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tail whip to the eye, crying & fustrated.

xreinx

xreinx

New member
What am I doing wrong?! my new Female Okeetee hates me! I tried moving her and she went out of control, bolted out of the tank and struck at me, I managed to get ahold of her and tried to keep my movements calm and controled, while a angry musking snake struck at me, she dosent seem to want me to touch her, and just as I was getting her back in the tank, she Tail whipped me right in the face!

HELP! what am I doing wrong? Ive let her sit for the last few days, doing only water changing and feeding her, thinking thats what she wanted, but apparently that didnt settled her down one bit! 471G of angry snake who hates me.
 
from Drizzet80, nither Okeetee seem to like me.. and Ive been bitten once already.. shes got big teeth, I really dont care to have that happen again any time soon.. the pinprick holes are red and angry looking with scabbed dark red centers, even though I soaked the wound with Iodine. (looks like two outword facing arrows, and partly roadrash, Id take pictures but I have a feeling my cat stole my connection cable again)
 
I've heard somewhere about Okeetee's being more agressive than others. Try putting something that smells like you in her viv. It will make her get used to your smell and hopefully calm down a bit.
 
Now someone tells me.. well, that aint going to stop me, shes apart of my family now, im not going to give up.. and thankyou, thats a great Idea about putting something that smells like me in her tank.
I know im being a chicken chit, but.. Ive never handled a corn as big as her, even BP's didnt scare me the way she has. (yea yea I know I am just being a baby, cause I was bit)
 
Haha, nothing to be afraid of. I freaked out when my tiny hatchling struck at a pink i was holding. Little thing was wicked fast.

Good on ya for not giving up. I'm sure it won't take her long to calm down, she just needs some TLC.

One more thing, I wouldn't put her right back in her viv after she's behaving badly. This will condition her to think she can go back whenever she wants by acting up.

Maybe feed her in a separate container as well so she doesn't associate the lid being opened with being fed. This will put her in hunt mode and she'll strike at anything that moves.

Good luck!!!
 
she does have a diffrent container to eat in, and ... ive taken to useing gloves with her.. and she is wicked fast.. she got me on the arm last time.. I... feel like I am suddinly in over my head.. and oddly.. I am more drawn to her, then to her better acting male counterpart. he at least hasent gotten handled as much as she has.. and.. she Already does strike at anything that moves.. same with the male, but he dosent bite, he just strikes..
 
What's the temperature at the warm end on the floor (where the snake is)? Sometimes they get very antsy at the higher end of their range.
 
its set on a new(EXPENSIVE) gage, and isnt higher then 80. all four of my Uth are set at that temp. I dont want to cook anyone, and it makes everything hot in my house.
 
80 is actually a wee bit low for the warm side. It needs to be mid-80s really (as long as the thermostat probe is on the ground, immediately over the heat mat).
 
so about 84 to 85 then? what about for my new baby, (new baby snake) is it the same for her too?
 
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That sounds good. And yep, same for babies and adults.

Wish I could think of something else to suggest for your "problem child". I had a pair of Sinaloans like that and they were no pleasure to own.
 
Have you asked Brent if she has always been nervous/grouchy? I'd ask him. Then you will know if it's you or just the snake.
 
I have a young Miami phase female who's like that, except she never actually strikes at me... she has struck at the tub, though, and rattles/whips her tail like there's no tomorrow! I've been trying to handle her at least once a week (I have 29 snakes, so daily handling is rare), and she's actually starting to settle down. Still a long way to go, but I'm seeing progress every time I hold her. So just keep at it, and I bet she'll settle down for you eventually.

P.S. I also have a cranky ball python I've dubbed "Miss Hissy Pants," and she hasn't gotten nicer in over a year - but even with her I've noticed small improvements, so don't give up! ;)
 
I'd ask Brent if she's like that, or if she is just not settled in yet. I don't _think_ he'd sell a wild-acting snake without mentioning it. How often and what are you feeding her? Do you take her out when she is already out roaming around, or do you get her out of her hide? Once you have her out, how long do you keep her out? Does she ever settle down after you've had her out 10 or 15 minutes or so? Are you handling her gently, not grabbing her by the neck to prevent her from biting? How long have you had her?
 
from his messages, hes shocked that she is acting this way. I blame stress and the smell of cats, but at the same time it has been about a week, and she hasent settled down yet..
my eye is pink and swollen, LOL noones going to believe I got hit by the rear end of a snake! lets Hear it for battle wounds! (oh checked the new Gage, and its not working.... everything is 90 + in their tanks again)
 
I havent accually handled her, sitdown and relax yet, Ive been trying to give her time, but any contact at all (feeding, changing water) has been a battle. heck, just walking by her tub.. she starts striking, does the tail whip thing with the rattle and when I do handle her, she Musks like thers no tomorrow and strikes.. like last night, she latched onto my pants when she darted out of the tank and I took ahold of her and I was thinking, "Oh good, at least its not my skin!"
 
Okay. First, she needs to relax. A new snake ought not to be handled at all for a week. AT ALL. So I'd recommend that, now. Cover the sides of her viv with towels, don't be looming over her or changing her water daily or anything. _Maybe_ a quiet hello next time you pass her viv. Then, after a week, a meal. Then put her back, let her sit another week. Mess around with the other adult if you have to! She has told you she is not comfortable and needs to adjust. Feed again, let her digest a couple days, then start short gentle handling sessions. Probably the easiest way to get her out is to lift her hide and scoop her out like a coil of rope. Support her. Try not to be rough, even if she strikes. Don't put her back right away. Go sit, watch TV for half an hour, let her see that you are not a threat. Talk calmly to her, stroke her gently. After 30 minutes, put her away. Repeat the next day.

90+ is dangerous for a snake. That is neurological damage temps. You need to get that under control. I'm sure you know that. Being room temp is much less dangerous than 90+.

The tail whip injury is very unusual, and probably unintentional. Try to see her not as an adversary, but as an animal that is frightened for her life. It is your job to reassure her that you mean safety, food, a gentle touch, and good things.

If you are truly afraid to get her out of her viv, then I would suggest a snake hook. Once she's out, she should be less likely to bite. But if she was a tame snake to begin with, there is no reason to believe she won't return to that state when she stops being frightened.
 
The 90+ could explain the behaviour - add it to newcomer stress and you have a recipe for a very edgy snake. I agree with Nanci. Room temp for a week would be safer until you can replace the thermostat.

Thinking about it, when you say "the gage isn't working", could you talk us through how you have the heat mat, thermostat probe and thermometer set up? Maybe moving a couple of those elements to different positions could make things work better. For example, if the thermostat probe isn't on the floor immediately above the mat, then the mat will get much hotter than the setting on the thermostat.
 
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