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Striker living up to his name...

Maize411

Maize411

Hooked for life!!
Well it turns out I named my new snake well..When I took him out today to put him into his feeder tank for his first feeding, he struck at me..He missed but I could tell he was not happy at all...That was the first time I ever heard a snake of mine hiss at me and feel his tail rattle...to be honest...I'm a little scared to handle him now..I don't want to be..but I don't want to hurt him..If he bites me I might panic and drop him by accident...I don't know what to do..He's eatting right now so I am releived that he isn't stressed to where he won't eat...But I don't know what to do..I want to get him used to me..I never knew how lucky I was that Maize is so gentle..she's a bit squirmy but has never went to strike or ever hissed at me...what should I do???? :cry: :cry: :cry:
 
You should leave him alone and give him time to settle in! You havent had him long at all and hes probably just scared from being manhandled at shows then brought back to a complete strangers house.

He will get used to you in time. This first feeding should settle him down. Give him a full week to digest and settle in.
 
He's just afraid and upset by the recent changes in his life. He probably won't bite. Even if he does bite, it's not going to hurt- it'll just be scary. Look at that snake that bit me three times Saturday- that didn't stop me from getting my camera and asking the snake to pose nicely in a tree! All he needs is a little time to settle in and then gentle consistant handling.

Both my new snakes have tail-rattled me! Neither one bit. I think Jake was giving me some exasperated sighs last night, though.

Nanci
 
Thank you for the input and boost of confidence guys...I'm just gonna leave him be for a few days..maybe until Monday..then I'll try and take him out for a few minutes of handling...I do love this guy..and I want him to know I don't mean him any harm...thanks again.. :)
 
Agree that maybe he should be allowed a bit more quality time to get used to his new home.

And I know a lot of folks will yell "Wimp!", but I really would advocate using gloves to start with if you're that nervous, just to boost your confidence. Even rubber washing-up gloves will be enough to deflect the worst of a Corn bite (which isn't all that bad, even in adults).

In addition, gloves will help block the "fear" pheramones that you'll be giving off as you're now nervous. The pheramones will make Striker nervous about you picking him up, and more likely to live up to his name!

After a few uneventful handling sessions with gloves, you can try first with one glove off, then both. Gloves just minimise the stress to all concerned and are easy to do away with once thing ssettle down.
 
bitsy said:
Agree that maybe he should be allowed a bit more quality time to get used to his new home.

And I know a lot of folks will yell "Wimp!", but I really would advocate using gloves to start with if you're that nervous, just to boost your confidence. Even rubber washing-up gloves will be enough to deflect the worst of a Corn bite (which isn't all that bad, even in adults).

In addition, gloves will help block the "fear" pheramones that you'll be giving off as you're now nervous. The pheramones will make Striker nervous about you picking him up, and more likely to live up to his name!

After a few uneventful handling sessions with gloves, you can try first with one glove off, then both. Gloves just minimise the stress to all concerned and are easy to do away with once thing ssettle down.
Click to expand...

I don't know if I agree about the pheromone-blocking properties, but I agree with the rest of your points about gloves. I have a few snakes that would bite my "naked" hand, but they never try to bite a yellow dishwashing glove.
 
I was just reading in Reptile magazine about this field trip to look for Timber Rattlers. So they found one, and it never rattled, despite them moving a rock to see it, and then searching around the site for other snakes. They found a Ringneck and a Garter, both of which musked, causing the rattler to start rattling.

A friend of mine, who gave me Addy, Choco, and the Florida Boxie, Krusty, just asked if I wanted his Pueblan Milk, which is unpleasant and musks every time he handles it. Not that I don't want it, but I told him that the word around here is milks grow out of their anti-social behavior at about two years of age- so he should keep the snake another year and see what happens.

All of which I don't know what it has to do with your post, except both things are about fearful snakes that I found interesting.

Nanci
 
Thank you for the idea...I'm probably gonna try with gloves for now..and hopefully things will improve with time..But I'm not gonna try and handle him until Monday..
 
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