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Q:
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Kingsnake..still nippy...
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Hey everyone...Ramses is still abit nippy but definitely calmed down alot since I got him on Halloween. At this point everyone should have seen how small he is on my page. He still bites me but now I'm pretty much over it. Its almost routine and I'm like "Are you done yet?" lol...anyway my question is should I let me try and bite me? Or should I avoid him all together when I try to handle him? Note that when I do handle him he is pretty much cool and relax. Although there are times when I do handle him he does grab hold onto my finger and eventually lets go within 3-5 seconds. Again..it doesnt hurt but I don't want to hurt him. So..how can I take care of this?
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Member Comment
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11/17/2008 11:36:42 PM
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FyreFocks
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Keep letting him bite you. Eventually he will learn that you arent a threat to him. Its also possible that youre trying to handle him too often. How often do you take him out?
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Member Comment
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11/17/2008 11:40:09 PM
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Sonja K. Reptiles
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We never put our snakes back right away if they happen to bite us. We wait until they are calm - otherwise, they will continue to bite or musk or what have you cuz they want to be put back. I believe it's up to us to teach them / ondition them that that behavior doesn't get them what they want. Along the same line that you have to do with your kids when you become a parent. - LOL. You haven't had your little one very long - sounds like he's actually doing very well. For quite a few species, it seems to me like they really don't calm down to handling, may be nippy, or such for their first year or so. Most snakes are not like your BP.
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Member Comment
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11/17/2008 11:42:00 PM
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Sonja K. Reptiles
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Oops, that should have read "condition" not "ondition" - LOL I can spell, really I can.
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Author Comment
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11/18/2008 6:04:03 AM
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Accepted Answer
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11/18/2008 10:08:28 AM
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Saffleur
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Handling daily 5 mins or whatever it takes to calm him down is good. Don't handle him after feeding for two days of course. Let him bite, he'll eventually understand that as much as he would like, you're not food. Putting him back after he has thrown a fit just teaches him that he can do that to get back. With young snakes they need to learn you're not going to have them for a snack. Daily handling gets them used to that idea. So after you notice that he begins calming down faster then extend handling time to 10 mins...then 15. I usually keep to 15 mins for handling per snake. Having so few is a luxury breeders don't have that is why we, the end user who has purchased said snake must do that.
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Member Comment
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11/18/2008 10:35:43 AM
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LokisKafka
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It is also possible that he is very headshy are you approaching him from far away from his head? If not then make sure you do that. I know monty is really strict about wanting things kept away from his face.
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Author Comment
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11/18/2008 12:30:29 PM
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tradesokan
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I approach him from behind..(lol...sorry go watch Role Models..too funny..)
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Assisted Answer
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11/18/2008 4:45:36 PM
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bwaffa
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Unless he's a federal penitentiary snake, Ado, he shouldn't mind that approach (sorry, someone had to say it).
I agree with what others have said here: let him get his bitiness out now while he's small and tolerable. The last thing you want is for him to associate biting (an inappropriate behavior) with being returned to his comfy hidebox (a reward)...especially when he's a full-grown 5'-6' long cannibalistic kingsnake. Don't bother scolding or shaking or washing his mouth out or spraying him with a water gun, etc. He's not a dog after all. Just keep taking it, and keep smiling comfortably in the knowledge that you'll both be better off for it down the road.
Keep in mind that some species (like your future mack!) are faithful, vicious biters for the first year or two of life. Hatchling bites just come with the territory. Gentle handling like you've been doing should calm him down over a series of months. Just keep at it and keep being patient.
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