bleeders club!

jimmyg · #1 (**permalink**) 06-17-2002, 07:12 PM

man they strike fast!!!
SHE POPPED ME 2 OR 3 TIMES BEFORE I COULD SET HER BACK DOWN!
any suggestions on how to get them to STOP BITING???

she is a 3 - 3 1/2 ft. red tail and coils up and starts striking as soon as she sees any thing
she's the only one out of all her siblings like this, i know because i know where most of them went i have 3 others out of her clutch and the guy i just got her from today has 2 more of her siblings and they are all SUPER TAME!
i took her off his hands because she is one of the prettiest snakes that i have ever seen and i know how docile they can be because i have 4 others not counting her
i'm sure some of you have had BITERS! PLEASE HELP ME AND HER!

thanks,

Jimmy
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eddie · #2 (**permalink**) 06-17-2002, 07:16 PM

Handle often.
Handle as often as possible, cause it's in defense mode, which can happen with little ones as they percieve us as a threat untill they get used to us.
Not all are like that but it's hard to ignore kazzillions of years of evolution.
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Dragon · #3 (**permalink**) 06-17-2002, 07:24 PM

Wearing gloves is sometimes a good idea too! Also, if you have a snakehook handy, use it to get her out of the viv as this is when you are most likely to get bit.

Good luck! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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eddie · #4 (**permalink**) 06-17-2002, 07:41 PM

NO!
Don't let her get used to the feel of gloves or a hook!
This will lead to a snake that is un-handleable in the long run.
She needs to get used to the feel of your hands!
Another tip, feed in a seperate tote, so it won't associate the opening of her tank with food.
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Ravnos · #5 (**permalink**) 06-17-2002, 07:47 PM

What I do sometimes for situations like that is put one glove on (*grab crotch* ow! Ok... bad joke) and use it to control the snake, and handle with the other hand. So you have the glove if you need to avoid getting tagged, but at the same time you're using a real hand for handling. Eventually you can just forget the glove altogether.

Rav

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jimmyg · #6 (**permalink**) 06-17-2002, 10:27 PM

my buddy was feeding her in her cage, that's over! i feed all of my snakes in big rubbermaids.
i just put her in her new cage(a 40 gal. breeder) - temps are good, two hides, i put the shirt i was wearing in there to see if theat will get her used to my scent
she scanned the tank one time made a bee-line to the water bowl and coiled up in there and is staring me down
is that normal for being in a new home? it's not mites, i know for a fact she is mite free
she is swimming around in her bowl with her head under water, how NORMAL is that?
if it's normal it's pretty cool if not, should i take the bowl out?
p.s. she will strike at everything, i sat her on a chair and she struck at me everytime i moved
once again, any and all advice will be appreciated greatly [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
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Shrub · #7 (**permalink**) 06-18-2002, 01:06 AM

Lemon Juice might make her more hessitant to bite - and if she does she wont like it and will refrain from doing that in the future and let go quicker.
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Thade · #8 (**permalink**) 06-18-2002, 02:34 AM

Not sure how well lemon juice would work. They don't taste what they are biting like mammals and some other animals do. That would just make her stop testing you with her tongue. Unless she likez lemons. Then she'll just strike more. haha. Though the lemon juice might have some affect since it is a acid and might make her mouth tingle a bit. hmmm. Good thing to ponder. Just have a camera around in case she does a sour puss look. I would pay 10 buckz for a pic of that [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Thade
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snaklover · #9 (**permalink**) 06-18-2002, 03:06 AM

alot of the suggestions here are great, i dont use gloves and every now and than i myself get tagged. and boy it does hurt for a few minutes. but the one biter i have is also my best when out of her cage. when i start i watch her but real gently start to rub her around her middle, also keeping an eye on her head and which direction she is going to home in on on me from. after awhile she starts to become calmer, and i slowly start to coax her from the inclosure, after she has her head and most upper body out i gently go under her using my right hand under her tail region so that she can grap and feel secure.and my left close to her upper body so that if she turns and strikes i can avoid getting hit in the face, boy let me tell you really hurts [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
this usually works for me but i keep craddling her and walk around the house. she becomes more interested in the objects to focus on than me. and after that it is business as usual.
i sure hop this helps, snoopy was not handled much but we are slowly getting there. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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ratsickle · #10 (**permalink**) 06-18-2002, 10:14 PM

Hi, And welcome,
She proably wasn't handled at all prior to you getting her, I would throw a used t-shirt in her cage, she'll proably try to bite it..heheh.she'll get used to your smell .
I would use a ruler or snake hook to make her go forward and crawl a bit, I don't know why this works but it gets them out of the "S" posture.. Be sure when you pick her up your hold her around the middle try to pick her up in two places, when you squeeze to hard or only pick up one part of the snake it may hurt a bit..
Maybe she's areally nervous snake and wil grow out of it... I usally throw a small towel over their head pick them up gently, if they want to bite the towel it taste terrible..
I then sit with them in the towel and wait for them to peak out... the usally have gotten over that adrenalin head rush from you goin in the cage.. They think your gonna kill-em..
I have a litle hog island boa thats real intense when I go in her cage.. I just pick her up and try to not hurt her and we get along fine after that.. But that glare when I uncover her would make a ratsickle chill... Some times breeders are breeding for different reasons color size and such and totally don't worry about temperment...
I ve tamed grumpy argentine boas and even a grumpy garter snake they are the grumpiest little snakes they bite cause your there.owww.. They make bitter apple spray for training mouthy ferritts and the lemon works with them teethy pythons I know cause I had one slurp on my ear once for about ten mins .... dagone little snake..could have hung 16 rings off that ear for a couple days hehehehe 16 perfect little holes clean thru the ear lobes...
good luck be sure the snake has a couple hides be sure he knows your smell (that funky t-shirt in da cage thing) and keep working use a towel to cover the head until your out of the cage... The usally settle once out. give it a few months you should be fine..
doug
you could always give it to me hehehehe

_________________
Aint them BOA'S COOL --

driftwooddodgeman · #11 (**permalink**) 06-23-2002, 06:53 PM

LOL...speaking of biting...I was feeding my baby RTB lastnight, trying to get it used to unconscious food. (I made the mistake of feeding it live prey the first couple feedings after getting it) I just flick their neck with my finger...usually kills/paralyzes them. Anyway, I had the pinkey by the bitter end of it's tail, thinking he would strike the BODY...he struck at my thumb instead...first time. I HAVE noticed when feeding (basically) F/T to him, that after I stick my hand in his feeding tub, he instantly becomes VERY aware of my hand [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img] I never thought he would bite it though. ALSO, just recently got a baby Burm, and the feeding went well enough...the mouse "came back alive" after I thought I had paralyzed it, so it wasn't really a good feeding. but at least he's feeding. I definitely do NOT want a future 300+ pound Burm getting all aggressive at feeding time! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] He hisses when first getting him out of the cage, but has never actually struck...he's just a lil bluffer. Still makes me jump every time though [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] I am hoping he grows out of it. At least he isn't striking! BTW, I felt REALLY bad for my RTB. After he struck, I shook my hand outta fear, and "dragged him quite quickly" out of his box...he didn't eat for a lil while after that, BUT, I left him alone with the food later while the Burm ate, and he finally took it after me wiggling it (with my hand INSIDE the water dish and the pinkey OUTSIDE) [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] Both snakes are about 2 feet long. The Burm is SOOO much thicker than the RTB, to the point of making the RTB look sickly in comparison [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img] They both are nice snakes, and I wouldn't trade 'em for the world...I also tried that T-shirt thing for the Burm...he was hiding under it one day...I don't know if it's helping, as he's still hissing, but being a baby, it's expected and he should grow out of it. In comparison, my RTB is THE tamest snake I've ever held. That thing will let me handle him ANY which way, without a care in the world. Good for me...only got one problem snake to deal with [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
BTW, pics are on my website: http://www.jason-cunningham.com

BWSmith · #12 (**permalink**) 06-28-2002, 01:20 AM

If your not getting bit every once in a while, you are not doing something right [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] That is like a carpenter who never gets a splinter! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
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eddie · #13 (**permalink**) 06-28-2002, 01:22 AM

Or nails his head to a wall.....
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jimmyg · #14 (**permalink**) 06-28-2002, 08:26 AM

that snake was NUTS!!!
had to give her back [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif[/img]
if a person, ANY PERSON walked by the cage she would strike the glass [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
i put my shirt in there so she could get used to my scent and she crapped on it [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]
no matter what you had to go into her cage for she was there waiting for ya!
that sucks because she is pretty and i have some of her siblings and they are SUPER TAME!
i tried to just hold her and take it but she would just strike over and over at your face until you put her down HISSING the whole time

I TRIED, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT MATE FOR ONE OF MY MALES!
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Dr.Oviparous · #15 (**permalink**) 06-28-2002, 10:22 AM

awww man, that sucks! sorry to hear that bro! well at least the others are alright! -Juggalo
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snaklover · #16 (**permalink**) 06-29-2002, 04:46 AM

too bad [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]
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