Just got my first Childreni Hatchie, handling query

[jaser]

Hiya All,

I got my first Childreni this week (Tuesday night actually). The breeder I got him from said it's best not to handle him for the first 5 days or so, unless I have to move him to clean pooh out of the tank.

I have only been able to do this once without the snake (His name is Horatio) going into attack mode and looking like he wants a piece. Is this normal behaviour?

He is drinking from his water bowl and is going to the toilet (I assume this is a good sign that the animal is not stressed).

When I do eventually start handling him, do I let him snap at me and persist in handling him, or do i leave him alone and only handle him just before feed times?

I have only tried to handle him afew times, first time was when cleaning his enclosure that was lastnight, and once today. When I changed the water he didn't seem bothered by my hand in the tank (he was half in his hiderock).

Anyone have any advice on handling for the first time. I was gonna call the Breeder, but I can't find his card at the moment. I forgot to put it in my phone :-/

cheers,

jaser

[aussiesnakelover]

dont worry about the snaping, just give him the tiem to settle in, then when you get him out of the cage cup ur hand and put it over his head and left him out, once his out of his cage he should be fine (most are just cage deffensive) but if he keeps snaping out of cage just handle him twice a week for short a short period of time and he should gorw out of it

[SLACkra]

ok as hes a hatchy childreni i would say doing the cupped hand method would be best. basically get him so hes cupped inside your hand. best to turn the tv on to something interesting before getting him out. basically you sit there with him in your hands, he will calm down, feel save and warm. so he will star to associate your smell with those feelings. maybe handle him ever 2-3 days don't want to stress him out. also if you think he might be confused between handling time and feeding time(eg biting you thinking your food) then each time you go to handle him use a modified metal coat hanger(make a hook like thing) and stroke him him the hook end. then go and get him out. he will associate this with coming out so he won't think your food by acident and he will have some what of a heads up before he is picked up.

good luck!

andrew

[jaser]

oh ok, so it's only because he's being territorial? that makes sense.

so all is normal. So you think afew more days to settle, then take him out?

[SLACkra]

oh ok, so it's only because he's being territorial? that makes sense.

no its all because he thinks your going to eat him . at this age he would have an amazingly large amount of predators so some hatchies are a wee bit parinoid. but if you can get him to associate your smell with being calm then you can start taking him out with your hands by slowly moving your hand towards him, making sure hes definatly gotten a wiff of your scent(IMO don't wash your hands before handling him unless you have touched something that might smell like a predator or food). thats what i now do with my bredli and i take him out by hand all the time even when hes in his hot spot and is active.

andrew

[aussiesnakelover]

monday or tuesday would be ok to get him out i reckon

[Oliver]

Hi Jaser,
Nice snake.
As per my experience: As hatchlings they are a little insecure and bitting is their only defence. Snakes don't really want to bite you as it may indirectly cause injury to themselves so they look aggressive to scare you off.
Snakes as a wild animal - learn by repetitive behaviour. So if every time they bite you, you leave them alone, that works well for them. This is teaching them a bad habit, that biting gets what they want.
My snake are often more aggressive at feed time, so I suggest not handling only before feeds. Snakes often feel more vulnerable after a meal so maybe give them a little alone time before and after a feed.

So I would persist through the biting stage and ensure that they always feel safe around you. Soon you’ll be besties

This is only my person perspective, seek all the information you can gather.
Good Luck

[GARTHNFAY]

Until he gets bigger only handle him (just holding) to clean out his cage.If you overhandle him he will stress out and stop eating (then YOU will really know what stress is).
He will naturally calm down, you just have to be patient.
When snakes in the wild hatch out, there is every predator out there wanting to eat them...........if he is not defensive ( biting) he will be eaten also!! It is natural behaviour!

[jaser]

cheers guys, but i tried something, i got him into the container i brought hm here in, he took to like a duck to water. then let him climb onto my hand.

i have been playing with him since. he hasn't gone to bite me once.

so i guess it was territorial :-)

took heaps of photos too. took him outside for some sun, he liked that, he looks opalesqu i think i spelt that right in the sun. the breeder did say he's due to shed in afew weeks.

hes happy sitting on my other hand while i type :-)

my cat don't even seem to be bothering him, and the cat don't seem too interested

[jaser]

pics

[jaser]

awwww, hes curled up on my hand, hes gone colder to the touch, think i'll pop him back in his enclosure now

more pics to come

[boa]

I know we all have different ideas but I handle most of my snakes fairly regularly for various reasons and none of them get affected by stress or stop feeding. Even the little Blond Macs that I have get handled a fair bit and are pigs, they often feed while in my hand and they are only a couple of months old.
I have found that handling them makes them much less likely to get stressed to be honest. They get used to people being around and mine at least are very relaxed most of the time. JMO.

Originally Posted by GARTHNFAY

Until he gets bigger only handle him (just holding) to clean out his cage.If you overhandle him he will stress out and stop eating (then YOU will really know what stress is).
He will naturally calm down, you just have to be patient.
When snakes in the wild hatch out, there is every predator out there wanting to eat them...........if he is not defensive ( biting) he will be eaten also!! It is natural behaviour!

[reptililian]

I have a tiny childreni called Shu who used to be really bitey. Like SLACKra I used the "hand cave" method on her. She now likes hanging out with me. Her fave spot is curled up on the lounge behind me (just DON'T forget she's there!).

Today I have a muslin-style headscarf tied around my head (bad hair day) and she has just discovered how cosy this is. She is hanging out under the scarf, draped over my ear, around my bun and, worst of all, over my glasses. It is making typing and reading the computer screen rather difficult, but she seems to be comfy!

[jaser]

ok, he just snapped, but it was my fault, i put him on top og the monitor then wriggled my finger infront of him. i know not to do that againg, i picked him up from behind right after it and hes fine again.

yeah i showed him who is boss :-)

[reptililian]

Did you apologise? I find myself apologising everytime I get bitten!