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 #1700778


Barids
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 Overly aggresive

hi i just got a blood python a month ago and i they are known to be nippy as babies and juvies but i was just wondering what is the best way to tame one down the quickest way because it has gotten to the point where he wont even eat because he is so worried about defending himself
when i try to feed he takes a strike at it and then quickly moves away
usually i just hold to tame but this one is different he tries to strike as soon as he sees my hand



04/12/08  09:24pm

 #1701218


Snakey68
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   Message To: Barids   In reference to Message Id: 1700778


 Overly aggresive

what age is this blood? is it wild caught or captive bred ? How long have you had it? What are you keeping him in ? What set up tempts etc ?

if it is just never been handled then its more a case of patience and perseverance but don’t over do the handling either.



04/13/08  10:09am

 #1701625


Barids
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   Message To: Snakey68   In reference to Message Id: 1701218


 Overly aggresive

he is about 1 i have had him for about a month and a half captive bred
hes kept in a 20 gallon tank temps are at about 86 to 90 during the day and about 82 to 85 at night
04/13/08  03:22pm

 #1702758


Navy_JD
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   Message To: Barids   In reference to Message Id: 1701625


 Overly aggresive

I got a male blood about 6 months ago, and the only time it took a swipe at me was as I was removing it from the shipping container. It was probably pissed because the FedEx delivery person was twirling it around trying to find my name. This despite the fact tat it said THIS END UP on all 4 sides! One trick I learned- when you are removing the animal from its tank place your hand in the enclosure a distance away from the snake. Lay your hand flat, knuckles down and slide it slowly up to and underneath the target. The slower you move the better. Don’t come in from above with the grab-hand approach; you look like a predator going for a snake snack. I’ve used this method on every one of my herps, from the gray ratsnake to my new Mangrove and none have tagged me.

One caveat: This doesn’t work with ATBs!! Those suckers will strike anything; chondros, too. Mine nailed me this morning.

Hope this helps.

John

Oh, and BTW, there was an article recently in REPTILES mag that said while Bloods have an aggressive rep, it is not always deserved. Depends on the snake.
04/14/08  12:02pm

 #1702762


Navy_JD
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   Message To: Navy_JD   In reference to Message Id: 1702758


 Overly aggresive

My Sumatran Blood.
04/14/08  12:03pm

 #1703802


Python_Pete
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   Message To: Navy_JD   In reference to Message Id: 1702762


 Overly aggressive

I suspect that you are already doing this, but I feed Crunch in a separate plastic tub. When I first got him, he was fairly nervous about being handled and would not eat with the lights on. Having read the posts on this site, I have always fed him in a separate enclosure. I would leave him in a large Tupperware tub (30 gal?) with the lid on, and leave him undisturbed for an hour. Now, he eats his F/T rats as soon as he leaves my hand in the feeding enclosure. I never, ever try to feed him in his regular enclosure.

I hold Crunch for about an hour a day except for the first three days after he eats or when he is in shed. I normally handle him someplace quiet (such as on my arm while surfing the net or reading a book), as opposed to the family room where my teenage sons are watching horror movies. He always hisses when I first dig him out of his substrate, but seems to calm down quickly.

I suspect that like people, some snakes may be just naturally grumpier than others. Hopefully that is not the case with yours. Good luck!
04/15/08  12:35am

 #1703904


Snakey68
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   Message To: Barids   In reference to Message Id: 1701625


 Overly aggresive

Quote:

he is about 1 i have had him for about a month and a half captive bred
hes kept in a 20 gallon tank temps are at about 86 to 90 during the day and about 82 to 85 at night



you have not had him long so I would not worry too much , my female took 6 months to calm down.

I always take mine out with confidence I know some people have different methods and its interesting read how others get on and their different experiences. I neither move slowly or fast when taking them out just be confident and I prefer to come in from above rather than below as you are far less likely to be struck from an awkward angle than level with your snake.

For the 1st couple of months I would recommend a glove, gardening type or similar so that you feel more confident and less worried about being bitten this way you will gain confidence and not be as jumpy as you might. They do give you some threatening looks and I think amongst the many pythons there are they LOOK like they are going to to tag you more than most even if they are not.

Trust me the bigger they get the more they will calm down with regular handling, you have to remember as well as a youngster its instinct to feel threatened as this is the most vulnerable time for them.

Sometimes I will just lay a newspaper or cloth over the head of my female if she looks grumpy and ready to strike, once she is out she is fine.



04/15/08  06:26am

 #1704210


Rebelyell83
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   Message To: Snakey68   In reference to Message Id: 1703904


 Overly aggresive

mine only swung at me once,and that was when he finally got comfy on ym comp keyboard and i had to move him to type,otherwise no problems
04/15/08  02:11pm

 #1704274


Snakey68
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   Message To: Rebelyell83   In reference to Message Id: 1704210


 Overly aggresive

Quote:

mine only swung at me once,and that was when he finally got comfy on ym comp keyboard and i had to move him to type,otherwise no problems



yeah I have said it before in over 20 years of keeping snakes Bloods do not rank in the top 3 for being aggressive, for me anyway.


I have been tagged more by Royal Pythons than I have Bloods




04/15/08  03:22pm


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