Help please!? Been a long time.. - Page 2

Boaman79 · #21 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 10:26 AM

Its just blood, we got plenty.

Tom · #22 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 03:50 PM

Hi

Here is some info I posted on redtailboa.net for someone that needed help with there retic a few years ago. Some of this info should help you with your snakes and bearded dragon. All your snakes and dragon need is some time to adjust to being handled. Just take your time with them as this will not be fixed over night but it will get better. More than likely you will need to wear gloves to hold your breaded dragon until it calms down.

When I first got Tigger in 9 / 2005 she was not tame at all. It took me about 3 months to tame her. Here is how I worked with her to tame her down.

For the first week I used the snake hook to touch her a few times and I would just put my hand on her body and the hook holding her head. I did this for about 2 or 3 minutes a day. I also put my shirt I was wearing in her cage at night so she would get use to my scent. I did the shirt trick for about 3 1/2 weeks.

The next 2 1/2 weeks I would use the hook by her head and pet her on her body. She would jerk her body and throw my hand off but I would put it right back on her. I did this for about 15 minutes a day.

Then after the 2 1/2 weeks I still did the same thing but I would also pet her head. I did this for about 5 to 7 days.

Then I started to take her out of the cage for about 10 to 15 minutes every day. I would let her go just about any ware she wanted to but I would not put her down. I did this for about a week. I still would pet her in her cage just about every day.

The next week I started to let her crawl around on the floor. But I had to use the snake hook to pick her up as she would strike at me.

After about 1 or 2 weeks she was fine with me then I started letting my kids pet her when I had her out in the house.

The first time I took her outside (this was about 6 to 7 months after I got her) she when right back to wanting to strike at me so I had to use the hook with her.
After about 2 weeks she was fine outside with me and I even let my kids pet her too.

I still use the hook every time I open her cage to take her out. All I have to do is touch her head now and she knows it is not feeding time.

The only time I would not do anything with her was on feeding day and the day after. Tigger use to stays in feeding mode for about 1 to 2 days back then now only a few hours after she eaten.

Tigger has only bitten me one time in 2006 and it was just a little bump on my hand and it was to let me know she did not want to come out as she was deep in shed. The bite did not even bleed, just 2 or 3 little marks in my hand. When she is deep in shed I will not take her out of her cage but I can open it up and pet her. Tigger has become one of my tamest snakes I own, and she is not head shy at all. I believe this is because when I first got her I would pet her head allot. I don't even have to use a snake hook any more when I open her cage. She does have bad shed allot so after she starts to shed I put her in my bath tub and help pull all the old skin off of her. I think she does this on propose as it seems like she like it.

I always mess with Tigger's head at home when I have her out so she is use to people touching her head. I can even slap her on her side or even hold her head and give it a good shake and she don't care any more. I have done this for years with her. I even let my kids at home play with Tigger allot to help her get use to children. When ever a snake person is over at my home they can't believe how tame she is and the stuff she will put up with. After owning snakes for 33 + years I feel I can read most snakes attitude pretty good at least the ones I own.

Tigger is probably the tamest snake I own now and I don't even need to use a hook on her any more to get her out of her cage. She is now 15 feet long and 75 to 80 lbs.

Take care
Tom McCarthy
McCarthy Boas - Boa Constrictor Breeding & Custom Reptile Cages
mccarthyboas@comcast.net

amaurer2 · #23 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitram

i understand handling any snake is stressful to them. the idea is to get em used to it so when you do handle em it minimizes the stress.. i got a snake that will slither onto my hand when i reach into her tub i dont need to grab her i feel she is not stressed when i handle her then again i had her right after her first shed and fed her the first meal she's eaten i handle her frequently so she's super used to being handled and by now probably doesnt consider me a threat. with her the only mission is putting her back into the tub she resists a lot.
i handle all my snakes a lot but theres only like a handful i will let out for a long time (by a long time i mean an hour or more) the rest i just handle em enough to check em out make sure theyre ok usually takes about 5 minutes (at the most, its more like 2-3 minutes) and theyre cool with it, or so it seems. only times ive been struck was due to feeding responses.

That is so funny cuz Matilda does the exact same thing. I always come up to her cage and make sure she knows that I'm there. I gently reach in and pet her and then she comes to me. Putting her back is the issue. She was a lap dog in a prior life or something. LOL

amaurer2 · #24 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 04:21 PM

One thing that you could do is to put something like a pillow case over the snake before you attempt to pick it up. I only would do this if the snake has to be handled for cleaning reasons or something else. It's worked for me in the past. Generally once you have them out of the tank and they are well supported they won't nip.

HERPHAPPY · #25 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jt.

You're making this more complicated than it has to be.
Stop being a girl and go hold those snakes.

Edit: If you're really worried, wear gloves.

Careful...some of us "girls" hold rattlesnakes!

nxlude · #26 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 06:50 PM

I believe a mix of what ive heard.....I dont think overhandling si good, but i do notice a difference based on how much I handle handle them. For instance, I havent been handling my dum much (who is generally a sweetheart) and yeasterday he tried to go for a finger sandwhich when i went to take him out.....lol. But my redtail who i hold almost every other day is like a little puppy......

Katie M told me once about a guy she lets handle her grumpy ones....alot of handling and they come back to her sweet lol.

Just keep after it and theyll come around.....their not gonna hurt you even if you do get nibbled on a bit!

Aaron-Insular · #27 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 06:56 PM

Today I had a great example, I wish I videoed it! I was taking out my new Caulker male, and He was hissing up a storm! I eventually got him out with his "hook" (I use a drum stick lol) and when I eventually got him out he quickly calmed down and was out roaming all over me for over an hour no strikes or hissing... :

:

HERPHAPPY · #28 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 07:03 PM

Been my experience that it is mostly our "approach" that they feel threatened by. That makes total sense, 'cause they don't KNOW us visually! They recognize us by sense of touch & smell!!! (as they do food, mates & their way around in the world)

gLoBaL mInD · #29 (**permalink**) 03-14-2010, 12:16 AM

Update..
I took them out

First I started with what I THOUGHT would be the worse.. the BP.. Even though BP's are know for being the best when it comes to being docile.
My Mojave BP looked more ready to strike then anyone of them. So.. I just did it... what most you guys said.. just reached in and grabbed and hoped for the best! When I opened her tank.. her head came right out of her hide.. Ready to strike.. I quickly tossed her hide upside down and put the palm of my hand in her face being a little aggressive with her.. so she'd back off.. and I scooped her right up! She was a sweetheart! Next....
The Suriname.. I did it the same way but she took off... headed for the hills.. I was trying to grab her.. but she was running to the other side of her 72 Gallon tank that is kinda hard to get your hand down into when its on a tank stand. but I managed.. unlike the Mojave BP.. once I got her in my hands she did what Boa's do so differently than Ball Pythons.. and thats "move"... slithering & slithering threw my fingers! Some of her quick motions seemed to be her fear of the environment she hasnt been in for a while. But.. she quickly became just as sweet as the BP!!
So now.. what was left.. the Bearded Dragon.. whom a lot has told me that he should be the easiest.. was the Hardest.. whipping his tale... blowing up his beard.. which was kinda cool I must say.. the Sunfire color looked wild against his big black beard which changed color like something out of a magic show.. the contrast was just like this..

if I can only turn that smiley upside down

He had his mouth open wide and wouldnt let me grab him!! grrr it was fustrating.. but I didnt give up.. I took a few nips.. but he eventually after like a full 30mins calmed in my hand once I got a grip on him.. and he actually fell asleep.. lol Was nice to hold all these guys again.. I missed them!! Well now we dont have to worry about that again! I'm back.. and I'm looking fwd to enjoying them!
Well guys thanks.. kinda knew what I had to do.. but it was nice hearing from all you again.. and thanks for clarifying what needed to be done!

I promise pictures will be coming soon.. thanks again everyone!

HERPHAPPY · #30 (**permalink**) 03-14-2010, 02:11 AM

Sounds like you are going to survive, & without too many blood spatters! BTW, has your dragon ever seen his own image in a mirror? Mine tried to attack himself, lol (his image, that is)! Then, since he couldn't 'get' that guy, he'd turn around and chase my foot! It was hysterical! Glad you're among the living...

Icicle · #31 (**permalink**) 03-14-2010, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HERPHAPPY

Sounds like you are going to survive, & without too many blood spatters! BTW, has your dragon ever seen his own image in a mirror? Mine tried to attack himself, lol (his image, that is)! Then, since he couldn't 'get' that guy, he'd turn around and chase my foot! It was hysterical! Glad you're among the living...

I had to throw you a thanks for the great laugh.
Thanks
....................................

Glad you got to hold your pets again.

gLoBaL mInD · #32 (**permalink**) 03-14-2010, 09:32 AM

OH you guys are bullies!!!

Love it!

Sakara · #33 (**permalink**) 03-15-2010, 01:07 PM

glad they are somewhat behaving for you

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