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Maybe not cut out for this?
- Thread starter tamaramay
- Start date
tamaramay
New member
thank you all for your responses -
I should have said "I've handled him everyday, except for those first 3 days..."
He has only ever come out of his hide, willingly, once - and that was the first time I handled him - after the first 3 days. Are you guys saying that I should wait for him to come out? My impression was that I should just dive in and "handle" him daily for him to get used to me.
Tonight I wore some little vinyl gloves from work, so I wouldn't be so nervous, and even held a paper towel in my lap (which was fairly unweildy - an old towel would probably be better) - so I wouldn't be worried about the pooping.
Everything went OK this time - no pooping, and no biting. But I guess I am just the nervous sort (which is what I meant by not being cut out for this)- he jumps and I jump. And honestly, no caffeine since early this morning.
I kept the handling very brief this time. Maybe about 3 minutes and put him back. All went smoothly. I thank everyone for their input, even a response from Kathy (whose book I have been waiting for, should have just ordered it from your website...)
My son is 5. He is very interested in watching the snake, but when it started heading in his direction, got a little frightened. I told him to watch from a little farther away (don't want to force the issue, while the snake is in this jumpy stage). He claims to still want to "take the snake back", but I get the feeling that perhaps he is just angry with it for biting his mommy! And while I care about his feelings, he doesn't get to make big decisions like this.
Anyway, I will perservere, read Kathy's book when it ever arrives - concentrating first off on this handling/behavior stuff. Is it correct that I shouldn't be fishing him out of his hide? (or from under the Aspen bedding-I think before, someone said - just pull him out-) He has only come out on his own once, when I found him climbing around on the gauges. I could just give him his mouse when he's due and leave him alone till he comes out, but thought then he'd never get used to me.
Don't worry, btw, I would never "dump" him and I'm not ready to get rid of the little guy. I am a responsible pet owner and the little guy is well cared-for. I know, posting these things on a site like this, that I take the chance of angering people who don't know me and perhaps being criticized by some. Mostly you've been very patient-and I appreciate you all taking the time to impart some of your experience.
So thanks again-
:shrugs:
I should have said "I've handled him everyday, except for those first 3 days..."
He has only ever come out of his hide, willingly, once - and that was the first time I handled him - after the first 3 days. Are you guys saying that I should wait for him to come out? My impression was that I should just dive in and "handle" him daily for him to get used to me.
Tonight I wore some little vinyl gloves from work, so I wouldn't be so nervous, and even held a paper towel in my lap (which was fairly unweildy - an old towel would probably be better) - so I wouldn't be worried about the pooping.
Everything went OK this time - no pooping, and no biting. But I guess I am just the nervous sort (which is what I meant by not being cut out for this)- he jumps and I jump. And honestly, no caffeine since early this morning.
I kept the handling very brief this time. Maybe about 3 minutes and put him back. All went smoothly. I thank everyone for their input, even a response from Kathy (whose book I have been waiting for, should have just ordered it from your website...)
My son is 5. He is very interested in watching the snake, but when it started heading in his direction, got a little frightened. I told him to watch from a little farther away (don't want to force the issue, while the snake is in this jumpy stage). He claims to still want to "take the snake back", but I get the feeling that perhaps he is just angry with it for biting his mommy! And while I care about his feelings, he doesn't get to make big decisions like this.
Anyway, I will perservere, read Kathy's book when it ever arrives - concentrating first off on this handling/behavior stuff. Is it correct that I shouldn't be fishing him out of his hide? (or from under the Aspen bedding-I think before, someone said - just pull him out-) He has only come out on his own once, when I found him climbing around on the gauges. I could just give him his mouse when he's due and leave him alone till he comes out, but thought then he'd never get used to me.
Don't worry, btw, I would never "dump" him and I'm not ready to get rid of the little guy. I am a responsible pet owner and the little guy is well cared-for. I know, posting these things on a site like this, that I take the chance of angering people who don't know me and perhaps being criticized by some. Mostly you've been very patient-and I appreciate you all taking the time to impart some of your experience.
So thanks again-
:shrugs:
Preita
New member
It takes a while for them to calm down. I say it's easier with older snakes because...
1) they are bigger so you don't worry about crushing them
2) they are a bit slower
3) they are calmer
4) most of the time they understand a person isn't going to harm them (if they have been handled enough).
I say dump the gloves. If he nips again you probably won't react so bad.
1) they are bigger so you don't worry about crushing them
2) they are a bit slower
3) they are calmer
4) most of the time they understand a person isn't going to harm them (if they have been handled enough).
I say dump the gloves. If he nips again you probably won't react so bad.
tamaramay
New member
I just went back and read the care sheet on Kathy's site, and realized that she advocates little handling for the first 3 weeks - I had read that page but didn't remember about leaving the little guy alone for that long.
He has fed well with us twice, but perhaps I am pushing things too fast for him with the handling.
He has fed well with us twice, but perhaps I am pushing things too fast for him with the handling.
Personally, I wouldn't worry about removing him from hiding in order to handle him. If I waited until all mine came out in order to handle then I would never get to handle most of them (the ones that only come out at night). If you're doing your handling during the daytime hours, then your bound to have to take him out of hiding because he's probably catching some z's. Nothing to worry about.
It probably wouldn't hurt to take it easy on the handling for the first few weeks, although, the length of time you have been handling sounds good. Starting with a few minutes and working up seems to work well for me. However, I have a couple that I handled very little for the first two months almost and they are still far from calming down. I just wanted to relay that so you wouldn't get the impression that giving them a few weeks to settle will necessarily calm them down. I believe giving them a few weeks before handling is more to let them get adjusted without stress and feeding well without regurging.
It's sound like you're doing the best thing possible. If the snake is something that you really want then I think it's great that you're sticking with it. I imagine that your son might come around after awhile...it may not be until he's in high school
but still. Only kidding of course.
It probably wouldn't hurt to take it easy on the handling for the first few weeks, although, the length of time you have been handling sounds good. Starting with a few minutes and working up seems to work well for me. However, I have a couple that I handled very little for the first two months almost and they are still far from calming down. I just wanted to relay that so you wouldn't get the impression that giving them a few weeks to settle will necessarily calm them down. I believe giving them a few weeks before handling is more to let them get adjusted without stress and feeding well without regurging.
It's sound like you're doing the best thing possible. If the snake is something that you really want then I think it's great that you're sticking with it. I imagine that your son might come around after awhile...it may not be until he's in high school
but still. Only kidding of course.
tamaramay
New member
I think he'll love it (my son)-
He has always loved animals and has been fascinated by the large snakes at the local pet store (they have a couple of big red-tail boas in a very large aquarium) and any time he's driving by (with me, his uncle or grandparents) will try to talk them into going in and seeing "the big snakes"
He has been dying to touch the snake since the get-go and was only upset - as someone mentioned - by my reaction to being bitten.
He has always loved animals and has been fascinated by the large snakes at the local pet store (they have a couple of big red-tail boas in a very large aquarium) and any time he's driving by (with me, his uncle or grandparents) will try to talk them into going in and seeing "the big snakes"
He has been dying to touch the snake since the get-go and was only upset - as someone mentioned - by my reaction to being bitten.
Lavagirl
New member
My son is 4.5 and though he's not seen Lavagirl bite me, he does enjoy holding her and likes checking on her daily, but is still wary. I tell him that she's more afraid of him than he is of her (remember your parents telling you that?!?! LOL) and that she's just a baby and that she's living in a new house with new people and wouldn't he be shy also if he went to go live in a new house with new people and I wasn't there? I tell him that she wants to feel safe with us just like we want to feel safe that she won't bite. I think he picks up on how confident I am that she's just another living creature just like us and that she means us no harm and that is why he's not afraid. But again, he is still wary if she starts crawling around too quickly. I think you're doing great and please don't think I thought you'd dump him. You wouldn't be asking for advice here if you were that type of person. I was just saying that folks who return pets to a store or take them to a shelter are at least making sure the animal will have a safe place to sleep at night and are not merely discarding them like trash outside. I hope all goes well for ya'll.
Virago
New member
I never pass up a chance to talk about my daughter...
My daughter is 3 and loves her snakes. 4 out of 5 are hers well daddy wants them then I talk her into it the she talks mommy into it. She is fascinated with them. Always looking through the wall of the tubs at them. Just my quick little story: We live in ontario Canada where ther is 2 feet of snow right now. We just went to Florida for a week on the first of January. We stayed in the disney cabins. She could have went to any of the parks and all she wanted to do was catch and hold the little anole running around. I think she liked that more than Mickey.LOL
My daughter is 3 and loves her snakes. 4 out of 5 are hers well daddy wants them then I talk her into it the she talks mommy into it. She is fascinated with them. Always looking through the wall of the tubs at them. Just my quick little story: We live in ontario Canada where ther is 2 feet of snow right now. We just went to Florida for a week on the first of January. We stayed in the disney cabins. She could have went to any of the parks and all she wanted to do was catch and hold the little anole running around. I think she liked that more than Mickey.LOL
Lore
Insert Witty Phrase Here
Kids
My kids are 2 and LOVE it when Phinius is out and they have all touched him and and JUST begun handling him under my close supervision (they just hold their hand out and he glides over it and back on to my hands) but they are LOVING this. They watch him eat (I got a good snake, doesnt care that he has an audience for feeds) and say "Snakes dinner, he's hungry mom!" I have had Phinius since August of 05 and it wasn't until November/December that I even let them touch him etc, I made sure he was past all the "hatchling traits" and was ok with being handled. I handle my corn for at least 30 mins - and hour a day depending also course not for 48 hours after he's eaten either, he is as doscile as can be. It took work and persistance tho.
Don't give up on your pet. If your son bit you, you wouldnt take him back. Have some patience and leave him be for awhile, try again in a few weeks. Corns ARE great pets.
My kids are 2 and LOVE it when Phinius is out and they have all touched him and and JUST begun handling him under my close supervision (they just hold their hand out and he glides over it and back on to my hands) but they are LOVING this. They watch him eat (I got a good snake, doesnt care that he has an audience for feeds) and say "Snakes dinner, he's hungry mom!" I have had Phinius since August of 05 and it wasn't until November/December that I even let them touch him etc, I made sure he was past all the "hatchling traits" and was ok with being handled. I handle my corn for at least 30 mins - and hour a day depending also course not for 48 hours after he's eaten either, he is as doscile as can be. It took work and persistance tho.
Don't give up on your pet. If your son bit you, you wouldnt take him back. Have some patience and leave him be for awhile, try again in a few weeks. Corns ARE great pets.