milk snake musking?

Question

is there any way to make my snake stop musking every time i pick her up or do i just need to deal with it and handel her more to get her to stop doing it???? sally didnt do it when i first got her but i think it might of been cuz they werent feeding her since i started feeding her she does it almost every time i pick her up and it really make a mess and stinks like **** !!!!! lol

Answer 1

Here is a trick I've tried before and Ive had success with it. Take a t-shirt that you've been wearing for a day or two and put it in the enclosure. The snake will use the shirt as a hiding spot and become familiar with your scent. Then the snake will associate your scent with being safe and secure. You'll still have to handle the snake and it wont happen over night but it's worth it. Also when you pick her up make sure you're not grabbing at her from above. She'll be much calmer if you lift her from below. I usually put my hand under the substrate under the snakes body and gently lift them up. Grabbing and holding will just lead to musking and possible biting.

Answer 2

I would disagree with the first guy who answered this. Snakes do have a memory and they become fimilar to each person's individual scent. To get it to calm down, you just need to handle it a little every day (except for 2 days after it eats) and put up with the musking. Eventually, it will know that the big thing that is picking it up isn't going to eat it and it will calm down quicker as time goes by. I have a cornsnake that did this along with bitting, hissing, striking and the whole bit, but within about 2 weeks, it is the calmest thing to pick up. It will still get a little nervous when I go to get it, but it quickly calms down once it knows who is picking it up.

I also have a ribbon snake that everyone told me they weren't nice to handle because they are too active and they will musk constantly on you. It was about 5 days and that was it.

My next snake will be a milk snake, I have been looking for one now.

It will just take a little time, move slowly, wash your hands before and after handling the snake and all will be fine.
any further questions feel free to email me.

Answer 3

It is very easy to get them to stop. Just keep handling her... Eventually she'll get used to it and no longer see you as a threat. Make sure you don't immediately put her back when she does it. A lot of people stop handling when a snake musks/craps/strikes etc... and then the animal can begin to associate that with getting put back.

Answer 4

The unfortunate answer is that it is a natural reaction usually to being startled (or annoyed perhaps at being picked up) I usually found that once they were up and moving they wouldn't do it but a snake doesn't have much of a memory so its not something you can "train out of her" sorry (she is still a beautiful snake)