Hello all,

Love this forum, it's full of really useful stuff!

Ok, the nervous male I am talking about is me! I have a dodgy possibly wild caught Royal, my girlfriend has one too, we are looking after two others plus an albino bull, a big boa and an african bullfrog - quite a menagerie!
I have issues with snakes, I have always been rather terrified like a big girl, but once my mate made me hold a Royal, I fell in love with snakes. We obtained our two Royals from Purple Pets after I decided to face my fears, and shortly began trying to feed etc. My one, Joey, had a little flick here and there which I was told they do now and again. I nervously handled him, yet each time the b*stard flicked and made me sh*t my pants, until he bit my mates daughter, and struck three times at my hand whilst I tried to grab his water bowl - hence why we now think he is wild caught.
Aaaaanyway, I am now back to square one with the fear thing, I'm really nervous, even more than before, so I guess the point to this ramble is - how the hell do you overcome the fear of them striking? I love them, they are beautiful creatures, I am fascinated by their feeding and want so much to be able to handle them - but something inside tells me not to.

Has anyone else experienced this and overcome it, or am I just going to be called a big girls blouse?

G

They do seem to be worse the more nervous you are. You could try wearing gloves that way it can stike and it won't hurt. That should give you more confidence to handle it and the more you handle it the calmer it should get. When it calms down and you are more confident then you can take the gloves off.
Also it will probably calm down once it is out of the viv. Most 'aggresive' snakes are just frightened and being defensive.

__________________
-----------------

0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.1 Northern Pines
1.1 Royal Pythons
1.0 Thayers King
3.3 Corns
1.0 Diadem Ratsnake
1.1 Fire Bellied Toads or poss 2.0 but its always the same one on top.
2.0 Green Tree Frogs

I had a boa that was exactly the same, i wore gloves to take him out of the viv then took them off when i got him out, he slowly got used to me.

__________________
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons
2.5.2 Leopard Geckos
1.1.0 Chinese Mantids
1.4.0 Border Terriers
1.0.0 Corn snake

A bad temperment is no guide to CB, CF or WC. I have a WC and he has always been very gentle.

As others have said use a glove to get him out and try not to let him sense your fear and with regular handling you will get used to each other. You'll soon wonder what you were worried about.

__________________

i was very nervous when i got my corn snake he is masive. i put a thick pair of gardening gloves in with him near the door! n left em 4 a bit ,then used them till i had built up my confidence when reachin in 2 get him out.

Cool, I think I will try the gardening gloves idea, definately. I wasn't sure if the gloves might chaff their skin or not, but I guess being gentle is the key.

Thanks guys

Let us know how it goes, remember that its more frightened than you.

__________________
-----------------

0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.1 Northern Pines
1.1 Royal Pythons
1.0 Thayers King
3.3 Corns
1.0 Diadem Ratsnake
1.1 Fire Bellied Toads or poss 2.0 but its always the same one on top.
2.0 Green Tree Frogs

I'm not sure about that, hahahahaaa!!

Ok, I will handle the little blighter this evening, and will let you know how I get on.

Ok, well Joey is still a moody bastard, but Joleene (my girlfriends royal) was a joy to handle, she slithered around and never once showed any signs of a strike or a flick - the two things I am terrified of - I handled her for about 15 minutes and then she slithered off back to her viv, no problem!

The missus tried to get Joey out but he did his usual twisty strike attempt/flinch and even the fearless missus put him back, and muttered an insult I think!!

So, I did it without the gloves which is great, but I still couldn't stick my hand in the viv and pick one up, that I shall definately do that next but with gloves.

Well done, it gets easier every time.

__________________
-----------------

0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.1 Northern Pines
1.1 Royal Pythons
1.0 Thayers King
3.3 Corns
1.0 Diadem Ratsnake
1.1 Fire Bellied Toads or poss 2.0 but its always the same one on top.
2.0 Green Tree Frogs