Nasty little olive... who has tamed one before?

[pythons-rock!]

Hey all,
Recently purchased a juvenile olive python with a real attitude :evil:. I know how to tame young pythons (done it all before), but sometimes have doubts about this one! If I even open the lid a little he assumes strike position and repeatedly takes a swing... with more power and aggression than I 've ever seen in a snake. Anyone out there had a snake like this before that with persistance, calmed down? :?

 

[hydropython]

Ive got a water from sdaji thats like that.

Just be happy its a great feeding response. Genetically strong individual that one.

 

[Hooglabah]

1. dont try and handle it within two weeks of getting it let it get used to its envirnment for a while first.
2. you gonna get bitten at some point may as well be when hes little, the only way really to get a snake tolerant of you is small amounts of gentle handling a few times a week.
3. dont worrie about it to much he may calm down on his own if not oh well display animal set up a seriously wicked looking enclosure and spoil him with hides and climbing perches spare no expence.

oh do u have plenty of hides for him as well they can get a lot stressed if they dont have hides.

 

[pythons-rock!]

Yeah happy with him and glad he is healthy. I actually leave the thawed mouse on the cage floor and let him find it rather than dangle it for him to grab, hoping this will curb an aggro response. I heard waters can be snappy blighters!

 

[hydropython]

Yeah happy with him and glad he is healthy. I actually leave the thawed mouse on the cage floor and let him find it rather than dangle it for him to grab, hoping this will curb an aggro response. I heard waters can be snappy blighters!

A misnomer. They just have a strong feeding response. You may be able to condition the feeding response only when the scent of the rat is present.

Look at a psych text on animal conditioning. Pavlov's dog style experiment. May not work, YOu may not want it to. Your snake already has a great feeding response, you might not want to toy with that.

 

[pythons-rock!]

Yep taking every step to assure his every need is met, centering on the need to hide and feel secure. Have tamed many snappy young pythons before, even within a short period of time, but you should see this guy when he gets going lol

 

[serpenttongue]

Hey all,
Recently purchased a juvenile olive python with a real attitude :evil:. I know how to tame young pythons (done it all before), but sometimes have doubts about this one! If I even open the lid a little he assumes strike position and repeatedly takes a swing... with more power and aggression than I 've ever seen in a snake. Anyone out there had a snake like this before that with persistance, calmed down? :?

Many baby Olives are like this. I dont think it will settle down quickly. It may stay this way for a couple of years and then start to settle down as it grows and ages. You may even need to go to such lengths as covering the front of it's enclosure as it grows.

They are usually this way when inside their enclosure/tub, but once you get them out and handle them they are fine.

I have an Olive that behaved like yours when it was a baby. It would throw itself at me to bite. Took about 4 years to settle down and is now a calm snake (most of the time), but still has an incredible feeding response.

 

[snakehandler]

We found a few of ours were like this only in the cage..once out they were fine......use a hook to pick them up then gently handle....

 

[pythons73]

How could such a cute olive be so nasty,i think your having us on...

 

[pythons-rock!]

Many baby Olives are like this. I dont think it will settle down quickly. It may stay this way for a couple of years and then start to settle down as it grows and ages. You may even need to go to such lengths as covering the front of it's enclosure as it grows.

They are usually this way when inside their enclosure/tub, but once you get them out and handle them they are fine.

I have an Olive that behaved like yours when it was a baby. It would throw itself at me to bite. Took about 4 years to settle down and is now a calm snake (most of the time), but still has an incredible feeding response.

Hey thanks, I don't know many people who have extensive experience with olives, so thats just what I needed to know. I'll work hard (and courageously!) to eventually calm him down

 

[pythons-rock!]

Hehe believe me his savage. Might set him up by the front door to deter would be robbers...

 

[dodgie]

Little olives can be very defensive and nervous but most will grow out if this.Snakes can't be tamed like a ferret,bird or rabbit even the most placid snake can bite without warning.My olives are good to handle 9 out of every 10 times i get them out.