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coferj · #1 (**permalink**) 07-18-2002, 03:40 PM

I've had my rainbow for about 3-4 months. It hasn't snapped at me for no reason in a looooong time. Last night I wanted to get it out to let it move around, maybe get a little exercise, but it's buried. So I have to start rifling through the substrate to find it. I brush across the back side of the cage, and I see his back. I brush a little more to find out how he was positioned, then his head poked out of the aspen. I got that feeling, that I knew what was going to happen. I wasnt' going to be able to pick it up from the back, only right there in it's face. So, I did what I had to do. I reached in, started to pick it up...the head eased up across my thumb, looking almost like the snake wasn't going to strike...then BAM! reached it's head inside the palm of my hand and latched on...gnawed for a split second, and drew back. Of course, it didn't hurt, but it gets aggrivating that he won't calm down a little bit. Is it going to be this testy forever? Is this something that I'm going to have to get used to? I wasn't able to take any pics, but I wish I could have. Nothing big, but it did draw blood.
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eddie · #2 (**permalink**) 07-18-2002, 03:55 PM

It may calm down after lots of handling, so get used to it for a while till then.

You can try this also.
Don't use any lotions or hand creams, as some do contain animal products.
Wash your hands good before handling.
Get some lemon juice and rub it on your hands, letting it dry, then handling.
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coferj · #3 (**permalink**) 07-18-2002, 04:08 PM

Not that I doubt your advice, quite the contrary...but what exactly does the lemon juice do? The only thing that I 've ever heard of using lemon juice for is removing grease from your hands after eating bar-b-que ribs/chicken....lol
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eddie · #4 (**permalink**) 07-18-2002, 04:13 PM

It gives a too nasty to bite smell and if it does nibble, then the sour will shock its jacobsons organ enough to make it not want to do that.

Also, lemon juice is recommended for use with large constrictors, in case of a lingering bite or a wrapping of a victim, to convince the snake that it doesn't want to hold on with its mouth.
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#5 (**permalink**) 07-18-2002, 04:16 PM

If you think about it from the snake's point of view...the only thing that is gonna dig it out if it's buried is a predator, so you're asking for trouble digging it out bare handed...I'd hook him up out of the substrate then free hand him
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phaedrus · #6 (**permalink**) 07-18-2002, 04:19 PM

There isn't any chance that you startled him out of a sound sleep - with him being buried under the aspen and all, is there?

There are mornings when I've got all the shades drawn that I just don't want to wake up. And when I'm finally in a vertical position, it still takes me a bit. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Maybe he just wasn't fully awake and struck because he's young and was startled. Maybe use newspaper for a substrate so he can actually see and smell that it's you? Dunno, just my .02. I'm not an expert. I've only an RTB and I'm still learning WAY lots from the people here.
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Seany · #7 (**permalink**) 07-18-2002, 05:12 PM

Glad to hear about the lemon juice, always want to learn something new...
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coferj · #8 (**permalink**) 07-18-2002, 05:49 PM

Well, normally I would agree that maybe I awakened and startled him...but everytime I get it out, the snake is buried like that...and it's not struck at me in months. It's no biggie right now, just want to break it before it gets bigger and the bite might actually hurt. Thanks for the replies, I might have to try that lemon juice tip.
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mirabelasunshine · #9 (**permalink**) 07-21-2002, 09:47 AM

if you have to dig him/her out, don't give it time to think -- just go in and snatch it. my brb is like yours, stays buried 24/7, and generally doesn't give me any grief. I had to do with a red blood python, though, who would nail you if you hesitated or spent too long gently excavating her. anyhow, try it. worst thing -- you get bit, and you'll know your snake doesn't like that either. all in all, she probably just needs more time to believe you're not going to hurt her.
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coferj · #10 (**permalink**) 07-22-2002, 03:05 PM

Only time will tell, I guess...I fed it last night and the pig took three hopper mice! It's growing like a weed...from 25 in. about two months ago to almost 32 in. now!! I just wish my bci would grow like that. I don't think that she has grown any. Oh, well.
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dizzyblonde · #11 (**permalink**) 07-22-2002, 03:19 PM

[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] well....you could have it easy like me. When we got Seurat he was a little baby...couldn't tell you how old...but he was little. And I wouldn't hold him because he kept tagging my husband who continued to get bit until Seurat settled down. While all that was going on....I just "played" with our Argentine. I think we got Seurat back in April....and I have no problems holding him now. I do wait to get the rainbows out when its night-time since I have a greater chance of them being awake. And now Seurat and I have a "bond"...I think he had his little vacation away from his cage because I kept "plopping" him into his waterbowl when he was in shed mode. Don't think he liked that much...so...I guess...keep handling your rainbow...he will calm down. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] ~oh how old is your rainbow? We have ours on fuzzy rats now...and they do fine. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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coferj · #12 (**permalink**) 07-22-2002, 04:09 PM

Well, I don't have that luxury, b/c I am the one that has to get the rainbow out. My g/f won't touch it since she's seen it pop at me a couple of times. I'm not sure on the age, b/c I bought it from a gentlman and wife that were moving and had to get rid of it. I've had it for about 4 1/2 months or so. I'm guessing it to be about a year or so. I guess it will just be one of those mysteries that we never know how old it is.
I saw it soak for one of the first times last night. When it got done feeding, and I put it back in the cage, I set it right in the water bowl. It went in head first, and sat there "swimming" w/head under water for quite a while....then soaked for another min or two with just it's head sticking out. I couldn't watch it for too long, b/c I had to go take care of my bci that is having a bad shed. I wish my brb was as tame as my bci...I can literally sit there and (if needbe) peel skin away from my bci's head...my brb would have popped me big time if I tried to peel skin off of it's head! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
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