| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Yogi |
Posted - 02/09/2013 : 19:46:47
Hi guys
I'm looking for some advice please. I have my very first snake, Yogi, who I got on the 6th of August.
He has had 2 successful feeds with me, his first strike feed was last Saturday :) (very proud mummy alert)
But handling is a little difficult. When he is in his hide (coconut shell) I can lift it off and he will happily allow me to pick him up for some handling, I think once, since I have had him, there was some tail rattling. At times he is a little twitchy when out on my hands. When he is out and about in his terrainium and I attempt to pick him up he rockets away from me :( He begins backing away as soon as he sees the lid being lifted off.
Is there any way, we could both, enjoy handling more without stressing him/me out?
I very much look forward to any advice or tips.
Many thanks |
| 2 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Razee |
Posted - 03/09/2013 : 09:04:41
That's pretty much normal behaviour, Baz was even worse. I couldn't pick her up at all to start with, and whenever I managed to touch her, she reacted like I've given her an electric shock. I felt really bad, I didn't know that was more or less normal.
I found, that the best thing is to go in confidently, scoop her out in one movement, if possible, don't give her time to panic. Baz, as a hatchling, was so fast, I couldn't catch her - and the more they run, the more frightened they are. I found if I first made sure she was awake, then lifted the hide, and picked her straight up, that didn't give her the chance to panic, and she was much calmer.
If I hesitated even a few seconds after lifting the hide, she'd bolt, then there'd be a chase, and maybe several failed attempts at catching her. Next time she was even worse. Then I saw, how they picked up fast hatchlings in a reptile shop - they'd put a cupped hand over the hatchling, so it couldn't bolt, and then just picked it up.
It's best to handle the little ones over the bed, just in case they manage to launch themselves off and fall. With time, they'll become more used to being handled, and calm down. Just make sure nothing hurts them, and that you don't restrain them, when handling, so that they have positive experience ( or at least, not a negative one ). When they're nice and calm, put them back in their home, Don't put them back if they're panicking, calm them down first, otherwise they'll feel like they've "escaped from you ".
Keep the sessions short to start with, and always put them back when calm. They become more confident, the bigger they get. Yours is still so tiny, and it nows, instinctively, that everything is out there to eat it! It till has to learn that you won't hurt him.
You could always try the sock trick - carry a clean sock on you for a day or two, maybe tucked under your belt, so that it picks up your scent. Then leave it in his viv for a couple of days, and, in theory, he will the associate your smell with the safety of his own home... you might even get treated to the "dancing sock " performance. Baz thought sock was a perfect hide, then tried to crawl out of the toe end - ended up with a sock, slowly dancing around the viv of an evening..:-) |
| a33272 |
Posted - 03/09/2013 : 08:28:55
just keep on with the handling as you are. slowly he will start to realise ya not a big meanie trying to get him an just want cuddles with him |
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