Building trust

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Do any of you guys have any suggestion on how to build trust with a snake without picking it up?

[gazzamann]

could place an item of clothing or something like that with you scent on in the tank or a cloth

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Good idea i heard that works with monitors and tegus spose no reason it wouldn't with snakes...

[guidofatherof5]

FOOD. Once they see you as a food provider they lose a lot of that non-trust.
Do you have a pair of hemostats?
If not, let me know and I'll send you a pair. I have plenty.;)

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Ye i got some hemostats.The first day i got him he took some worms from my hands but he always panics when i move to quickly or have to move him to a container to change his paper towel.Do they usually calm down when they grow older?I wouldn't mind if he never calmed down and stays healthy though but it would be easier and nice to have holdable snake.

[gazzamann]

generally they will calm down as they get older but in order to calm them they need handling and like the thread title says to build the trust with you

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Should i handle him even though he doesn't like it?

[guidofatherof5]

To some degree you should. It might be the only way he figures out you're not going to eat him:D

I always tell my snakes in training "No, I'm not going to bite your head off and suck your guts out" seems to calm them down.:D

[-MARWOLAETH-]

How often do you usually handle new snakes and how long do you let them settle in for before socializing them?(I've had my little one for nearly three weeks)

[guidofatherof5]

3 week is no time at all.
New snakes get handled daily sometimes. The hemostats really help with the little ones.
My groups ignore the food dish in front of them and come out to me instead. Spoiled rotten snakes.;)

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I was watching videos of a guy who was building trust with his monitor lizard by dangling food above his hand so that the lizard would have to walk onto his hand to get the food. Nile Monitor Lizard 50 Day update ( trust building).mp4 - YouTube
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMtogA6MN8w&feature=context-chv) ( No need for the welding gloves with little Garry though:D)

[chris-uk]

3 week is no time at all.
New snakes get handled daily sometimes. The hemostats really help with the little ones.
My groups ignore the food dish in front of them and come out to me instead. Spoiled rotten snakes.;)

I have a couple that will slither through a bowl of food to take the food I have in the tongs, or actually even if I have no food in the tongs. They definitely associate the tongs with food, I'm not sure that they associate my hand with the tongs when I don't have them.
If you want a snake that trusts you and wants to be handled you will only get there by handling. I have a couple that are shy and we're very flighty when I got them, but they've become a lot better over time. I think you definitely lay a foundation in the early days, but that doesn't mean an older snakes can't change. My most trusting, best handler is a wild caught parietalis, and whilst some of her temperament could be natural I suspect that most of it comes from being in a shop and handled by all and sundry, and then I like to think some of it is down to learning to trust me.

[guidofatherof5]

It took "Enforcer" 3 years to trust me. It was baby steps for her and it was done all on her schedule.
Now we are buddies. She still has a rough side but I just give it right back and we are fine.
She's one of my favorite snakes.

[katach]

I handle the snakes every day, unless it is obvious that it is very stressful for them, then I handle every other day. You also can put your hand in the enclosure and just let it sit there, and have the snake come to you to investigate. I offer a snack after handle every couple times.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I handled him and but moved my hand to quickly and he leaped out of my hand but luckily i caught him mid air.He showed his gratitude by spraying with his special sauce.NICE.

[guidofatherof5]

Nice going Garry.:D

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Don't encourage him Steve...

[guidofatherof5]

I always side with the snake. ;):D

[jaleely]

I always side with the snake. ;):D

lol that's awesome.
I've been picking mine up at least once a day. It just takes time. With all my various species some are docile from the beginning, whereas others skitter away, and of course there's always the biters (carpet python lol) but even she took about a year and no long does anything but try to get away. If they once show they are calm, i'll hold them until they're fussy, then they go back in.
As for my new little baby garters, i'll hold one in the palm of my hand, and cover with the other hand, then peek at them. As long as they feel sheltered they do well.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

He seems more confident around me now and doesn't go and hide when i stick my hand in the enclosure like he used to do.At feeding time he is improving,he doesn't mind eating out in the open anymore and when i feed him in his hide he doesn't drag the food away but just sits there then flicks his tongue at me and gives the "come on pink monkey thing more food chop chop" look.

[guidofatherof5]

He seems more confident around me now and doesn't go and hide when i stick my hand in the enclosure like he used to do.At feeding time he is improving,he doesn't mind eating out in the open anymore and when i feed him in his hide he doesn't drag the food away but just sits there then flicks his tongue at me and gives the "come on pink monkey thing more food chop chop" look.

You truly understand snake language now. It's all about them.;):D

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I'm still a bit apprehensive of handling him lots though,when i had to move to a holding container to clean his substrate he leaped onto the ground and nearly got away.Are there any safer ways i could handle him?

[guidofatherof5]

Not sure what you mean.

[NickB]

My two are funny in that they are nervous of me if they see me about the room but if I open the lid they all come out and say hello. I guess they think I might be feeding them. I can vouch that feeding them gains trust though, I always prefer to strike feed with tongs and the amount of trust it gains is brilliant. My female trusts me so much more now than when I first got her when she would musk on me constantly.

[chris-uk]

I'm still a bit apprehensive of handling him lots though,when i had to move to a holding container to clean his substrate he leaped onto the ground and nearly got away.Are there any safer ways i could handle him?

Not really (I assume you mean hooks or nets or something), you just need to keep building the trust and learning how to read him. Garters are quick little buggers, the more you handle them the less likely they are to escape you.

[ProXimuS]

I'm glad to read this post, as I'm still getting my little dude used to being handled, and have been a little afraid of handling him too much and making him scared. But, he always seems to calm down pretty quickly and will stay still and then only wiggle a little bit if he decides to move. He's also stopped pooping on me as often as ge did about a month ago(when I found him):p

I want to start tong feeding him. Is it possible to try too early? Again I've been afraid of scaring him and maybe making him afraid of the tongs.

[Invisible Snake]

The best way to gain trust of any living creature, man or animal, is through their stomachs lol

With patience and repetition you can gain some trust from your snakes, the younger the snake the better the odds are.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I put my hand in the cage and wiggled my fingers to get his attention and as he got closer he got really exited and was like "WORMS AT LAST!".He reached my hands and realized it wasn't food so he turned around and went back to his hide.He so funny:D.He loses all fear when he thinks he's going to be fed lol

[EasternGirl]

Here is my advice that I always give people asking this question....each day, put your hand slowly into the enclosure. Just set your hand in there...and leave it there for a couple of minutes, without moving it. This is a slow...step by step process. Each day...move your hand slowly...a little bit closer to the snake. Give the snake a chance to come over and investigate your hand...without moving it. Then, when the snake seems secure...try petting him. Stroke him on the back..not near the head or face. Do this for a few days...then try scooping the snake up gently and just holding him in his tank. Do that for a few days...then move on to handling out of the tank. This worked wonders for my very skiddish wild caught eastern, Cee Cee. She used to strike and flee when I would try to put my hand near her. Now she crawls right out into my hand and lets me hold her. Mind you...it took almost a year to get her to the point she is at now. But, I swear by this method.

[katach]

You have to remember also, the snake is going to be as calm as the handler. If you are nervous or stressed at handling they will be too. When handling keep calm, move slow, and breath. Snakes are sensitive to your movements, they can feel the heat of your hands. If your pulse goes up because you are nervous or scared, the heat production will go up.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Yeah i'll try to be more confident and handle him in his enclosure to start with.Would rewarding him with a treat like worm after handling show him i'm not going to eat him?

[katach]

That is a good idea. Food and comfort association is always good.

[EasternGirl]

Yep...it would help to build trust. :)

[Dracorex5]

When I first got my little garter a few weeks ago from a REALLY bad home situation, I'd just sit close to his enclosure with the top open a little bit, maybe read a book or play on my laptop, occationally tapping the glass and moving around so he knows I'm still there. He has plety of places to hide if he doesnt want to see me, but he knows I'm always there and I'm not swallowing him whole. It's really made a positive relationship!

[EasternGirl]

Well, I am glad that you rescued that little garter. :) Sounds like you are off to a good start with him.

[ProXimuS]

Today I got mine to eat 2 fish out of my hand:D This time it only took him about a minute till he took it from me. Might I add I was holding him in one hand and the food in the other:D:D I'm so happy with him, he's so adorable, and seems to be making progress all the time.

[guidofatherof5]

Congrats.

[katach]

Great news! Congrats!

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I haven't been handling my little one for about a week but he doesn't run and hide at every sudden move usually if i'm moving things around in his terrarium he feels scare and hides (probably feels like an earthquake to him:D).If I move the substrate around with my fingers he comes over to investigate and just stare at my hands.He doesn't mind if i stroke him gently,He runs away from me when i try to pick him up.Hopefully as he grows he'll become more confident around me,he's a great little guy.:D

[guidofatherof5]

Sounds like your on the right track. It all takes time.