Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had a snake for a few months now, got it as a little hatchling and now he is over two feet long. He has recently become FREAKISHLY shy. I thought this was a phase, but it's been probably 2 weeks and he acts as though I have never handled him... What is going on? I'm ver sad taht he has regressed like this because it's hard to handle him if he runs away frome or latches on to things in his cage. I'm not about to yank him out so I just don't pick him up, this probably ads to the issue. NOTHING has changed since he was friendly.

Some snakes have a complete attitude adjustment when they reacha certain size/age. Pick him up anyway, he will realise that you are not going to hurt him.
-----
0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

If you keep putting him back or not picking him up when your about too then he will pretty much have it hard wired into his brain that if he runs for cover he can avoid you. Maybe you are being rough with him? At any rate keep handling him regularly but not every day as I suspect.

Sounds like you have a healthy, normal animal. Even snakes that are accustomed to handling will only tolerate it. It's not like they're happy to see you and come running like a dog. At the most, they freeze and allow you to scoop them up. If he zips off and craps when you try to pick him up, he's normal... enjoy!

Walt

"It's not like they're happy to see you and come running like a dog. At the most, they freeze and allow you to scoop them up."

I whole heartilly DIS-agree! I will concur that 95% of the time that is true. BUT, on numerous times both Hope AND peaches have climbed right into my hands from their tanks.
-----
0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

I can concur with this... my 1st corn does sometimes come right up to me and crawls into my hands. Not ALL the time, but often enough.

So, you think it LOVES you???

Or, do you think it's conditioned???

Walt

I never said it loved or showed any emotion to me one way or the other (because they don't have emotions) You said, "Even snakes that are accustomed to handling will only tolerate it." I was just stating that a snake that willingly crawls into your hand doesn't just "tolerate it" I believe a snake that actively seeks you out doesn't mind handling in the least.
-----
0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

Alot of snakes, like the heat that our bodys produce, and thats what may attract them to us. Thats just my opinion i may be wrong.
-----
Cameron

It may be conditioning... she may like the warmth of my hand, may expect to be fed, or simply want to be elsewhere than her enclosure for the moment. However, her coming to me is more than simply being "tolerant".

I know better than to think that she "loves" me. Snakes don't have that capacity.

Sorry. I didn't mean to imply you were stupid. I've met people on turtle forums that inexplicably think their turtles love them because they come over to them when they show up or call them (or crawl in their hand).

I'm sure the same thing happens over here, and it's one of my pet peeves (pardon the pun).

In this case, I'm sure it's the hand warmth or conditioning thing, or because you feed them by hand or sometimes move them to another container to feed, and by coming to your hand, they're expecting to be fed.

Again, no offense intended...

Walt

If your response was directed to me, no offense taken. Its all good!

Mine is over a year old now, and hasn't really changed his preference for handling. He has really ever "liked" it, but does settle down on me when he is cold.