New Brazilian Rainbow Boa! Handling Advice!

[lauras]

Does anyone have any advice for handling my new Brazilian Rainbow boa!? He's pretty nervous and shy and I obviously would like to tame him through handling but do not want to stress him out. Any advice would be wonderful! ::3eyes:

[DaemoNox]

Slow and patient works best; after hes settled in good take him out for short times once in awhile and slowly start increasing the time; he will tell you by his body language what he thinks about it.

[twiztidjuggalo]

if you juzt got it you shouldn't handle it you should juzt leave them alone in there new cage for about a week then take it out for a little bit like DeamoNox said

[lauras]

Yeah I let him be for the first week, i did stroke him a couple times and he was totally calm for that. I tried to take him out today and he struck at me so I left him alone. I was confident in my approach but not too fast or anything, he is just really nervous. I've never handled a snake so easy to posture up

[steelheadchris]

All snakes have a diffrent personality, handled mine from the second day i bought him,granted he was a lil fella at the time,but he showed no signs of aggresion or stress, he's over 4 feet now and loves to come out and explore everything. brb,s are a lil nippy when they are juveys,LOL,just have to let them know your not a thret ,the more you handle them the less it becomes.watch the signs.mine bit me the first time i grabed him and i continued taking hime out didnt stroke him but let him go from hand to hand and it was over after that.

[Aaron_S]

Don't give in to his strikes! It's a MUST that you take the nip and show that it doesn't work.

[t&a]

BRB's are a bit nippy when born but they do calm down with age, even without any handling. Long periods of handling can add a lot more stress. Most baby BRB's are defensive, after they lose their fear they calm down.

Cheers
Tony

[lauras]

thanks for all the advice, i actually have handled him a couple times now, he was very defensive at first but he is definitely growing out of it. He doesn't even nip he just tries to get away, which is great! I had heard lots of things about just going for it and not giving in to his crabbiness, and then also to be gradual and stroke him first, then pick him up, etc etc. definitely stroking him did not do it, he really just got nervous wondering what i was going to do. Either way, he's eating well, growing quickly, and he seems really happy.