rats in warm water just to make sure she's hydrated, but she holds on to her $#!* like it was money!

and this post will pass it's time. Real world answers, please!

I have a large male peruvian that is pretty agressive, I use a home made hook (Been making my own for 20 years) when he is his normal nasty self, he was 7.5 feet last time I bothered to measure, probably over 8 now and heavy and I have never seen any problems from the hook, except when he coils around it and won't let go. When he get really pissy, like about a month ago when he struck like 27 times in a row , I pinned him and grabbed his neck just behind the head. I don't recomend this and I will only do it when I have other people to help hold the rest of the snake's body. normally if you grab the neck they will coil around you arm or other body part and pull hard to escape, this is uncomfortable for you and really dangerous for them. So I get about 3 other people, I grab the toothy end and I have them grab along his body so he cant coil, pull and hurt himself. remember, there is no shame in getting a little help, I am very large and strong, in my youth I would wrestle with huge Burmese and retics just to show that I could handle them myself, age and experience have tought me that, just because you can do sonething doesn't make it a good idea. The other thing that I have foud that work well with him is just to leave him the hell alone most of the time, I have other friendlier boas that I can handle if I feel the urge and his cage is set up so that I can clean around him without disturbing him much, so I only realy mess with him when I put him in or out of the female's cage. Not every snake wants to be a pet. Hope this helps

If that's the case I just put her in her tank with it, and get it later.

I assume this is obvious, but movement seems to produce more frequency in Bowel movement. Avoid the cause, avoid the symptom?

Al

I always take her outside to cruise around. Half of the time that's when she goes.Problem lately has been the attitude, and I'd like to take her outside to move around, but I don't want to hurt her.Appreciate the comment though, and I totally agree with you.