Does anyone here keep Olive Pythons?

[bcr229]

If maintaining humidity is an issue I would swap out the coco chip for cypress mulch. Cypress seems to soak up a lot more water and release it slowly. Of course it does eventually dry out but it's easy enough to mix with water to rewet it.

[parashootist]

This is more of a general question versus an Olive specific one. What is the best way to get a snake out of their enclosure when they're at the door? It seems like often when I go in to take her out, she comes right to the door and then either perches on the door ledge or climbs the glass a bit. She basically stays there as long as I'm in the room. Now if I leave, she does move away from the glass.

[jmcrook]

Hook/tap training. Every time you go into the cage, aren’t feeding, and need to directly interact with the animal you give them a very gentle touch with a hook/paper towel roll/etc to let them know that food isn’t about to happen. Over time they’ll learn to turn off so to speak after a tap and before you enter the enclosure

[parashootist]

Hook/tap training. Every time you go into the cage, aren’t feeding, and need to directly interact with the animal you give them a very gentle touch with a hook/paper towel roll/etc to let them know that food isn’t about to happen. Over time they’ll learn to turn off so to speak after a tap and before you enter the enclosure

Thanks. I've been trying to tap train with a hook each time but I guess I'm a bit nervous to open the door when she is perched on the ledge at the door or pressed against the glass. So in these instances I have been just leaving her be. I'd like to gain the confidence where I'm willing to open the door even if she is right up to it. I suppose it just takes time.

[jmcrook]

Yep. You're going to land some bites acclimating her. The more you act timid and as though you're going to be bit, the more you'll get bit. I'm currently calming down a yearling island boa that would gladly bleed me out given the opportunity. I just don't let it bother me and she's calming right down. May be a slightly steeper learning curve with a more assertive species such as yours, but with a box of bandaids and some confidence you should be fine eventually

[bcr229]

There are quite a few Youtube videos about how to handle defensive snakes, especially babies. These are two good ones. The first also explains how tap training is used for older snake to break the feeding response.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DjxcPfm-2M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XupmYQ5ywNI

[parashootist]

Thanks guys! I've certainly watched a bunch of videos on the subject, now I just need to quit being a wuss haha.

[parashootist]

Small victory. She was down from the RHP so after a bit of floundering, I tapped her with the hook and took her out. She did great. No striking or any real defensiveness during handling that my untrained eyes could detect. She didn't even seem too head shy. I kept her out just for about 5 minutes but I'm calling it a win. Hopefully I can repeat tonight. I also cleaned a couple piles of urates out 😀 haha

[Bogertophis]

I call that a win too- Humans intimidate snakes & snakes intimidate humans- we just have to find ways to communicate, using some signals to reduce threats & mistakes, & a bit of patience.

[parashootist]

I call that a win too- Humans intimidate snakes & snakes intimidate humans- we just have to find ways to communicate, using some signals to reduce threats & mistakes, & a bit of patience.

Absolutely, her and I are learning together. I think tonight I will lose the gloves but keep the long sleeve shirt.

Since she's nocturnal, I'm trying to handle her during her awake hours although it would certainly be nice to be able to take her out during the day sometimes.