snappy snake.

Hey my new stimson is very snappy most snappy snake ive ever had. How could i stop him from biting i am trying to feed him up cause he seem hungry cause my childreni was like this but the stimson wont grab the mouse he olny grabs me its even bitten me on the nose by launching itself out of the container. do u think i should try feeding him tonight : i got him on the 5th i think.

[Whaa]

usually It snot a good idea to feed a snake the first wee you bring it home.
I wouldn't think it was hungry but if it is . . . bad luck
the snakes not going to come to any harm if you dont feed it for a week or two.
Personally would leave it at least a week after you have got it so if you got it on the 5th I would feet it on the 12th.
Also try to feed it not when it is all psyched up but when it is a bit more calm and relaxed (if that is possible with this snake). When the snake is jumping around and being agressive it is probably more concerned with protective itself than eating a little mouse
just my oppinion
good luck

PS stimsons are so cool

It only goes agro when i go to touch or feed it.

[grahamh]

Bren

it was worth a try I guess but from what you've described I'd leave the little scaley alone for a while. Sounds like it's pretty upset. As a matter of interest, was it a defensive bite or do you think it thought you were the food.

Bad luck with the nose, is there someone there who can corroborate your story - maybe you could repeat it and get them to take a picture.

G

[Morelia_man]

when i first got my lil NT carpet she was very very snappy, so i left her for about 1-2 weeks without disturbance and then got her out every day. she would bit me very time i put my hand in to get her out, but because she was just a yearling it didn't bother me. i think that you should just let her settle down a bit and then get her out every day. if she bites her then let her go. but no matter what do not put on the glove

[Magpie]

Bren - I have a stimmie just like that. He will strike and strike, but remains hesitant to coil and eat. Whilst I'm not a big believer in waiting for minimum 7 days before feeding, I would only try to feed him for a short time (5 minutes max) then leave it 2 or 3 days before trying again. What works well for me is to hold the mouse in a pair of tweezers, just crack the lid open a bit and without exposing myself to the stimmie's view, hang the mouse in front of him. When he strikes it, I don't let go, I hang on to it for a few seconds and he usually lets go and then strikes again. I let go at this point and he constricts and eats. If yours bit ya on the nose, I'd say you had your head way too close and right in his view. for my stimmies, they seem to resent that a lot more than my other snakes ever did.

MM - You weren't worried coz it was only a yearling? My best bite so far was from a yearling carpet. My girl was hanging on a branch in attack mode and I decided to get her out for a play. She took exception to my behaviour and whacked me a good 'un on the thumb. Fair bit of pain and a heap of blood, I'm sure glad she wasn't biting me every time her picked her up.

It seems like a hungry bite as it grasps and wrapps around my finger but ppl are saying dont feed it.

[grahamh]

Hey if it's wrapping round your finger I'd try what Mags said. You could also put a bit of cotton at the tip of the tail and drag it gently past the snake. Once it has a good hold on it the cotton will just sever the tail tip or just slip off. I've tried this and it works.


This sounds like the Bren & Stimmy Show.

G

[africancichlidau]

IF you've only had it for a week and you've been handling, (or trying to), every day then maybe the little bugga just needs to be left alone long enough to settle down. Moving can be a stressfull experience for some snakes.

[Brodie]

I would get a really big pair of feeding tongs, and start gettin him out wid a hook so if you have the hook he knows he is not being fed.
Cheers

[NoOne]

I always offer new snakes a feed straight away once they are up to temp. I feel they settle in better with a full belly.
I have only had one snake refuse a feed straight away and that was an adult female stimsoni which was wild caught and was only eating skinks. All my other stimsoni (and other snakes) have fed straight away no probs.

Try placeing a mouse outside the hide or in the cage somewhere i find that hatchlings won't take from tweezers at first as they are scared of the great big hand thats trying to get them.
Leave the mouse in there for an hour or so and don't disturb it they like to feel secure before they feed.

[liedra]

hm, my coastal carpet (now about 6 months old and in my care for 5 1/2 of those) is also really snappy - is taking him out every day a good way to drill that out of him? It's getting to the point where I'm starting to stick socks on my hands or I end up with rows of little bloody tooth marks :-( I've found if I pull him out with an improvised hook he's okay until he realises he's being held in my hands, but then zaps me whenever he's not distracted by something else. This wouldn't be a problem cos it doesn't really hurt too much but it surprises me every time and I jump and sometimes he just gets even more aggravated. Should I just grin and bear it until he gets over it? I probably don't handle him enough - what's a good amount to handle him? He's eating well (1 or 2 rat pinkies once a week or thereabouts) and has sloughed once since I got him (and once before).
Any help greatly appreciated!

3 words LOVE THE GLOVE

[Brodie]

Hi Liedra,
Taking him out of the cage everyday is a great way to tame him down, I would handle him at least 10 mins a day. When you pick him up he probably thinks you are going to eat him so he bites so that you leave him alone. Next time he bites don't put him down just keep on holding him until the 10 mins is over. Also don't handle him more than once a day as this can cause stress. I don't know much about coastals but to me 2 pinkies a week does not sound like enough food, he might just be bighting you because he is hungry. Another thing to check is his enclosure size if it is to big they will sometimes get like what you are describing, but I dont think this is the problem, if it was he probably would be off his food.
Cheers

PS
if the bites start to hurt - put on the glove, you might lose self dignity but it ain't gonna bleed no more
PSS
I do not support the glove

Take the snakes attention away from yourself.You can usually tell when a snake is about to strike,when you feel hes going to be agressive,slightly wave your foot from side to side untill hes attention is taken away from your hand or face etc.Once thats done remain holding it untill it settles.

PS
Works a treat with larger species