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Handeling

G

gobucks782

New member
I have been reading these boards for a while but I have never posted. I have a question about Orton’s Behavior. Whenever I handle him he is like a frozen rope, sticking straight out from my hands trying to get away. When I let him “roam” on the carpet under strict surveillance, he just sits there and poops and does not move much. He has always been like this (I’ve had him and Hitchcock for about a year) and he is about a year and half old. This only seems odd to be because my other corn Hitchcock seems "normal" weaving in and out of my fingers and wrapping himself around my wrist like a bracelet. Does Orton’s behavior seem “normal”? When he is in the cage he seems “normal” either curled up in one of his hides or curled up on top of the climbing rope near the top of the cage and he wanders in the evening. Maybe he just does not like being held? I only ask because when my girlfriend’s family comes to visit I only ever let them hold Hitchcock because he is easier to handle and I am afraid that a less experience handler would not do so well holding Orton. Maybe I should just let them handle them so he gets used to it? I only take them out every other day and I let them rest for 2-3 days after a feeding before taking them out again.


Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
 
I think all snakes are different. Some tolerate handling better than others, if you held yours more frequently it might help.
 
My Mango is like that. She freaks out when she's picked and sticks straight out trying to get away from me. My only hope for her, as well as for your snake, is to give her frequent, gentle handling sessions. I'm hoping she'll calm down one day. I have read not to put them back in their cage when they are acting up because it can teach them that pooping/squirming/biting etc. will get them put back in their cage. I always wait until Mango is calmed down and just chilling before I put her back. Good luck with yours!
 
Our Enki is like that most of the time. Sometimes, he is a perfect angel and is content to wind around my fingers (actually, he turns my fingers into a pretzel he twines through so many times). But a lot of the time, he'll go rigid and try to get away. Those times are more infrequent though, as we've been trying to handle him in more frequent but short sessions, and try to put him back in his home before he starts getting uncomfortable. The rest of our brood are perfectly content being handled whenever, and seem to enjoy their exploration sessions.
 
I'll see if handling him more helps. Thanks for your help. I'll let you know how this goes over the next few weeks. I usually handle him at night while watching TV, I guess he'll just get more TV time with me :)
 
Sometimes if you cradle them on your arm against your body they settle down quite quickly and it seems to calm them.
 
K. Rene said:
I think all snakes are different. Some tolerate handling better than others.
Click to expand...

I agree to this!
I recently held a corn that only wanted to get down, didn't even try to brace himself with even the slightest tail wrap, almost reminded me of a garter snake as far as handling goes.
 
gelshark said:
I agree to this!
I recently held a corn that only wanted to get down, didn't even try to brace himself with even the slightest tail wrap, almost reminded me of a garter snake as far as handling goes.
Click to expand...

Would it be a pretty little sunglow stripe you are referring too?? :)
 
gelshark said:
I plead the fifth. :)
He is a looker though!
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TJ and I took some of our critters to do an exotic animal presentation at a church this last weekemd and we took him along. He mellowed out pretty well, but at one point shot straight up this guy's shirt sleeve. The guy was squealing like a little girl and had to unbutton his shirt to get the snake out. It was quite the scene. Too bad I didn't have a video camera. LOL
 
smallet said:
Sometimes if you cradle them on your arm against your body they settle down quite quickly and it seems to calm them.
Click to expand...

Great point. This does help. Also, my snakes have those half coconut hides. So, if I take them out of that hide, they are still in a circular shape. I can scoop them up and cradle them against my chest and they will sometimes stay that way for a while. I think they feel more secure against my body than in my arms.
 
gelshark said:
I agree to this!
I recently held a corn that only wanted to get down, didn't even try to brace himself with even the slightest tail wrap, almost reminded me of a garter snake as far as handling goes.
Click to expand...

This sounds like Orton. My girfriend and I make fun him for being a dumb snake, because he hardley, if ever, wrapps his tail around anything. :)
 
Many snakes like cradling against the heart. I took out the adult male ball python last night; he had to be hugged for a long time before climbing around my neck.
 
I think they feel precarious when held. If I sit on the couch with my big male corn, he's completely hellbent on squeezing himself into a hidey-hole. He actually went under the cushion one time. If I'm standing up he just moves around my neck and climbs on top of my head. He always goes in my shirt too which is awkward.
 
@ peanut Lover

Yes, I am a buckeye through and through. If you noticed my snakes names are Hitchcock and Orton. Hitchcock being the Engineering building on campus and Orton Hall the geology building (and the oldest building on campus). When I get dogs (I live in an apartment and can't have them) I am going to name one Brutus and the other Buckeye.

Go Bucks!!!! (Welding Engineering Class of '06)
 
My snake only calms down on me if my hand are very warm... this for me is not good as i have very cold hands so i have to warm them up with a hair dryer before hand... try this, they could be tryin to get away from the coldness of your hands
 
gobucks782 said:
@ peanut Lover

Yes, I am a buckeye through and through. If you noticed my snakes names are Hitchcock and Orton. Hitchcock being the Engineering building on campus and Orton Hall the geology building (and the oldest building on campus). When I get dogs (I live in an apartment and can't have them) I am going to name one Brutus and the other Buckeye.

Go Bucks!!!! (Welding Engineering Class of '06)
Click to expand...

That is soooo cute! I almost named my snake Brutus but I feel like on campus it is a very common name so I didn't. I study in Orton library all the time! I'm a psych major right now. Anyway just wanted to say hi to a fellow buckeye:)

OH-IO!
 
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