Handling feisty snakes - Info

[alcamee]

I have had 2x taiwanese beauties and a bullsnake from babies and find that if I put a pillow case or piece of cloth over them, I calm them down and also protect, my pain phobic, fingers from being chomped. Once they are out, providing you move calmly and slowly they soon get used to being handled.

[invertasnakes]

Personally i think it all comes down to being able to read a snakes body language. Not one of the easiest things to do as I've found out a couple of times but its the only warning a snake will give us if any before it strikes. I've found that if you can "workout" if the snakes in a good mood or bad mood then thats half the battles won. I believe as others do, a good hook is the best way to go as is using it with no hesitation and all the time is very important. If going in without a hook then same again no hesitation! I understand that certain snakes just don't like being handled like my WC baby burm but then thats just down to us to wether we want to bring it round to being handled. As for me........6 bites in 2 weeks.......still gonna bring here round to the idea. I think it all comes down to one simple thing.....snakes can make their own mind up and if they are a species that "strikes out naturally" they're going to. We have to accept that sometimes we may get it wrong.

[Jamz]

I have a taiwanese beauty snake which strikes ALL the time.
I have to say, it does seem to 'stalk' my hand when i first put it in it's viv.
It has never struck me outside of it's own space.

I tend to have it well fed, and wait untill it comes upto the glass (which he does frequently), then i try opening the door and he comes out a little, then i slide the other door open and pull him back into the tank and out the other door backwards. Once he has caught me scent, he doesn't seem agitated, threatened of aggressive, he knows where he is, what is happening and he comes out like a charm.

[kenneally1]

IMO if you respect snakes they usually end up respecting u...( and yes i know snakes dont have emotions, its just a phrase)

[snakekeeper]

One feisty snakeI had to deal with was the European horned viper. The one in the little photo I have. One night on my way home my headlights shone on one in the middle of the road up a mountain. I got out to check what it was and to my suprise it was a big fat adult horned viper. Absolutely gorgeous I must say but a complete bad to get close too. To cut a long story short I found a reasonable length branch, allowed the snake's head to hook on to it while I picked the tail end up. Hissing loudly and a couple of semi-strikes later I moved it. If I had left it in the middle of the road it would have surely been flatterned. I have to say my heart was pounding so badly I thought I would end up with heart failure. These snakes are quite venomous and on a mountain in the middle of nowhere wasn't the best place to risk a snake-bite. The only thing I regret was not taking any photos of it! Gutted!!

[GECKO62]

i only had my corns a short while ,2 of them i had 2 weeks there still settling in but always try to tag my hands on entering there tubs ,when i try to change the water . i just get on with it but one of them just keeps tagging until i leave her space ,i even get a bit nerves and shake a bit now when i go in her tub.

[miranda200784]

Hi, I have inherited a five foot long female grey rat snake called leila, who i have owned for about two years who seems fine when handled by confident males, but seems to hate me, I have handled reptiles, but none as big as her, and get nervous, so have not handled her. I've never had a snake bite so am terrified!. Would you advise lifting her out of her tank with gloves on? I don't want to stress her out. She tends to either shoot back into her log or come towards me when i lift the tank lid off, is this a good sign? I feel so guilty for not getting her out as I feel cruel leaving her in her tank with no interaction. I have had reptiles from hatchling age and have been fine handling them, but I still don't feel like I know her. I would like a happy snake! lol

[Emoe]

I was out catching some Cotton mouths in a persons fish pond in Southern Oklahoma. The size of the pond was quite large. The snakes were basking on tree limbs just inches off the water surface and many decided to drop in when i approached. I had to instigate this capture via the water rather than the shoreside.

most of them were easily captured with the hook and bag, and removed to the Creek or kept for milking.
I had two rather large mean ones that were not playing ball with me!!
the first ended up being hooked while trying to wrap the tree limbs again.
The last i couldnt find at all. Finally when i was giving up he came at me from the other bank full charge across the water!
the hook wasnt going to help me here, so i used my glove in my left hand as a lure, and tapped the water as far away as possible. The snake turned slightly which gave me enough of a chance to strike myself to the base of the head and snatch the snake.
By the way, these snakes STINK when they are pee'd off!!! Tomato juice is the only medium i have found for removing the musk.

As for captive snakes that are feisty, (non-venemous ones) i tend to just be gentle and slow with them. if they want to strike they will, and i really dont like covering them, or stressing them anymore that necessary. after a while of handling, they normally understand no harm is ever coming to them so they accept the handling.

[mjthekings]

my meathod is to be as quiet as much as i can to not make the snake stressed

[Metal_face]

Originally Posted by mjthekings

my meathod is to be as quiet as much as i can to not make the snake stressed

would be interested to know what fiesty snakes youve handled