StellaDoore
Active Member
I know how you guys love a scrub, so I thought I'd fill you in on recent happenings. A while ago I started a thread about handling snappy scrub pythons. Well, I finally got him off my mate!! It took a while, but we got there eventually, and I'll only be looking after this scrub for a few months so no need to fret about me being able to house a 5m+ python.
I've left him in his enclosure to settle, fed him, left him a bit more and finally worked up the courage to handle him! He was bagged when I bought him home, so this is actually the first time I've held him.
I took the cowards approach and put on a long-sleeved, thick jacket plus some thin leather gloves. I know gloves are debatable, but I practiced gently handling my pythons before moving onto the scrub so I could get a feel for the animals. (I also don't think the gloves would've stopped a bite, but they were really more for my peace of mind )
Took him outside in the sun, got a few hisses, but that was it! No striking out, no attempted bites. He was in S-position for a while, but then decided to start exploring up my arm (I was very quick to stop him before he got anywhere near my head). The hardest part was getting him off as he was wrapped tightly around my hand.
So, a few Qs. First off, if I took off the glove will he freak out at the feel of human skin? I'm more comfortable, but don't trust him at all yet.
Second, my friend gave me some fake plants to furnish his enclosure with and provide more hide spots, are they okay to leave in there? They don't seem like they'd do damage, but I'm curious for opinions.
tl;dr? Thought I was getting the Hannibal Lecter of snakes, turns out he's alright =)
I've left him in his enclosure to settle, fed him, left him a bit more and finally worked up the courage to handle him! He was bagged when I bought him home, so this is actually the first time I've held him.
I took the cowards approach and put on a long-sleeved, thick jacket plus some thin leather gloves. I know gloves are debatable, but I practiced gently handling my pythons before moving onto the scrub so I could get a feel for the animals. (I also don't think the gloves would've stopped a bite, but they were really more for my peace of mind )
Took him outside in the sun, got a few hisses, but that was it! No striking out, no attempted bites. He was in S-position for a while, but then decided to start exploring up my arm (I was very quick to stop him before he got anywhere near my head). The hardest part was getting him off as he was wrapped tightly around my hand.
So, a few Qs. First off, if I took off the glove will he freak out at the feel of human skin? I'm more comfortable, but don't trust him at all yet.
Second, my friend gave me some fake plants to furnish his enclosure with and provide more hide spots, are they okay to leave in there? They don't seem like they'd do damage, but I'm curious for opinions.
tl;dr? Thought I was getting the Hannibal Lecter of snakes, turns out he's alright =)