IS BIGGER BETTER!!!

[webby]

A question to all you herps out there... who has the biggest.... snake?
We are interested in finding out how you go handling the larger of our slithery friends.. We currantly have a couple of decent size carpets the largest about 7ft, still to grow more we know. but we want to eventually get into olives and scrubbies. tips on handling etc would be appreciated!

thanx [/b]

 

[instar]

Handle them carefully and not when smelling like rats! :lol:

Anyway, its now how big your snake is that counts Webby, its what ya can do with it. LOL

On a serious note, i never mucked around like that with mine, always fed him in his enclosure, he was only fed every 10/12 days or so, so i just handled him in between time. never had a problem with him thinking i was food, although he sometimes took a bit more intrest in me if i handled him at night. He hated being around my neck if i walked around with him tho, hed start to constrict then, just to hang on, got a bit hairy a few times, he was just under 9 ft.

 

[Slateman]

I handle my olives with out concideration of constriction at the moment. The female is 2.8 metre and placid. She newer squeeze when handeled. I have 7 feet coastal and he really like to squeeze and constrict when he feels uncomfortable. I think that all depends on snake.
I am making sure that snake know that whan handling is going on, he do not think is feeding time.
I newer feed snake after handling and out of cage. I know that many people will have different wiew on this. If you feed only in cage, you are taking risk that snake thinks that when you open cage, he get fed and strike. But after you touch them with hook, he knows that it is not feeding time and handling is so easy.
I am finding out that snakes feed out of enclosure sometimes get tendency to constrict becaose wrong impression that they get fed.
I am talking about large animals here.
Now you can all start to post how wrong I am. LOL :wink:

 

[JET]

I don't have a big snake at the moment, she's only 7months old. Although i'm an inexperenced handler, you sound like you're on the money Slateman. Matilda has learnt the difference between feeding time and handling time already. If i put her feeding tweezers anywhere near her she strikes at them looking for food, but when she sees her hook she doesn't. I don't really see why this should be any different for bigger snakes.
What's the average length of a fully grown female diamond anyway? I think i read 8ft somewhere, does that sound about right?

 

[hugsta]

What's the average length of a fully grown female diamond anyway?

Average around 6 -7 ft.

Any snake over 8-9ft IMO should be handled only when a second person is around, you never know when things could go wrong. You could probably handle bigger snakes on your own but you would be risking a lot if they got cranky and started to constrict all of a sudden. They are extremely strong for their size. Just MO anyway. I don't handle any of my snakes over 7ft unless someone is at home with me just to be on the safe side.

 

[Guest]

The only time i have blocker out (7 foot coastal male) alone, he is on my arms and not around my head, i know i am strong enough to pull him off, but hey, why take un-necessary risks.
But when there are people around, he has run of the mill, he can cruise on me whereever he likes although i do like to know where his head is at all times so i can take control of it if i have to.

Also, if you were to get bitten in a sensitive spot (face, neck ect) it would turn out messy trying to get an angy snake back in its enclosure whilst peeing blood everywhere.

 

[ether]

If an full sized Olive stared constricting your neck/head would the average man be able to pull the snake off??

Regards Alex

 

[Amy]

What is the average size of a male diamond? Fully grown?

I handle my boy with care, he can be rather narky if he thinks there is a possibility he could get fed. He generaly knows that if tongs come out its feed time but I have had a couple of nasty bites from him that have required stitches.

 

[hugsta]

By yourself Alex, I would very much doubt it unless you were bigger than the average bloke and then some. A 13-14ft olive weighing around 13-15kilos and possibly more, you would have enough struggle with its length let alone the strength and weight of them.

 

[hugsta]

What is the average size of a male diamond? Fully grown?

6-7 feet but I have seen bigger. I have a female diamond that is not quite 8ft long, however the rest are more like 6ft.

 

[Fuscus]

the general rule is one (1) adult for the first two (2) meters then one (1) adult for every subsequent meter.

 

[Amy]

hmmm my male diamond is just over 8ft and weighs a fair bit. I only handle him when I absolutly have to if I am by myself. Being 5'7" and approx= 50kg, I wouldn't want to tempt him to test his strenth.

 

[kevyn]

My biggest right now is a 10ft. albino Burm. He's really easy to handle besides being really heavy. My biggest species and catching up to my albino Burm are my Retics. I've a 8-9ft. Java Retic and I handle him with care. He's okay out of his enclosure, but evil in there. He's not what I call a trust worthy animal. I also have a 9ft. normal Burm. Again he's a peice of cake too.

 

[kevyn]

Oh and to answer your question "is bigger better?" . Oh hell ya. Giant pythons are the most fun and most beautiful snakes to work with. I can't wait to add an Amethystine to my collection.

 

[hugsta]

Swap you a pair of scrubby's for a pair of albino burmese Kevyn.........what do you say mate...ok

 

[kevyn]

No problem. Over hear Amethystines are worth way more than albino Burms. Shipping them maybe a problem though.

 

[hugsta]

Shipping them maybe a problem though.

mmmmmmm, express freight!!!!!! :roll: :lol:

 

[kevyn]

I throw in a pair of Retics if you hook me up with a pair of Bredl's.

 

[hugsta]

Sounds good to me, how about a pair of hypo bredles for a pair of tiger retics?

 

[kevyn]

If only all this were possible. A pair of Tiger Retics would work out really well for you. Breed them together and you'll have Super Tigers. Gotta love co-dominant genetics.