Are there any tips or tricks to help tame a young GTP eventhough we are'nt supposed to handle them? Since my little fella started eating,it has become
quiet aggressvive. What can I do to help it calm down? Is it O.K. to get them out and let them rest on a stick while you look them over,or does that cause them
a lot of stress? Just asking.
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Taming tricks? Tips?
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 Bamasmith |
Taming tricks? Tips? |
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Posts: 11 (02/26/08 19:24:52) |
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bsharrah |
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Posts: 78 (02/27/08 08:24:45) |
I do not think anyone ever said they are not supposed to be handled. Many, and I agree, feel they should not be handled as neonates. Older animals may or may
not take to handling. The only suggestions I have is to not handle after dark and do not pull them from the perch. Cup them while perched and let them crawl
from the perch on their own. I do not routinely handle my animals but have taken them out for pics, cleaning, etc., and during the day, they have never
attempted to strike.
I know I tell prospective keepers to consider them a display only animal. Not saying they should not or can not be handled, but I do not want the buyer to assume they can be and then be dissapointed, having an animal that cost them hundreds if not thousands they can not take out without being bit. Bart |
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Amy Shoemaker |
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Posts: 17 (02/27/08 10:55:02) |
My advice is to keep it aggressive while young and see what happens at about 1 year old. Usually they tend to calm down a bit at this time. I try to keep my
neos on the snappy side to make feeding easier on them and me. Don't worry about handling until they get some size on them. You can try getting them used
to you at around 60-80 grams or so.
Good luck. Brandon Osborne |
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Lyons155 |
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Posts: 3 (02/27/08 18:07:32) |
I think that it is fine to handle when they are young. I actually make it a point to handle all of my snakes at least every other day. For the most part the
more that you interact with them the less aggressive they become but, like Bart said their are some that just do not take to handling at all. Some people also
think that if you feed dead (frozen-thawed) that can help with snakes being over aggressive. (Food for thought) It is very important to be patient during the
process.... and it can be a long, long process.
Mike
Last Edited By: Lyons155
02/27/08 18:10:38.
Edited 1 times.
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GTPfan |
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Posts: 124 (02/27/08 19:27:59) |
Personally, I don't handle any of mine until they are about a year old. I have removable perches in their enclosures that allow me to take out the perch
with them on it. When this is done during the day, they usually sit still long enough to be looked over closely, but I never remove them from the perch. GTPs
that are younger than one year are very fragile and can be easily injured, even by removing them from the perch. Like Brandon said, the snappier they are the
easier it is for feeding. They do tend to lose that aggression at around the first birthday. I can handle any of my 30 chondros, and only 2 or 3 are what I
would consider snappy. But, just because I can take them out doesn't mean I do. The less handling for these guys means the less stress. They are already
a high stress breed of snake, no need to add to it.
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dphhchondro |
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Posts: 447 (02/27/08 20:27:32) |
I've come to think that there is no way of "taming" these animals. My animals have mood swings and are almost always different when I pick them
up. But I do think that if you are experienced with handling them, you'll be able to know what they are "thinking" and adapt to their change in
mood and make every experience out of the cage a fun and exciting one regardless of age.
 (ever notice when you hold them close and at a lower level, they tend to wanna
climb up, if unsucessful they get agressive/defensive?)
Hey Ben, That's a great idea, I'm getting a blue sharpie!
ChondroHead
Danny 4.2.1 GTPs and 12 other reptiles... STEVE IRWIN RULES! |
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Bamasmith |
Ben | ||
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Posts: 12 (02/28/08 16:15:34) |
What does the removable perch look like? I am interested in trying one of those.Did you make it? Also, I never remove my neonate,but it does seem to like
climbing onto my fingers when I clean its tube out.I never physically remove it.It does it on its own.
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Kim Burge |
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Posts: 1426 (03/03/08 09:31:42) ezOP |
With neonates, a removal perch is usually just a grid of coat hangers zip-tied or glued together and then proped up on a ledge in their cage. This picture is
one of my neonate tubs with the perch I was talking about.
If your cage doesn't have a ledge, you can make one and just prop up one end of your perch. If you're using pvc you can in a T shape on either side
of the cage and cut grooves in the pvc to slide into it. For real wood, I use either hooks and eyes and I also use plastic closet rod hangers (for pvc pipes).
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