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Baby wants to bite

JTGoff69 said:
Off topic for Spirit.....Max must be rubbing off on my snakes through the IM...Sneaky took a HUGE dump all down my back last night!! LOL First time I've been pooped on by my snakes. :puke01:
Click to expand...

:laugh: Max has only every pooped on me once (in my sleeve) but I still had to bathe him before every handling session when he was on pinks because I didn't want to take the risk of being pooped on. He always pooped in the water. Nice and clean.

I'm REALLY sorry to hear that it was down your back though... omg, how awful! What a mess. LOL
 
I just thought I'd give a little update...

I think Ollie has a split personality :) Some days he's as placid as anything and others he gets really stroppy. I'm hoping this is down to juvernile behaviour rather than his overal temperament.

Anyway, Ollie finally managed to tag me yesterday. I was holding him and one hand and offering him the over hand to sliver onto (he seems to like constantly moving and unless I offer hand after hand he'll run out of support and drop!). He was quite happy with this for about 5 minutes and then just took exception to my hand and tagged it on the thumb. As loads of people have suggested in this thread, it didn't hurt at all (he didn't even break the skin) but it did make me jump.

Anyway, at this point I became a bit nervous (don't ask) but decided if I was to put him down he'd learn to bite to get away from me so I just help him for a couple more minutes and then gently lowered him back into his house.

I am going to try and hold him everyday (even if I have to wear gloves to overcome my snake phobia) except after he's eaten or if he's shedding.

Thanks to everyone on this thread who offered their advice.
 
GOOD FOR YOU, MAN! I love to hear stories about people confronting their fears, even if it is as minor as a little baby snake bite. LOL

Keep it up, Rix! *thumbs up*
 
Don't let the little darlings fool you! They are so full of bluff for the most part. My Miami baby took a swipe at me the first time I reached in to handle her and I went through the same cold sweats, knowing it wasn't going to hurt, but it's that whole being bitten by a snake thing.

The only snake I've ever had make contact was my big amel female (Bruneaux) who had gotten out and had been pestered all afternoon by the cats. They had her cornered and were daring each other to touch her. They were too chicken to get very close, but they thought she was really cool to mess with! Well, there wasn't any way around it, I had to get her. Not having a hook, I just had to go for it. I got her midway on the body and she swung 'round like lightning. She made an open mouth hit on the side of my hand, praise Gaia there were no fangs involved. It felt like a slap.

I still don't like the idea of getting tagged, but I know that I will live through it, and I take care to avoid any other situations like that one.

I'm just glad that corns don't must like kings do. I have one kingsnake neonate that is like a little cannon when I pick her up..every...single...time.
 
Yeah, I agree, it is the thought of being bitten by a snake rather than the fear of being bitten. It's just, well, creepy! Still, I did chuckle after he tagged me because he had such a dejected look on his face! Almost like after all his effort there was no reward! Hehe.

Just out of interest, if he did decide to tag me when he's older (adultish) how much toothage would be involved? To Corns develop fangs like other snakes or do their teeth remain small since they are constrictors?

I've yet to see Ollie try and constrict his food. I started him on fuzzies last week. He seemed well impressed with the new portion size. I was amazed he manage to swallow it (it was abouyt 1.5 times his size) but down it went. The little fat git then spent the rest of the day sleeping it off on top of his log :)
 
Well I guess that's what you get handling and keeping a rather wild animal. I personally don't think you can condition a snake. Brains of reptiles are kept to minimum activity and size due to the fact that a brain like a dog or cat or human would use far to much energy. Therfore I don't think they learn things as "If I bite his thumb he puts me back into the tank".
Let'em bite I say. I don't handle my snkaes at all apart from taking them out for feeding. I try to do all other things as checking the health and weight etc. when taking them out to feed. Stress is probably the biggest factor for illnessess with snakes in captivity.


Acradon
 
There are snakes that will always strike (some species are more prone to that than corns), and there are those like my Puppy who are so docile it's wierd. She sticks her head out of her hide whenever she sees me and she is the only neonate I've trusted to freely climb my arms without fear she'll take off. She's even gentle when she eats, not like my "attack snakes".

I hope the day never comes when you or I find out what snake teeth feel like, Rix. But if you find out first, let me know, ok?
 
Evil Rix

Hamsters?! Vicious little gits for sure! My children - and myself and my wife - all bear scars from those evil little monsters. One of the reasons we got a snake was because after doing some research I was led to believe that snkaes bit less!!

As for the threatening pose. My snake is young - few months old - and he often goes into that. I just put my hand on the bottom of the viv and keep it still. He then relaxes and comes to try and hide under it! He then moves a way and as he does so I just gently pick him up from behind. Sometimes he
thrashes about a bit but always he becomes calm and relaxed very quickly.

Only once did he stay resolutley in the strike position and followed me with his gaze. I knew he was going to strike (learned something from Steve Irwin!) and was able to easily move out of the way. Funnily enough, in the way someone has mentioned in this thread, I thought "Right yer little b....r I'll show you whose boss!" and gave him a damn good thrashing! Only kidding of course :grin01: I just waited for him to make a run for it and picked him up. He has never done that again. I just got him in a really pissy mood.

I am waiting for the day when he is four feet long and goes into the strike position!
 
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