Aussie Pythons & Snakes Forum

Help Support Aussie Pythons & Snakes Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.

rafikie_2012

Not so new Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Messages
26
Reaction score
0
Location
sippy downs
two months ago i bought a spotted python, she is a good snake and feeds well and has shed well two. but i could never get her out of her cage, in the two months i have had her i have just gotten a bigger and bigger fear of snakes. i am worried to change her water and paper now. not sure what to do. really need help. i think i need to sell the snake to a better owner, she is a great snake and deserves better than what i have. what should i do? if i do decide to sell what price with everything you need included?:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(
 
If you want to sell the snake then you need to have the right account to do so ....
Other wise try hooking her out of her cage with a snake hook!
but please dont try and sell the snake without the right subscription to do so
 
How old is your Python? Perhaps you could try hooking it out and putting it into another container so you can clean the tank? It may give you more confidence in handling your snake :) Cheer up, it can take time to get to know each other
 
is she fine ones she is out or still flighty what id do is just frow ya hand in grab her out and just keep her clear of your face if she bites let her just keep holdn on soon anuf you to will get along dont sell her think of it this way you got a fear now harden up n get over it mate its only a little spotted you can do it mate wont take long
 
Find someone close by to help you get more comfortable with handling.
All it takes is to be shown.
Or just stop being so frightened man up, pick her up and be done with it.
If she is comfortable in her enclosure then she is happy enough. Pick her up and introduce her to the great outdoor
world.

Actually a kitten will do more damage to you than a snake.
 
+1 to getting a kitten, give the spotted to someone who can look after it's basic hygeine
 
I know everyone says to toughen up.. but a fear can be something hard to overcome. If you don't think you can handle keeping her, rehoming her isn't a bad thing at all and may be the best thing for both you and her.

I'm only a newb myself, however I now have three ~3mo stimsons pythons- I knew their bite wouldn't hurt, but there's still that instict that tells you 'you don't want to be bitten' so you pull away and naturally want to avoid getting a bite. You've just got to be able to override that, and believe it or not once you get your first bite (esp. if a small snake) you realise it doesn't hurt at all, and it tends to drop your fear.

But as I said- if you don't think you can overcome it, perhaps its time to rehome her :)
 
Become a better owner!
Make the enclosure user friendly. Not too many branches or things for it to grab onto (easier for you to get it out) Rather than just hooking it out, open the door to the enclosure and wait and see what it does. Then, gently grab it and use the hook to prevent her from being able to nip you, hold it for about a minute and put it back. Do this at every opportunity you have, just for a minute at a time to start with. After a week or 2, do the same but for 2 minutes at a time.... another week, 3 minutes and so on.
A couple of my pythons (coastal & Bredli) seem a bit interested when I change thier water, so I hold a piece of A4 paper between them and the water bowl with my left hand and whip out the bowl with my right. They are busy investigating the paper and dont see the movement of me knocking off the water bowl. Same when I put it back.

I weighed my 5 tonight and my centralian hissed and puffed up and got really poopy with me, even gave me a love bite, lol, no biggy, part of owning a python.

If you cant find someone to mentor you, or you really cant get over your fear, probably best you choose another pet? It is up to you. The snake can sense your fear and is prolly worried why you are uneasy and it becomes uneasy too. Give it a go, but dont be ashamed if you cant get over it.

Best of luck :)
 
Dont give up rafikie!

My wife had the same issue at first but now she lets them crawl all over her and has even copped a few tags now and then.
Is it and adult that you have?
I know it can be a little scary but maybe you need to take a bite to realise it doesn't hurt all the much.
It's more off the shock of the stike that scares people.
If you decide to take a bite, put your hand in as a fist, that way there is less chance of it latching on if it's a little peckish.
:)
Maybe use a leather gardening glove to get her out until you get used to handling it and it gets used to you.
 
Hi, not sure if your wanting help to over come your fear or wanting info on selling her on.?
Can you get help from the person you purchased her from, they may have had her kept differently or used a hook to get her out etc, did you handle her prior to purchase or how old is she, there are alot of different factors to consider so please dont just give up on her.
 
+1 to getting a kitten, give the spotted to someone who can look after it's basic hygeine

Please explain what this snakes hygiene has to do with the OPs problem???

Its no biggy OP
Lots of people get scared with their first snake
So dont sweat it too much

Its only a small snake and probably as scared as you are
Thats cool

Easiest way to both relax is to use something like a cotton tea towel loosely over your hand
That way it wont feel hot sweaty human skin and freak out
Dont try to grab it or anything
Just let it sniff the cloth etc while you change the water etc
It might strike at the cloth but that doesnt matter
It cant bite you through cloth like that
Use the cloth for as long as you like
[I use cloths to lift out all my snakes and as soon as they see the cloth they know they will be handled and everything is safe]

Once its not scared you wont be either
But just relax and take your time
There is absolutely no hurry whatsoever
 
I have a demonic jungle and I wear a thick woolen jumper with long sleeves that covers my hands to handle her. I've learned where I have to hold her so she doesn't have enough length to bite my face.
It don't stop the bloody minded cow from trying her hardest though.

Sometimes you just have to put your thinking cap on and come up with solutions to your particular issue that you both can be comfortable with.
 
You could make a couple of of hide boxes with a door that can slide and close the opening. So with the snake inside, the door is closed and the snake is contained in the box allowing you to remove it and clean to your hearts content, then when finished just drop the box back in and open the door.
I use this for cranky elapids, saves a lot of time.
 
You could make a couple of of hide boxes with a door that can slide and close the opening. So with the snake inside, the door is closed and the snake is contained in the box allowing you to remove it and clean to your hearts content, then when finished just drop the box back in and open the door.
I use this for cranky elapids, saves a lot of time.

I've been meaning to do this and that's a great tip.
It's all a matter of making the time to get them made.
 
You would really benefit from having someone help you out in your home environment - it would only take one session, with a bit of encouragement and demonstration, to ease your fears. Do you have any experienced handlers nearby?

It sounds like your imagination has taken control, and building a fear or phobia where none is necessary, and the thing to overcome that is to spend time with someone who can show you how to regain your confidence. Be assured that there is nothing wrong or unusual about how you feel - I would say you have a mindset which has been built in isolation, away from those who can help you be more comfortable with your snake.

It's worth meeting the challenge head-on, and learning to enjoy your pet, rather than giving in to your fears which a competent communicator can show you are very likely unfounded :).

Jamie
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Maybe some advice on trying a larger food item as the snake may be hungry, smaller enclosure where the snake feels more secure, put the enclosure in a low traffick area and make sure the house isnt too busy when you are handling the snake. etc would be more worthy of a moderators expected experience....
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I agree with Darlyn, before you make the decission to rehome the snake look at why you got it in the first place. A spotted can't hurt you but the fear is understandable given how quickly they can move but try to keep the fear in perspective.

Find someone who lives near you who has more experience and get them to spend some time with you not just once and show you how they do it and explain things. Your snake will settle down as it gets used to you and is handled more so it gets socialised just like any other pet. It will pick up on your nervousness though and as such using a hook to get an intial hold of the little guy is a good start, once he is on the palm of your hand he will start to settle. It will take time and short holds of just a minute or two to start with will build up quickly, your first step might be to take him in that way and pop him in a second click clack while you clean his home.

My spotted is much bigger than yours (15mths old and 80cm) and he needed some handling time to settle with me, he has tagged me twice now and although it surprised the hell out of me when he hit it was a case of a quick wipe with a tissue and the three drops of blod were gone and the tiny pin pricks he gave me were barely visible and wouldn't let out any more blood even if I squeezed my finger. If the bite is your biggest fear (as harsh as this sounds) close your eyes and let it and you will see that it is less to be afraid of than a new puppy teething or a kitten using your hand as a ball of wool to grab.

Good luck either way.

If you do sell it just ask what you paid for it in the first place.
 
Get someone to help you. The last couple of months I have been to two households who have gotten snakes and end up too scared to even clean them. Their first problem was giving them way too small feeds, so they were strikey. One place they were feeding the mac pinky mice, I said it should be on adult mice, they bought adult mice and fed it for two weeks before I got there. I hooked it out, then got them to clean out the cage and it was fine. Just rang the other day and the daughter handles it nearly every day now and they are so much happier. The snake and the family. Both places I went to after telling them the food item was too small, showing them how to get it out of the cage etc...I could see the sense of relief on their faces.

Heheheh I say to them 'Would you like to just live on one vegemite sandwhich every day' LOL
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Back
Top