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n/a
deleted
480 Posts |
 Posted - 05/03/2010 : 13:26:21
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Hi, quick question all, can snakes pick up on fear?
My hubby as some of you know is not a great lover of snakes and still as yet hasn't held him, if i hold Steve he has let me put Steve's bottom end on his hand so he can feel him slide over him.
He is slowly getting better and apparently tonight he is going to have another go, i would love for him to hold him and learn to love him like my son and i do but not sure if he will get that far!!! lol
Steve is very placid and laid back and so far has not bit anyone but hubby thinks because he is nervous of him he will pick up on this and bite him!
Could his actually happen?
Cheers Dawn
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1.0.0 Amel, Steve
WISH LIST: blue tongue skink. |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 13:56:16
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| i'm not sure if they can actually pick up on fear as such but if somebody is nervous or inexperienced handling them the snake will pick up on that as their weight is less likely to be supported properly and a nervous handler is more likely to try to restrict their movement rather than direct them but let them move freely |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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DannyBrown91
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3070 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 14:04:57
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I have read that snakes can pick up on fear, but as GP said also pick up on inexperience and lack of confidence. But that dosn't mean that a calm relaxed snake is going to turn around and bite someone because of this. Im sure you and the OH will be fine.
I can vouch for the calm confident thing because my brothers snake is very twitchy and dosnt bite me anywhere near as much as it bites my mum and brother, i put this down to the fact i am much calmer when entering the tank and picking it up, although it could also be that i am not as nervous as i have been bitten many times before and know that ti dosnt hurt. |
0.0.1 Ghost Corn - Casper
0.0.1 Diffused Corn - Reggie
0.0.1 Amel Corn - Candy A.K.A Baby
1.0 Commom BCI - Rocky
0.1 Japanese Akita - Sasha
Location: Liverpool |
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n/a
deleted
480 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 14:08:08
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| thanks for that, will try and encourage him to not be so scared, little bits at a time should build his confidence, he makes me laugh as he goes fishing and catches large pike but a small hatchling scares the cr*p out of him..lol I shouldn't laugh as I'm petrified of spiders so know where he is coming from.. |
1.0.0 Amel, Steve
WISH LIST: blue tongue skink. |
Edited by - n/a on 05/03/2010 14:08:28 |
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n/a
deleted
378 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 14:28:07
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Yeah I think as snake owners we can't see why people are scared of them. I haven't found anything I'm scared of (not saying there isn't anything I am scared of- just not come across it yet) but I imagine if you are scared of snakes then what your OH is doing is quite commendable!
They do pick up on body language in as far as if you aren't confident you will more than liekly make hesitant jerky movements which in turn will put the snake in a similar state. Hayley my OH is scared of snakes but she enjoys LegLess from a distance! She will feel her near the tail if I ensure LegLess' head is away from her but no more than that. If I pressed her I'm sure I'd be able to get her to hold LegLess but she will in her own time!
Although its hard to say it to someone who has a certain "fear" of snakes; but a bite from a corn is not painful. A tip that maybe will work is if you get Steve out then give him to your OH to hold over Steve's viv/faun (not from height- almost as if putting him back in) as your OH knows that if he wants him off he can let Steve go into his viv on his own accord and Steve will sense his "home" and more than likely be more interested in that than your OH's body language. |
0.1.0 Anery corn- LegLess
1.0.0 Carolina corn- NoFeet
1.0.0 Syrian hamster- Jabba
0.2.0 Albino ferrets- Mable & Sue
1.0.0 Cat- Ned |
Edited by - n/a on 05/03/2010 14:30:44 |
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newsnakekeeper
Hatchling
United Kingdom
222 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 16:25:41
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| I must admit i was never keen on snakes always had the thought that they were slimey and not nice to handle. When i went to rep shop and handled a corn them fears were put to oneside. It did feel strange though but now i dont even think bout how the snake feels it the fact u know u ave done ur best looking after it. |
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Edited by - newsnakekeeper on 05/03/2010 16:26:43 |
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elament
Yearling
United Kingdom
942 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 18:16:13
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| lol Mom2 I also am a pike fisherman and having had me hands inside the mouth of a 28lb 10oz pike your OH has nothing to fear from steve. Tell him at that age its no worse than being bitten by velcro. |
1.1.0 Amel Corns Colin and Xena
1.0.0 Dog Talan
1.1.0 Cats Wotsit and Willow
1.0.0 Ferret Chaos
Location: Lowestoft Suffolk |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2010 : 10:44:08
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I do think a lot of it is a case of confidence....although I do think snakes may be aware of fear/nervousness, just as horses are. Silvesta's old owner was unhappy handling him and therefore handled him badly and with a glove. When we went to see him the owner got him out of the viv using the glove and holding him as far away from himself as he could. Silvesta was striking out and trying to escape constantly. Me, being me, just took him for the owner (without asking) bare handed, and Silvesta immediately stopped striking out. He was still a handful and it has taken him about a month to calm down, but now he is almost as easy to handle as Kellog (almost but not quite there yet  ).
I think the thing to do is to make your OH feel as safe and confident as possible. Sit next to him on the sofa handling Steve and just let Steve slide onto his body....that way he can get used to the feel of Steve on him and Steve can get used to your OH's smell. Then, when he feels ready, your OH can scoop him up off his lap or your lap and handle him for as long or as little as he wants...returning him to you when he wants to - with no pressure. I think what your OH is doing is great. It is hard for us to understand, who love our snakes, to put ourselves in the position of someone who is scared of them...but with time it can be changed. So all credit to your OH that he wants to change.
(I would avoid any mention of Steve biting as I would have thought it would be very unlikely to happen, so not worth putting that thought into his head....there is more likelihood of him being pooed on!)
xxx
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n/a
deleted
480 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2010 : 11:47:08
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Good news guys, hubby held Steve last night for a few seconds then gave him back then 10 mins after did the same again, in the end he held him 3 times for about 5-10 seconds!! I'm so proud of him!! and Steve didn't bite..hehehehe although he did keep trying to come back to me though but i'm his main handler now so i guess thats why.
He was so pleased with himself after, so i guess it won't be long before he is taking him out himself and maybe even feeding him. watch this space!! lol
Thanks for all your advice i will show this page to him later and let him read all your comments and thanks again for giving me the confidence to help him overcome holding him. As i'm no experienced handler by a long shot and your advice has been a godsend.
I had to laugh as after he did say this doesn't mean you can have a snake now you know!! lol |
1.0.0 Amel, Steve
WISH LIST: blue tongue skink. |
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Jennet
Hatchling
United Kingdom
305 Posts |
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n/a
deleted
378 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2010 : 20:16:36
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| Cool. Glad to hear it! |
0.1.0 Anery corn- LegLess
1.0.0 Carolina corn- NoFeet
1.0.0 Syrian hamster- Jabba
0.2.0 Albino ferrets- Mable & Sue
1.0.0 Cat- Ned |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2010 : 03:38:40
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quote:
Originally posted by mom2mysononly
Good news guys, hubby held Steve last night for a few seconds then gave him back then 10 mins after did the same again, in the end he held him 3 times for about 5-10 seconds!! I'm so proud of him!!
That is fantastic news! He did so well, to not only do it once but to keep coming back and do it 3 times in all!! No wonder you are proud of him....we all are too  !!
...... he did keep trying to come back to me though but i'm his main handler now so i guess thats why.
It is not too surprising that Steve kept trying to return to you. Next time try sitting a bit further away...near enough that you can take Steve when your OH has had enough but not near enough for Steve to get to you. It will reassure your OH if Steve doesnt keep trying to 'escape' from his grasp and return to his 'safe' handler.
He was so pleased with himself after, so i guess it won't be long before he is taking him out himself and maybe even feeding him. watch this space!! lol
I do hope that he will start feeling confident enough to start taking Steve out by himself and even feeding him (does he watch him feed?) but the most important thing at the moment is baby steps...no pressure on your OH to do anything that will push him out of his comfort zone, as he has already taken that step out with subtle assistance from you!
Thanks for all your advice i will show this page to him later and let him read all your comments and thanks again for giving me the confidence to help him overcome holding him.......
You know that thanks are not necessary, that is what the forum is here for...but I would love to know what your OH thinks if he ever does read these comments  ]!! As long as he realises that we are all aware of what a big obstacle he has overcome and that each time he does it it will get easier and easier...that is all that is important.
I had to laugh as after he did say this doesn't mean you can have a snake now you know!! lol
I somehow think he is onto your plan to turn him into a corn lover purely so that you can get a corn of your own !! I know, of course, that it is not your true intention behind you getting him to handle Steve....but it certainly would be a nice result if it happened  !!
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Kehhlyr
ǝʞɐɔ sǝʌoן
United Kingdom
8173 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2010 : 05:13:32
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quote:
Originally posted by elament
lol Mom2 I also am a pike fisherman and having had me hands inside the mouth of a 28lb 10oz pike your OH has nothing to fear from steve. Tell him at that age its no worse than being bitten by velcro.
Totally and utterly this.
Pike are superb when you get hands/fingers caught by them.
You have summed it up brilliantly. |
-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
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elament
Yearling
United Kingdom
942 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2010 : 08:30:48
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| Thanks Kehhlyr very true as I still have the scars to prove it. Pike have an anticoagulant in their saliva basically so if they strike at a fish and somehow it gets away it will bleed to death anyway. I can vouch for this as I got nabbed by a 15 pounder once. It bit right through a leather glove and nicked me in the process Only a tiny cut but boy did it bleed |
1.1.0 Amel Corns Colin and Xena
1.0.0 Dog Talan
1.1.0 Cats Wotsit and Willow
1.0.0 Ferret Chaos
Location: Lowestoft Suffolk |
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n/a
deleted
480 Posts |
Posted - 21/08/2010 : 14:03:07
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Just a quick update on this thread.
Hubby is now totally unafraid of Steve and quite often comes down stairs with him in his hands!!
He has really took a shine to him and is quite happy to let him glide all over him.
Must say though that we went to a local reptile shop the other day and the guy let me hold a royal python, asked hubby to have a go as he was quite a lot bigger than Steve but he said he couldn't quite bring himself too and kept his distance.
So even though he is happy to hold Steve he still has a fear of other snakes. |
1.0.0 Amel, Steve
WISH LIST: blue tongue skink. |
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DannyBrown91
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3070 Posts |
Posted - 21/08/2010 : 14:11:21
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Glad to hear that your OH has come around and is now ok with handling steve, and im sure as steve gets bigger and he will get used to bigger snakes, although because of their girth, royals may take a while  .
Havn't seen you on here for a while, how are you? |
0.0.1 Ghost Corn - Casper
0.0.1 Diffused Corn - Reggie
0.0.1 Amel Corn - Candy A.K.A Baby
1.0 Commom BCI - Rocky
0.1 Japanese Akita - Sasha
Location: Liverpool |
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elament
Yearling
United Kingdom
942 Posts |
Posted - 21/08/2010 : 14:14:34
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| Can totally understand it to be honest. I am not at all afraid of snakes in fact was recently playing with an eight foot burmese and letting it lick my nose. Will quite happily handle any snake and even happy to put my fingers inside my ferrets mouth (who could quite happily give me a nasty wound if he wanted) and have even had me hands inside the mouth of a 28lb pike but show me a wasp and i am off lol |
1.1.0 Amel Corns Colin and Xena
1.0.0 Dog Talan
1.1.0 Cats Wotsit and Willow
1.0.0 Ferret Chaos
Location: Lowestoft Suffolk |
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mikerichards
don't say the 'M' word!
United Kingdom
2901 Posts |
Posted - 21/08/2010 : 14:41:18
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| Sounds like a good result all round! I find bigger snakes easier to handle as they are less likely to move very fast, each to their own tho, slow and sure is better than rushing it. |
Location : Worthing, West Sussex
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n/a
deleted
480 Posts |
Posted - 21/08/2010 : 15:17:04
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quote:
Originally posted by DannyBrown91
Glad to hear that your OH has come around and is now ok with handling steve, and im sure as steve gets bigger and he will get used to bigger snakes, although because of their girth, royals may take a while .
Havn't seen you on here for a while, how are you?
Hi Danny, yes been awhile since i popped in, just been really busy with work and stuff, have sort of looked in now and again but not posted, need to update Steve pic's now he is so much bigger bless him.
Hope you and yours are ok? |
1.0.0 Amel, Steve
WISH LIST: blue tongue skink. |
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n/a
deleted
480 Posts |
Posted - 21/08/2010 : 15:17:55
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quote:
Originally posted by elament
Can totally understand it to be honest. I am not at all afraid of snakes in fact was recently playing with an eight foot burmese and letting it lick my nose. Will quite happily handle any snake and even happy to put my fingers inside my ferrets mouth (who could quite happily give me a nasty wound if he wanted) and have even had me hands inside the mouth of a 28lb pike but show me a wasp and i am off lol
PMSL Steve!!! buzz off springs to mind |
1.0.0 Amel, Steve
WISH LIST: blue tongue skink. |
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elament
Yearling
United Kingdom
942 Posts |
Posted - 21/08/2010 : 15:32:29
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lol
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1.1.0 Amel Corns Colin and Xena
1.0.0 Dog Talan
1.1.0 Cats Wotsit and Willow
1.0.0 Ferret Chaos
Location: Lowestoft Suffolk |
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fear
