Handling pythons

[Brettus]

I was thinking of adding to my collection by getting a snake. I've always wanted one more than anything, and it would be jewel of the collection so to speak As I live in Australia, I was thinking bout getting a Children's Python, which only grows to an average of 90 cm. Apparently they are usually docile. If I get it young, which I probably will, my question is what is the best way to get it accustomed to being handled. How do you handle a snake, how often etc. I've handled my scorpions and my T before, so I'm hoping it is easy by comparison.

 

[Mack&Cass]

handling a snake is a lot simpler than handling a scorp or T. Just make sure you dont approach toward the head, generally around the middle of the body is best. For the first couple times its usually best to just scoop the snake, try not to restrain it. Regular gentle handlings (AFTER FEEDINGS!) is the best way to get used to a snkae and have it get used to you

 

[REAL]

handling a snake is a lot simpler than handling a scorp or T.

Woooooo.....where in the world did you get that idea?

Anyhow, here's a few small tips from me.

1. Don't play with them after you fed them, they will throw up their food (some snakes especially pythons) and you can hurt ur pet. You can maybe try to gently touch it but I usually let my pet rest for awhile before trying to handle it.

2. Never reach out directly towards the snake, especially towards its head. It'll take it as a threat and bite you. Ah yes, being bitten a few times taught me this.

I'll leave the rest to someone else. Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Regular gentle handlings (AFTER FEEDINGS!)

I hope I'm misreading this. A snake should never, ever be handled or messed with for at least 24 hours after a meal, or they can regurgitate. And throwing up damages a snake inside way more than it does a human, you can't even compare the two.

 

[Mack&Cass]

i didnt mean immediately after feeding, should have said dont try to handle a hungry snake

 

[Ted]

most snakes are hungry anytime..dont worry about it.
its all about how you handle the feeding,and general interaction. that generates most aggressive behaviours.

dont get in a habit of only handling them when its time to feed them.
they will associate that with feeding and try to bite when you open the cage.

feed them in a separate container..not their own cage.
feed them prekilled food.
no handling for 48 hours after they eat.
wash hands before handling and after handling.
dont handle too often..twice a week for 30 min a time is plenty.
make sure they have a nice cozy hide box and that no one teases them.

should be a breeze!

 

[pitbulllady]

Most snakes, ESPECIALLY pythons, are perpetually hungry. Handling a snake within 24 hours after it has fed will often cause it to regurgitate, and yes, regurging is a more serious matter for a snake than for a human, since they loose a lot of electrolytes and gastric juices when they do this, and it takes them a lot longer to re-manufacture those and get their system back to normal.

I pick up most of my snakes using either a pillow case draped over my arm or by placing it on the snake itself, unless it's a snake that's too small to notice if it does bite. This seems to let the snake know that it's not being fed, for one thing, and it also discourages biting in general, but once I've picked up the snake, I can put down the pillow case unless I plan to transport the snake in it. Lift up a snake from underneath it, and don't grab at it from above, especially towards its head, since this is how a predator would seize a snake. Support the snake with your hands and allow it to move through them; keep "rotating" your hand position underneath the snake so as it moves, one hand is always under its front half and subtly directing its directions or at least preventing it from taking off, should it try. Since snakes are "hard-wired" to focus on sudden movement, avoid such movements, since they can trigger a defensive bite OR a food-grabbing bite, since both snake prey and predators usually move quickly. It's not a good idea to let most snakes near your face, since the snake could interpret your eye movements or mouth movements as an intention to eat it, and it could strike. I've been bitten in the face more times than I care to number by otherwise-docile snakes, before I figured that out! In the case of pythons, most have infrared-sensitive pits on their lips, which probably pick up the heat from breath more readily than from the rest of the body(a LOT of heat escapes through our heads, anyway; that's why your mom always told you to wear a hat outside in the cold). Be aware that baby snakes, especially pythons, do tend to be more nippy than many adults, probably because they're on the menu of more predators at that size.

pitbulllady

 

[Jmugleston]

Wow so technical.

I use a hook to take all my snakes out of their cages (except the kings, I just pick them up). Once I have them out I pick them up by the center of their bodies and they are fine. Snakes bite when they feel threatened. So move slow at first and don't muck with head until it is calm and used to being held. Once mine are used to handling I will start to touch their necks and heads to get them used to this type of handling in case I need to mess with that area in the future. I'm tired and rambling again. A children's python is small so it isn't going to hurt you if you get tagged a few times. Frequent handling is the best (give some time after feeding). If you're too worried, get some gardening gloves to protect your flesh until you're snake calms down.