Hi - just wondering everyones opinions would you pick up a snake, or more specifically a boa, if it was hissing, or even jsut knowing your probably going to get bitten? I leave mine alone - I hate getting bitten and if a snake doesnt want to be handled I leave it - maybe i should get bitten more often! :lol:

what would you lot do?

Depends how big it is. Big boas are a painfull bite. If it's big, hook it and handle it once its out. I used to look after a collection of boas, burms and retics. Every one was agressive as they were breeders and never got handled. When I started I was nervous but got used to them and even tamed a few down.

Babies are no bother, get bit!

Babies let them strike until they are tired and then handle them, big ones I learn when not to mess with them. Not everything here is puppy dog tame...:lol:

I guess it depends on the animal in question. Know your animal.

If it's a young one get used to being bitten. It's more of an irritation that anything else. Once it gets the idea that it can't scare you with violence it will settle down eventually :D. If an adult try to hook train it. If it's prone to striking every time you open the enclosure you may have to just delegate it as a breeder.

Quig

When I first started I was young and full of beans. I let everything tear me to ribbons. I aint scared a no snake! You want some?? Come get some!!! Oh, its a fight you're lookin' for, is it? Well, you came to the right place, laddie!!!

Father Time takes his toll...

In my later years of snake keeping I decided getting bit wasnt much fun any more. So I used hooks or if the snake was having a really bad day just left it alone.

At the stage Im at now I think Id hook a hatchling corn if it looked at me cross eyed :D

Naaaaaaay...but ya know what Im sayin'

Depends on the size of the snake :lol:

Depends on the size of the snake :lol:

Yeah but sometimes the bigger guys can be easier to manipulate without getting tagged than the smaller guys.

I had some big burms who were of the devil but they were so big I could keep their heads away from me. Usually. LOL!

A mean, small- medium sized snake I think is the most likely to getcha.

It's like a Dog ....would you put your had in front or a DOG that's barking mad, showing it's fangs and growling....um NO....so why would anyone put there hand where a SNAKE can tear it's fangs into you? I'd give it some space and check him/her in a lil while.....!

That's insane to touch them.......just INSANE!

Yeah but sometimes the bigger guys can be easier to manipulate without getting tagged than the smaller guys.

I had some big burms who were of the devil but they were so big I could keep their heads away from me. Usually. LOL!

A mean, small- medium sized snake I think is the most likely to getcha.

I agree :)

i find bigger snakes, even grumpy ones easier to handle

When I first started I was young and full of beans. I let everything tear me to ribbons. I aint scared a no snake! You want some?? Come get some!!! Oh, its a fight you're lookin' for, is it? Well, you came to the right place, laddie!!!

At the stage Im at now I think Id hook a hatchling corn if it looked at me cross eyed :D

:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:

If nothing else... you sure are fun to read.

I normally just take the bite if they are small... but after a while it gets old... and I start using my "hot" training... and I treat em like venomous

That is why I was willing to take on Ricks "het for evil" boa.... I would have just treated it like an overgrown Western Diamondback.

I have 3 different size hooks in my snake room.... and I would prob end up hooking and tailing that beast.

It's like a Dog ....would you put your had in front or a DOG that's barking mad, showing it's fangs and growling....um NO....so why would anyone put there hand where a SNAKE can tear it's fangs into you? I'd give it some space and check him/her in a lil while.....!

That's insane to touch them.......just INSANE!

Yeah...... I fit that bill.

But then again... Im not all there :yessir:

depends on why you are picking the boa up and how big the boa is if you have to pick the boa up it doont matter how big it is you have to pic the boa up

Boas are most always sweethearts. My boas very seldom strike defensively after they get some size on them. Except when babies are born or if they want to be bred. Here is what I'd do:

If it is a big snake put on a pair of gloves reserved for just that purpose, present your hand, give her a sniff of it then pick her right up.

Babies let them strike until they are tired and then handle them, big ones I learn when not to mess with them. Not everything here is puppy dog tame...:lol:

I have a baby king for you. I don't think it gets tired biting.

Yep, mine usually stop hissing once I pick them up.

Honestly now, how many of you pick up with gloves on? I'm not talking about the Jackson glove but the welder type.

I dont use gloves

Honestly now, how many of you pick up with gloves on? I'm not talking about the Jackson glove but the welder type.

In all honesty I have never been a glove guy because I feel the gloves restrict my movements. I can handle something better freehand. If its really mean Ill use a hook and tail grab it. Ill just use the hook to control it.

Ive used gloves on large varanids just to protect me from their claws, not the bite. And I dont even really like doing that but some of the big guys can really rip you up even if they arent trying to.

But for snakes I just dont like gloves. Makes me feel too awkward.

It's like a Dog ....would you put your had in front or a DOG that's barking mad, showing it's fangs and growling....um NO....so why would anyone put there hand where a SNAKE can tear it's fangs into you? I'd give it some space and check him/her in a lil while.....!

That's insane to touch them.......just INSANE!

Aaaaaaaaaaand we take a step back on the whole snake thing.

They dont all have fangs. And Ive never heard one growl but if you know of some of who do that Id love to get a couple. :D

We have to touch them, its part of the game. Its a challenge. Its fun!

I told you when we get around some snake we'll have one bite you and you'll see its not a big deal :devil:. Then you're in the club. And you can tell cool stories.

"See that scar right thar? Carpet python back in '97."

Or if you happen to be V.... see that scar right there.... baby cornsnake in '08 :devil:

Honestly now, how many of you pick up with gloves on? I'm not talking about the Jackson glove but the welder type.

I don't own a pair of gloves, got hooks and towels if it gets ugly...had to use both on my 30lb blood a few minutes ago...little brat got my adrenaline flowing...

If the cage needs cleaning, it's coming out.... even some of the nastiest boas I've had, Guyanan that would hiss loudly when you walked into the room, strike with the full intent of getting you, I'd still pick up. That one was always like that. It's just a matter of moving it from the cage to a bin.... to clean and do whatever.

How you do it is what counts....

Or if you happen to be V.... see that scar right there.... baby cornsnake in '08 :devil:

:lol: I would have to say I bet V does have some scars from the varanids... I hear they can be vicious little jokers.... at least most snakes dont death roll!

:lol: I would have to say I bet V does have some scars from the varanids... I hear they can be vicious little jokers.... at least most snakes dont death roll!

I have some scars. And not from baby corn snakes!! Although they can be mean little buggers they dont pack much of a punch.

I worked in the pet trade for 7 years. Also worked for some wholesalers and guys with very large collections. Back then almost everything was wild caught. And none of it was happy.

My scars are mainly claw scars, not bite scars. From being shredded by varanids who thought I was a tree.

I trust no snake,everything is hooked and handled respectfully.Their wild animals and should be respected as such.
Most bites from snakes are "defensive",but there are aggressive animals that never get over themselves.

Learn what your animals are trying to tell you.

I don't use gloves either, but the only snake I own that would concern me is George. He's my eight foot 30 pound BCI. But I've not yet had any situations with him. If I do I'll be sure to get pics for all you blood thirsty hooligans. :wamma:

I pick em up. Bluffers. :D

For the OP, it depends on the situation and the animal. If you HAVE to pick it up, that's what you do. If it's not a necessity and it's something that you may need stitches after a bite, I may leave it alone till it's in a better mood, if it's pretty small, screw it, pick the little bugger up. What I've noticed with my boas, the ones that hiss are the ones that are bluffing. The nics that I have seem to bite quite frequently and they never hiss.

Gloves? I don't use no stinking gloves! lol. I should use a pair with my monitor cause he really does claw up a storm when you hold him, but for snakes, I don't see a need. It makes my movements feel awkward and I think it bothers the snakes. If gloves make you feel more confident, then use them. They don't do anything for me, so I'd rather get bitten than wear the gloves and possibly be protected.

Yeah...... I fit that bill.

But then again... Im not all there :yessir:

kev...
we're all here, 'cause we're not all there.
ck

I trust no snake,everything is hooked and handled respectfully.Their wild animals and should be respected as such.
Most bites from snakes are "defensive",but there are aggressive animals that never get over themselves.

Learn what your animals are trying to tell you.


Best advice in the thread so far. Even calm snakes, are not tame animals, and have a propensity to bite.

I have some that bite freely. I have some that are cage defensive. I have others that strike first & figure out I'm not a rat later, I've even had one look apologetic when he realized that I wasn't food. Then there is Stoney .... Stoney doesn't strike or hiss, he full on attacks.

I use hooks to pull my big girls up to the cage door. I also use a welder's glove to avoid the inevitable " I think your food strike " but once that one is put of the way, they usually calm down a bit. For gravid females I generally put a welder's glove on one hand to use as a shield so i can spot clean with the other hand.

If a baby is really aggressive, I hook it out and lay it in my hand. If it continues to be aggressive then I'll use the welder's glove to block my body heat & scent until the animal has been handled for awhile.

Most of my really aggressive babies have calmed naturally with growth & maturity. 90% that struck as babies are very tractable adults now that I can just reach in and pull out. Quite a few of my more aggressive adults never struck as a baby. Go figure.