Learning to safely handle a diamond python

[zes50]

Hi guys,
I own a diamond python approximately 7 months old. I'm sure I am an exception amongst reptile enthusiasts in that I don't ever like to handle him. I am just fascinated by watching snakes and studying their movements habits etc.
However, I think soon my snake will be too big to leave in its enclosure when I do a full clean out, so I really want to tame it so I can remove it easily and confidently without being bitten. These are my problems so far:
1. The snake has a very timid disposition. When I enter the room and approach the tank, he will back away, wrap him self completely and tightly around a branch, and looks like he's prepared to strike. The longer I stay and watch, the more he calms down.
2. Recently, if the snake is entering his cave, I will sometimes attempt to stroke it, both with gloves and without. With gloves, he will just speed up and head striaght to hid cave, without gloves however, he goes nuts like I've touched him with a red hot poker. Takes ages for him to calm down. Is that normal? (I guess he's never been touched by anything before)
3. I am really afraid of getting bitten! I know this is just me, but I think that even if I was bitten while wearing gloves, I would instantly react by whipping my hand away, and probably injure it. I don't want this to happen.

So I would really appreciate all and any advice. I am a confident keeper, but not a confident handler! This needs to change before he grows any more.

Sorry for the such a long post too!!

[cris]

Hi zes, welcome to the site
Not harassing(AKA handling) your snake is a good idea, there are plenty of ppl here who dont keep snakes to cuddle them like they are toys.

The best way to lose fear of getting bitten is to get bitten
As you can probably imagine such a small snake wont do much at all. I wouldnt use gloves either, just move slowly and try not to move towards its head and gently pick it up. In time both of you will learn to get along fine. But you need to start learning now so you lose your fear of getting bitten.

Another thing you can do is get it out with a snake hook and place it on your hand, I wouldnt bother doing this with such a harmless little snake but some ppl do.

[JasonL]

The best way to lose fear of getting bitten is to get bitten

This is true. Forget the gloves, a bite from a small python doesn't hurt at all, and best get use to it so you are confident handling it when it is much larger.

[mysnakesau]

If you intend on keeping the snake to only handle when necessary then the snake hook will be the best option to pick him up with. For some reason, they either can't see it or don't care they seem to be less annoyed then when you pick them up with your hands.

But the speedy movement of your snake when you touch him is completely normal. I have a 3-4 yr old DP - she is 5foot long. She is the most placid thing ONCE you have her. Getting her out is a challenge because she wraps herself around her branches and even makes heavy breathing sounds like she's hissing. If i touch her she moves quicker but once I am able to pick her up she settles really quickly. And as often as she has looked as if she might wanna strike, she never has.

If you're gonna get bitten you might wanna test your fear now while your DP is small rather than copping your first bite when he is bigger. But at the course I did, they said when you do handle them and they squat back in their strike position to run your hand underneath them towards their head. it calms them and they usually stretch out and start exploring.

Hope this helps.

[codeth]

cant say much else, just made sure u got no rodent smell on ur hands u should be fine

[mysnakesau]

Originally Posted by codeth

cant say much else, just made sure u got no rodent smell on ur hands u should be fine

I don't have to worry about that with my DP. She is too placid to care. She won't take food from my hands. I have to leave it with her and she waits till all the lights go out. But yeah that is good advice to take especially for shnappy shnakes

A friend brought in a little hatchie bredli just to show me how they can bite. He was a REAL snappy tom. Only had to look at him and he bit. It was funny really. He was too little to do any damage. Funny part about it was he drew blood but you couldn't feel his bite. Poor little thing I felt sorry for him. It is the initial launch that shocks you more than anything. If they're gonna bite, its done before you get to pull away.

[zes50]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies. Just one more question - What is the best way to pry him from his branches? He sure can hold on tight! I wouldn't want to injure him. Should I try lifting the whole branch out with him attached? Or would he be too stressed. I might try to handle him for the first time tonight. I'll let you know the results. Thanks again!

[codeth]

unwrap him

[Mysnakeau]

Gently tickling their tail can get them moving and patient. Otherwise if it's easy enough to get the branch out with him on it then do that. I do. If I can't get Opals off I pull the branch out with her then she just comes off without any stress at all. Another suggestion, if you can coax him into his hide box, or he's already in there, just pull the box out. Easy peezy.

My hubby is a bit like you. He won't touch my DP. She's big and scarey.......so he went and bought a 60cm spotted python..He knows she won't bite but he still don't trust her. I sling her over my shoulder and handler her quiet easy now. Hubby got bitten by that little bredli I mentioned above. AFter that he went and bought his own snake. Not scared of them anymore. Letting yourself get bit, just once, is kind of like a therapy lesson for you

[Lucas]

by pulling your hand away in a hurry may make your snake strike at you too

[alumba]

Just take it slow let the snake go freely through your hands don’t grip it tight other wise it may think it is trapped and lash out at you...and it is better to be bitten now while it is so young than when it is six foot long believe me and when they are young they don’t really hurt when the bite its really a fright factor...you will do fine

[TrueBlue]

use a hook, or take out the branch it is on, why they react like that is because they perfer to be left alone and not played with all the time as alot of people tend to do.
By not handling your snake and just observing it is a good thing and your animal will be far better off in the long run.

[NicG]

Hi Zes,

I'm of a different opinion than TrueBlue. You are always going to have cause to have to handle your snake in the future and it's better that they get used to it whilst they are are young. When they are small, you can effectively 'force' (for want of a better word) them to do what you want, but the bigger they get, the stronger they get!

As others have said before, the best way to get over the stigma of a 'snakebite' is to get bitten. I was in a similar position to you last year - I had just gotten my first snake (a yearling Diamond Python) and didn't know what to expect if it struck at me. Eventually, it happened (my fault entirely - she's very good-natured) and it was the best thing that could have happened. I learnt that it doesn't hurt (at least from a small snake) and that it's so quick you don't have time to react. It did draw blood but only a little bit after a while - sort of like cutting yourself shallowly with a really sharp knife.

I would definitely avoid using gloves if you can. You want to be able to feel exactly how much pressure you're using. And obviously your hands will feel different to the snake than gloves will and they should get used to that. Plus the snake's skin feels amazing to touch as they glide in and around your fingers.

The first few times, if it's easy to manage, bring the whole branch out and put it on the ground or coffee table. It won't be long before he/she decides to explore, and once it's on a flat surface it's easy to pick up. And if you have to unwrap him/her, do it from the tail end.

I guess I've prattled on long enough for now - hope that helps you.

Cheers,
Nic

[TrueBlue]

as has been said before to remove your snake from a branch,(if you must), gently poke, prod or tickle its tail, try at all costs NOT to unwrap them from a branch, this is not a good idea and can do harm to your animal, especially in some species.

really thou, just do as your doing and leave it be as much as possible, to clean the tank when it gets bigger hook it out and put it in a bin while cleaning.

[codeth]

just make sure you let him know your there before picking him up it might spook him if you dont