Taming an ARP

revkkoolaid · #1 (**permalink**) 09-25-2002, 11:37 PM

I've owned my ARP for about 4months now. He's feeding well and everything but he's very spastic and has even tried to strike me when I was replacing his water when he was "in the blue". I've never had to deal with a "mean" snake before. My BCI and Annie (<believe it or not

have all been kittens from the start. My burm used to hiss a little when I picked it up but that soon passed as I've read they are big bluffers. Apparently my Rock isn't bluffing, he means business [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] I've been trying slowly tame him by just interacting with him a few times a week when I do water maintence, cleaning, or feeding but he just really doesn't seem to care for my presence much at all.
I kept 6 Alligator Snappers in Texas before I moved up to Alaska and they each became dog tame after about 3 months from just moving them around in their pond enclosures when I was cleaning and stuff. I figured if I can handle 50LBS allisnappers I could handle a pi$$ed off 2ft ARP. . . .I just wanna be sure to mellow this little guy out before its a pi$$ed off 15ft ARP hehe.

revkkoolaid

Does anyone have any tips besides to just keep on as I'm doing with "light" handling a few times a week?

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eddie · #2 (**permalink**) 09-26-2002, 12:04 AM

Just gotta keep handling it.
Throw a dirty (worn by you ) t-shirt in its cage so it can get used to your scent ( funk.. j/k!) and just handle often!
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#3 (**permalink**) 09-26-2002, 12:08 AM

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>I've never had to deal with a "mean" snake before.</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

Ya did know PRIOR to obtaining the ARP that it is known as an aggressive/mean snake.. RIGHT??? [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] Of course there are exceptions to the rule also. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>I just wanna be sure to mellow this little guy out before its a pi$$ed off 15ft ARP hehe. </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmm.. With an ARP there are no guarantees...
Sorry.. Don't mean to sound so negative , BUT that's what the ARP's are like [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

Hopefully you can "tame" this one down some though.
Here's a caresheet for the ARP

here's another one for HANDLING SNAKES
You might be able t find smething in those that will help out some.

OH..

WELCOME TO REDTAILBOA.NET!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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morti · #4 (**permalink**) 09-26-2002, 12:19 AM

ARP's are among the most notoriously spastic snakes that you could own. I have heard of "tame" individuals, but they are the exception rather than the rule. Since you have experience with burms and anacondas, you may be the person to get it done. The only neat tricks that you could try are put a tee-shirt that you have worn all day in the enclosure with the snake. That will get him used to your scent. Handle him as much as you can safely do and get him used to that as well. In theory, he should tame down over time.
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revkkoolaid · #5 (**permalink**) 09-26-2002, 01:10 AM

>>Ya did know PRIOR to obtaining the ARP that it is known as an aggressive/mean snake.. RIGHT??? [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

LOL!!! Of course I knew they were a generally "mean" before I purchased him. I handle him a few times before I bought him and he didn't seem to be too bad. A little nervous but nothing I thought a little time wouldn't cure. As afformentioned I was used to new snakes being jumpy at first , like my burm was , but not striking at me when I'm not even trying to pick them up.

Granted the first time he ever struck at me was two days ago and he is "blued" up, I know this doubles any snakes temper. And Im kind of embarrassed to admit it. . . . ., but I'm still a snake bite virgin so I'm naturally super nervous about being bitten. Maybe after he tags me and I join the ranks of the post-bitten masses I won't be so spastic myself when I'm handling him. hehe Im sure he smells my fear [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]

hmmmmmmm

I guess snakebites are kind of like body piercing and tattoos. . .
before getting the first one your either really nervous or
drunk or both muhahahaaaaaaaa [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

revkkoolaid
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#6 (**permalink**) 09-26-2002, 01:41 AM

LOL.. Yeah after he tags ya a few times. ya won't care at all basically hehe. Just do what you are and keep trying to "tame" him down is all. About the most I can see doing is handling him and trying to let him know that you are not afraid of him. that may help "tame" his "tude a bit for ya even. Let us know how it goes ...
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LdyDrgn · #7 (**permalink**) 09-26-2002, 10:18 AM

LMAO...I was never drunk for my tats or piercings. Nervous, YES, but not drunk... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] Now I'm just addicted [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]

The snake bite is nothing like a tat or piercing [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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bigred · #8 (**permalink**) 09-26-2002, 11:08 AM

ok, I have handled a few ARPs and seen quite a few, this being Africa after all. Of the 15 or so I have encountered( all in captivity) I have seen 1, an 8ft female, that could be handled and left to potter around on the grass.
The others ranged from genuinely mean snakes( one male had bitten and coiled both of his previous owners) to "alright, but I'm not taking my eye off your head for one second"
They are also notoriuosly grumpy when blue - their hiss is one of the most impressive I have seen, and it is not always bluff, but is usually followed by a strike.
One other tip/warning - they are also notorious for striking at the face, and tend to constrict using their whole body.
I think that you are on the right track, handling as much as you can - good luck, but watch that head!!
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revkkoolaid · #9 (**permalink**) 09-26-2002, 06:08 PM

>>LMAO...I was never drunk for my tats or piercings. Nervous, YES, but not drunk... Now I'm just addicted

[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Honestly, neither was I for any of mine. Its just too much fun to put a damper on the rush with alki-hol! And Ill agree with the addicting part they're just like potato chips and herps.

Once you have on you just cant stoP!!!!!!!!
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SteveP · #10 (**permalink**) 09-26-2002, 06:53 PM

" but I'm still a snake bite virgin so I'm naturally super nervous about being bitten. Maybe after he tags me and I join the ranks of the post-bitten masses I won't be so spastic myself when I'm handling him."

I'm betting your virginity may be close to an end! LOL Once you get over the "surprise" of getting tagged it ain't so bad. When he's 15 feet long and latches on to ya just have lots of lemon juice around to squirt in his mouth...or a pry-bar!!! J/K
[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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Shadrach · #11 (**permalink**) 09-26-2002, 07:19 PM

I'm with the other's here if you already have an Annie that's tame your just the man to tame down an ARP! I will say i'm glad it's you instead of me!! Hehehe!
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#12 (**permalink**) 09-26-2002, 07:57 PM

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>I will say i'm glad it's you instead of me!! Hehehe! </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

Awww Shad ! Are you 100% sure about this ! We could TRY and find one of the ARP's for ya to work with possibly if your not sure hehe
[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]

koolaid... You'll notice that there are NOT many of us here who have experience in dealing with ARP's [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] There's good reason for that too hehe [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] Let us know how it goes for ya though !

Got any pics of this "tame" beastie ya keep at all ?

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revkkoolaid · #13 (**permalink**) 09-26-2002, 09:59 PM

>>Got any pics of this "tame" beastie ya keep at all ?

No not yet. . . I'll have pics of all my babies for you guys really soon though. This is my first herp forum so I never really needed herp pics before now.

As for taming my Annie, she's just a freak. She was born tame. She's never struck at anyone. . .yet [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

RevKkoolaid
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