Help needed

[stevea3514]

Hi guys,

We have had a yealring Bredli (male) for about 2 weeks now, we fed him after 5 days and then waited 2 more days to handle him.

The first time we stuffed about for a long time which i think stressed him out a bit and he was getting very defensive by the end of it and my son even dropped him (about 10 cm) onto the ground.

We put him back in left him for another 3 days and had another go. Pretty much as soon as he was picked up he was striking towards my sons hands so we quickly put him back.

Just need some advice on what to do about this i.e. to help him be more relaxed and enable us to hold him once or twice a week.

And also what is the best moethod for picking them up??

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Steve

 

[mysnakesau]

Perseverance and patience is the key to earning yourself a good handling snake. Bredli are renown for being snappy youngsters but tend to grow out of it. You can start work on this now, but observing what it is he is striking at. Fast or sudden movements, or touching him unawares can trigger defensive behaviour so if you can avoid the action he may very well become a much settled individual.

I have 2 yearling bredli's. One is still as snappy as the day I brought him home when he was couple months old. But I know what startles him so provided I move slow and gentle and let him know I am coming in before I just grab at him, we tend to have less reasons to strike and he will settle. His sister was very snappy when I first brought her home. Treated her the same, now she barely bites at all. She just seems to be quieter natured than he is. He can handle but we have to respect him that little bit more than we need with her. No two snakes will ever be the same. Bit like kids. Sister and brother can be chalk and cheese so you have to treat them differently, according to their own personality, to achieve similar results from them.

 

[stevea3514]

Thanks for that, I had a go at putting my hand in the enclosure very slowly and just resting my hand near his body.

After a few minutes i touched him softly and he flattened his body but didn't move away, maybe a few more go's like this and he may calm down a bit.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Danielle-S]

My guy was the same, and I did the same thing. Let him know Im there,just brush him gently, then pick him up. Hes all good now. Now Im starting with a new one, and shes bitten me 3 times already. But I've found the solution, tracky pants over the arms, with only the finger tips protruding. Sounds and looks funny, but works. In hind sight, a jumper would have worked just as well, but it IS summer

 

[seumas12345]

The more you handle the less he will snap. Everytime you pull away from a snap you are teaching him "If I don't want to be touched by humans then snap at them." It's all about teaching him that hips bites do nothing... so it's important to make sure that when you go to pick him up, reach in (not fast) and gently pick him up. Make sure that when you hold him you let him rest on your hand and explore your hand himself. Don't squeeze him or try and "hold onto him".
I've had my new hatchling for 1 1/2weeks who would bite me about 6-8 times everytime I went to pick him up. Each day I will pick him up 2 or 3 times for about 5 minutes. I now have him to the stage where I can get him out of the cage without him striking, and I can now stroke him softly. Like I said it's all about patience and perserverence.
It might be an idea for only one person to hold him for a couple of weeks, the one who is bravest. The reason I say this is because if your son keeps holding him and pulls away everytime the hatchling strikes, it will teach him bad habits.
Best of luck

 

[macj81]

One way is to gently rub with snake hook a few times one to let him know it's handling time and also let them know that your their also to see what mood he is in then dont hesitate pick him up, also alcohol wash hands before as they can then associate this with being handled as opposed to feed time.
As the others have said PATIENCE.
My sons and i have both purchased snakes which were 7months and 10months which were never handled, months on they seldom bite when they do it our fault moved too quick, the wife thinks hagrid, Tenant creek Stimson has a vendetta against her it just she moves too quick for his liking and Tom the spotted was nicked named snappy Tom for obvious reasons but handles well now.
They are handled daily when possible except ater feeding then they are left 48hrs.

 

[BlindSnake]

I have found a valuable part of working with / conditioning any animal, is to never leave the session on a bad / stressful note.

If the snake appears a bit stressed, just sit still, with no other movement around, until he has become relaxed and stopped striking
Stay still for a cpl mins, and he may even to begin to investigate your scnt a bit.

Then very slowly move him back towards his tub / enclosure, and allow him to move back in of his own accord.

Keep increasing the time and amount of movement each sessoin, or as he becomes more comfortable with you, and the surroundings..

You will have it sorted in no time..

If the snake is particularly stressed when you put your hand in the tank, or esp when you approach him. to pick him up, you can use his bag to touch him softly first.
Being touched by what they sense as an inanimate object first, can alleviate alot of the startle response. (esp if the object is elatily soft)
Just try not to come directly over the top of the snake with the bag, as this can be stressful. (many snake predators attack from above, and instinct seems to tell them this!!)

These methods have worked very well for us with large defensive / scared snakes, and will also work a treat on lil ones.
Just make sure the bag is a bit rolled up if the snake is small, as a big giant thing coming down over the top of you can be a little daunting.

 

[stevea3514]

thanks every one

 

[mark83]

I'm doing the same with my hatchy atm. Slow movements and keep still til he settles. And each day he will get better. Short periods to begin with. I normally hook my snake out first so he knows he has to get up and isn't startled by my just grabing it.

 

[melgalea]

how come no one has mentioned using a snake hook
i hook out all my snakes when i have to get them out, and because they are aware of the hook they all settle very well once out. i keep my handling to a bare minimum. however on a few occasions if i have reached into there enclosures to get there water bowls out i cop a bite, i now use the snake hook to drag the water bowl out with and they dont even bother.

 

[zeke22]

i just use a coat hanger that i bent into a hook shape! seems to work really well. i had a spotted hatchie last year who was quite snappy and used to strike out. i would use the hook and gently place her onto my hand, would stretch my hand out though so fingers weren't in the way!!! and only last weekend brought home my jungle hatchie. have been using the hook with her too since last sunday and have not been bitten once! though maybe she is just alot more placid. good luck!

 

[Lovemydragons]

Yeah I agree with the snake hook. I have a little bredli girl, will be 1 in march. I always pick her up out of her box with the hook. If she seems a little cranky or defensive I use the hook to stroke her and it seems to calm her down.

When I first got her I found holding my hands in my jumper didn't worry her as much, probably warmer too. But after 5 or so minutes of cruising around I'd slowly bring my hands out and she'd be fine.

Another thing I used to do at early stages was hook her onto a branch and carry her on that to the lounge room. I'd put her and the branch on my lap. I think she saw the branch as her security blanket, but slowly would explore off the branch and onto me. I'd put my arms down next to her and eventually she'd climb onto me.

It does all take time, but am happy to say after all the hard work I can now go about the house while she's out doing anything and she'll just hang about around my arm. Although still doesn't like my fiance stomping past very quickly. But she has never bitten either of us, although she's tried quite a few times. I have just learnt to read her a little better.

 

[soundfix]

Maybe timid

I have 2 Coastal Pythons,1 male, 1 female, from same clutch.
I agree with the idea of hook,anything that helps the snake percieveyou and your hand as no threat, seems to make it easier to move on to regular handling.
My pair of coastals. will be 1year old in may.Raised togeather since birth and still share a tank.The female has been problem free, since birth,regarding being handled, I am yet to be nipped,hissed at,or struck at by her.Exact same routine for the male, though when he was around 6months,he started getting 'cage defensive'.
Whenevr my hand,went into the tank ,he would coil back and attempt to strike.I figured,he was intimidated by my hand, and my rat supply man, told me,baby pythons, fear being pecked by birds, and if your hand looks like a giant beek, leaning in to peck him,he'd go off.
I found a small piece of wood, that covered most of my hand, and found that it also acted as a barrier if he struck.It seemed to work.II would let him smell the wood,and,would firmly pick him up without hesitation, when comfortable,.
He is a very easily handled little python now, and only gets edgey when its feeding time.Good Luck.

 

[TigerCoastal]

basically time and patience worked for me. i got a 2y/o coastal female a bit over a month ago and for starters she would strike at anything that moved, tried the hook and she got stressed out (maybe to cold?). I then tried a $3 pair of pig skin gloves just no fuss reach in and pick her up... she tried to strike the first few times i did it, but gloves stopped any bite. After 2 weeks of doing this daily with a break after feeding she has settled nicely, also when picking her up i slide my fingers along the floor of the cage and under her instead of grasping her from above. Still wont let the kids hold her as they dont understand "slow" well enough and she will still strike at a quick movement but take it slow and build yours and the snakes confidence and it will come good, well as good as its temperament will allow