I'm not scared of holding her, but really do not want to be bitten in the face, or this to continue, especially since the average adult is from 8-12 ft. I've had her for 1 year. My other snakes, ball's haven't ever bitten me. I've increased her feeding to a jumbo dead rat every 10-14 days, do you think this is too long of a waiting time? How often should I be holding her to reduce this behavior. She's a keeper, like I said I just don't want a face bite, and I want my 4 year old to continue to be able to hold her with some pre-cautions of course.
2007-06-07 08:23:07 · 6 answers · asked by SnakeLady 2 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
I had a real problem with this sort of thing when I first started handling "bitey" snakes. The problem was I was expecting to be bitten and was nervous. And the snake can tell, just like a dog. I don't know exactly how your snake is biting, so I'll just run you through what I do with similar cases.
First of all, I'll use some kind of hand sanitizer, be it washing my hands in the sink or alcohol-based gel to remove any and all rodent/feline/canine scent from my hands. Then, depending on the temperment of the snake, I'll reach in with a fist (it's important to have no fear of being bitten. It's not especially painful, and the snake does not want to eat you) and hold it by the snake for a few seconds. Reason being because they're a lot less likely to get a good bite on your fist rather than your fingers outstretched. I'll then calmly, fluidly, and assertively take the snake out (in a bundle if possible, rather than stretched), and hold it firmly (not tightly) next to me. I'll keep it that way for a few seconds so it calms down and doesn't think it's in danger, and then I'll slowly let it start to move out of my hands, and let it go from there. If it ever starts to look me in the face, I'll put a flat-vertical hand between my face and the snakes, and, if possible, move their head away. They'll get the idea.
It's worked with beauty snakes, amazon tree boas, rat snakes, even a particularly foul yellow anaconda. Think dog-whisperer, only with snakes. It's all about calm assertiveness.
With bigger snakes, you're also going to want to handle them more often than little ones. They're not going to get stressed nearly as easily, and it's really the only way to keep them fully tame. Burmese pythons have a nasty habbit of getting very bitey if they don't have daily attention, but that's around 15+ feet, so I'd take your girl out every other day. Every day, if at all possible, even for 10-15 minutes. Just so they keep that mindset that you're not a danger to them.
Hope this helps!
2007-06-08 21:56:52 · answer #1 · answered by trinilim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will get bitey if they are near shedding. Are her eyes getting milky?
You should hold her atleast a couple of hours every 2 days.
I large rat every 10 days should be fine. She may be a good eater and need a little more. But, you don't want to power feed her, she will grow too fast.
2007-06-07 08:31:48 · answer #2 · answered by rdrmn 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should hold her every day to keep her used to your companionship. Make sure you take her out of her tank to feed her. Make sure she is not shedding or getting ready to shed when you try to hold her;during the shedding period they are blind and will strike at almost anything.Also make sure your not feeding her during the shedding period. She could be unhappy, you might not be feeding her enough or her tank might be too small for her, those are two likely reasons why a red tail boa would bite.
2007-06-07 08:45:33 · answer #3 · answered by Nicole T 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in case you're petrified of having bit i would not get one. Get a rubber boa they in no way chew. I even have the sweetest crimson tail boa or perhaps he has bitten me two times. Neither time a real aggressive chew basically a rapid strike and launch. i'm confident he wasn't mad or scared basically shocked yet they could incredibly nevertheless chew no count how tame. i did no longer think of it harm. i became into extra mad and desperate to get him out. Afterwards he basically sat on my shoulders relaxing on an identical time as I performed on the computing device
2016-11-26 23:37:58 · answer #4 · answered by madel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Also, make sure your hands and the environment are free of anything that may smell like food to her. If you have other pets like rodents, rabbits or birds their scent must be removed from your hands with soap. Boas hunt by scent and movement, if her rat is defrosting nearby where she can smell it she may strike at any movement near her, including your hand.
2007-06-07 09:50:49 · answer #5 · answered by Thea 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a snake is a wild animal and should be treated as one. she has no love for you, & would probably bite you as easily as look at you
2007-06-07 08:32:18 · answer #6 · answered by loretta p 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋