| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Hissyfit |
Posted - 29/01/2013 : 09:57:30
I've been having some problems with 18 month old Falco for some time now, and although he's not aggressive, it's really starting to get me down. He hates being taken from the viv, and wraps himself around the plants & vine and tries his best to hang on for dear life! I never see him out anymore, he's always hidden behind the plants in the cold end. When out he just wraps around my arm and doesn't move at all, very unlike the other snakes who seem to enjoy exploring and moving about.I always get him out for feeding, and maybe once or twice a week (depending if we can catch him), but it's so stressful that I'm wondering if I should bother anymore? I know all snakes have different personalities, but it seems such a shame that he's so shy and nervous when I've had him since a little hatchie  |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Hissyfit |
Posted - 31/01/2013 : 13:01:16
Razee, sounds like a very similar situation with Bazil, but luckily Falco doesn't boycott his hides...probably as he's rarely in them, but in the plants instead! I'm hoping it'll be easier to catch him now with the plants tidied up, at least that's the theory  |
| Hissyfit |
Posted - 31/01/2013 : 12:56:09
quote:
Originally posted by coxymk2
I would get a new hide and stuff it up my jumper for awhile to get your smell all over it and see if that helps and making sure there is a bit less in the viv for him to hang on to hope you get it sorted
I've a new hide on the way, so will try that when it arrives  He seems happy enough at the moment with the make shift hide I've provided (a plastic microwave bowl with a hole in the front). |
| Razee |
Posted - 30/01/2013 : 20:42:18
Hissyfit, I've got exactly the same with Bazil. She only tolerates being taken out at best, will wrap around anything on the way out of viv, and hold on for dear life, and to make it worse - whichever hide you pull her out of - that hide is then ignored and boycotted as "unsafe " - until I pull her out of another. I have to time handling, so that she's never pulled out of warm hide on a feed day, otherwise she won't go in to digest. So, yes, I know the feeling.
She was best behaved, when left completely alone for almost two weeks - then, funnily enough, she didn't protest when I pulled her out.
She's now left for good 3 or 4 days after feed, then handled every other day - which comes up to only about 2x week, which sort of keeps her happy.
The key is ( with them wrapping around things ), when go you pick them up, not to give them enough time to think, I found. Lift hide gently, scoop her out in one calm movement, whilst she's still folded and curled up. You have a window of about 2-3 seconds to get the snake out. Given any longer then that, or any hesitation, and she'll wrap herself around things - and that only makes her really stressed out, as I try to unwrap her.
She does have an excellent muscle tone, though, rock hard :-) and she's normally a really good feeder, full on strike and constrict, every time ( bar the last one ). |
| lupi lou |
Posted - 30/01/2013 : 19:55:22
^^ my Jinx is the same, only time he hides is when he's shedding, 8 on the other hand I don't see unless I get him out. |
| ScalySituation |
Posted - 30/01/2013 : 19:53:12
quote:
Originally posted by alib
don't all corns hide?
Not nessecarily, one of my corns (Maggie) is out and about almost 24/7, she never sits still, even after a feed, the only time you wont see her is when she's in blue |
| alib |
Posted - 30/01/2013 : 19:44:06
i think that just snakes... don't all corns hide? i only have the 1 and for about 8 mnths now but he seems to hide away most of the time... |
| coxymk2 |
Posted - 30/01/2013 : 19:39:40
I would get a new hide and stuff it up my jumper for awhile to get your smell all over it and see if that helps and making sure there is a bit less in the viv for him to hang on to hope you get it sorted |
| Hissyfit |
Posted - 30/01/2013 : 18:41:38
I gave his viv a good clean out and change round yesterday, and have hung up all the plants, so nothing on the floor to wrap himself around now! I'll see how it goes, should be easier getting him out now anyway He's actually grown so much that he's outgrown his cool end hide, so maybe that's why he was in the plants all the time? |
| Red123 |
Posted - 29/01/2013 : 15:15:32
My honduran milk is like this. He tries his hardest to avoid being picked up, wrapping onto anything in sight except my hand. He does calm down a little once I have him out, though he will occasionally have a chew on my hand. My Bryan obviously dislikes being handled and I am willing to accept this. He comes out and about in his viv if I do not handle him much and feeds well. There is a noticeable difference in him if I keep handling him though. I could just keep on handling and ignore what he is doing but is it worth it just so I can have him out without him having a wobbly. I have plenty of snakes that enjoy coming out so feel it is not necessary for me to aggravate him more than necessary. At the end of the day it is up to you to decide if you want to keep getting Falco out whether he wants to or not. |
| Hissyfit |
Posted - 29/01/2013 : 15:00:53
Thanks for all the advice and reassurance. I feel a bit better now knowing I'm not alone with this sort of problem  I guess it could be my nervousness that's causing it, so will continue getting him out for a short handling, maybe more often, and hope he eventually does calm down again. I'm a bit scared of provoking him into biting me to be honest |
| scottishbluebird |
Posted - 29/01/2013 : 14:41:06
I hope you dont give up, even if it seriously short handling, just to get both your confidence back |
| Auld Baldy |
Posted - 29/01/2013 : 13:37:10
Stick with it and keep the sessions short. I'm still working on my ultra timid Florida King after 6 months. Progress is being made, I can now get him out without (much) musking for about 60 seconds before the tail starts going and getting agitated. No real handling, just picking up and holding really.
I would have expected Falco to have got over being abandoned by now. Maybe he's picking up on your nervousness. |
| Hissyfit |
Posted - 29/01/2013 : 11:00:45
He's much worse since getting him back from being in boarding for 2 weeks, and has never been the same since. That was in August last year though, so he should be over it by now! The trouble is, it's making me nervous when getting him out because I know it'll be an ordeal, so that's not helping him either I have read lavenders can be nervous, so maybe that's just the way they are |
| herriotfan |
Posted - 29/01/2013 : 10:58:32
Don't give up hope. One of mine has only just started to settle down and I've had her since she was a hatchling. She'll be 3 in a couple of months time. It can sometimes take years for them to calm down and learn to trust you.
I got to the same stage as you and wondered if I should just leave her be. Then I thought about how I would feel if she needed a lot of hands on veterinary care. I decided to keep trying with her. I started to handle her every day, apart from the post-feed 48 hours. I would have her out for a matter of seconds to start with and then gradually increased the time until she calmed right down.
I found it very difficult but I forced myself to keep going at it and now I'm glad I did because she's much better and I know I could hold her for a vet if I had to. I hope that if I keep up the daily sessions, which are more fun now, one day I could trust her to go to other people without any worries. |
| Georgina |
Posted - 29/01/2013 : 10:38:25
It's hard to say really. Lightning was really flighty like that. But a fantastic feeder. Midnight was much calmer and liked have a mooch a didn't feed aswel. Maybe he will calm with age? |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 29/01/2013 : 10:32:44
Oh no that's such a shame, I wonder why he's so scared? Sorry I have no suggestions, hope someone else can help as it would be so much nicer for both of you if he could settle down :( |
