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pretty_bunny
Snake mite
Trinidad and Tobago
40 Posts |
 Posted - 10/10/2010 : 13:36:51
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Hey there, I know that baby rainbows are nippy (first hand too, got nipped by Ossi last night) But I would like to avoid these small bites..
Last night it was my first time handling him, and he was facing me so I put a sock over his head so I wouldn't get struck at and picked him up. I held him for a few seconds and he simply just tried to slither back into his home so I let him. After a while, he was just moving around, and I was about to try to pick him up again when he caught my finger. No blood or anything and it hardly hurt, but I left him to his own devices since.
Is there a way to make him more comfortable, or am I doing something wrong? I'm not moving quickly. Or maybe we should start slower, with me just petting him? He hasn't struck at me when I did that.
I'm a bit new to snake keeping, I know rainbows aren't considered a good first but it was either those or red tails. |
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Welly
Hatchling
United Kingdom
164 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2010 : 13:56:38
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| They are just nippy, nothing wrong just don't let your conifidence get knocked. You will get tagged from time to time. |
0.1.0 Royal Python
0.0.1 Mexican Black King
1.0.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
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IncurableFlirt
Yearling
USA
516 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2010 : 19:31:23
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I'm glad to hear you got your friend.  Here's my advice on handling. Since you first got your pet, have you given him time to settle in? Snakes need at least a week of no handling or anything (except water changes) to acclimate to their new surroundings. If you haven't done this (given him time to be alone and learn his new home), I highly recommend you do so now. He is stressed from having to learn a new place and is afraid. Give him time. 
The next thing that you can do is take a t-shirt and wear it around all day long. Later in the evening, take it off and place it in your boa's enclosure...near where he hides out the most. This will then help him to associate your scent with "home" and "security".
After his week of being allowed to settle in, then start handling him. Keep handling to about 10-15 minutes. During that time, if he bites you, DO NOT put him down. This only reassures him that by biting you, it gets him free. Handle him until he has calmed down, then allow him to gently slip from your fingers back into his enclosure.
Baby BRBs are known to be very nippy. At that age, they think only two things: Can I eat it? Will it eat me? Your job is to simply show it that you are no threat, but that you won't accept no as an answer to being handled gently. I would say to handle him every day (except for feeding day and the day after that)...for at least the 10-15 minutes. In just a couple of weeks, you'll have him tame enough that he will no longer see you as a threat.
One final note, never go to pick him up near his face or head. They see this as a sign of aggression and will either fight or flee. I always pick Marius up at about mid-body, then place him in my other opened palm. Hope some of this will help you, and as Welly said....don't let your confidence get knocked down. Be vigilant and you'll find that in time, you aren't getting bitten anymore and that you've got a really great friend to hang out with. |
Jenn.
11.8 Ball pythons
1.0 BCI boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa |
Edited by - IncurableFlirt on 10/10/2010 19:33:24 |
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pretty_bunny
Snake mite
Trinidad and Tobago
40 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2010 : 02:00:57
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At least now when I walk in the room he continues moving around and stuff :P Though I will leave him for a few days. I just added some branches to his home so he seems happy to check them out. In another couple days I'll try picking him up again, hopefully he doesn't turn and nip me!
One more thing, does the flash of a camera stress out a snake or make it scared? Everyone keeps coming into my room to see my little guy. I wish they would at least be a little more quiet. |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2010 : 20:42:20
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Hi again Gabrielle!
So long as you’ve done your research and can meet their climate needs, rainbows are fine as first-time snakes.
You are correct, however, that they are indeed nippy as youngsters. This goes away only with time and handling. My babies bite often, my adolescents sometimes, and my adults rarely.
Incurable is correct that new arrivals need a “settling in” period. The only addition I would make to her advice is that the settle in period should be free of feeding as well. Moving is a stressful experience, and as with handling, the last thing you want associated with stress is food.
She is also correct that you should *never* back off a baby that bites you. Doing so only teaches them that biting a hand keeps it away. Personally, I make a point to pick up anyone who bites me and hold them for at least a few minutes afterward (or, if I’m already holding them, to extend the session). I did that just this weekend when Agate not only bit me, but wound up for the strike first -- and then held it for a moment to get her point across. Five minutes around my shoulders got her considerably less squirmy. ;-)
Avoiding the head is good advice. Approaching from the side as she suggests is best, but make sure the baby is aware of you first -- that way you don’t scare them with a blind grab.
Consider waiting two days after feeding before handling, not just one. You want to make absolutely sure that meal is digested to avoid any possibility of a regurg. Personally, I wait three days. (It may be that Incurable feeds in the morning, in which case her advice of skipping the day of and after is the same as my two-day wait.)
Did you get your branches outside, or from a store? While the risk is low, be careful of putting anything from the wild in your viv, as you never know what it might carry. I always either buy or treat first.
Finally, I have mixed impressions of flashes. I’ve taken photos of feeding snakes before, and once had an animal back off his food…but it may have been my presence rather than the flash itself. If worried, err on the side of no flash during the settle in period.
I hope this helps, |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
Edited by - Snakesitter on 11/10/2010 20:43:34 |
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pretty_bunny
Snake mite
Trinidad and Tobago
40 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2010 : 23:19:46
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| It's actually branches we cut from our tree in the front yard. I don't know of anywhere that sells clean branches, and we don't use any kind of chemicals on our tree. I scrubbed the branches before putting them with him, and he absolutely loves them :) He even slept outside on one today, instead of hiding as usual. |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2010 : 23:43:16
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Sounds you thought of the issue beforehand then -- good job! Between the own yard, no chemicals, visual inspection, and careful scrub, I'm sure you'll be fine. :-)
Yes, baby Brazilians do like to climb! |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
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Handling
