Cage aggression; can be helped?

[retic720]

I currently have 2 retics that are "cage aggressive"; one's a yearling female and the other a hatchling male.

Maybe the hatchling doesn't exactly "count" coz of the age, but the yearling's only aggro during the "pick up stage". Once you settled her in your arms, she's tame as a puppy.

Anybody experienced this? Will more consistent handling correct this? Or should I just be lucky that they can be managed once past "cage aggression" stage?

[Denial]

Hook training is a life saver!

[DavidG]

It's really common. Do you feed inside of the tank? Most of my snakes are cage defensive. Hook training would be the best method in most cases. Getting a 18 ft long snake on a hook is a challenge though.

[CoolioTiffany]

I think my Dumeril's boa has a slight cage aggression. When I try to pick her up, she stays wrapped around the decor plants making it hard for me to pick her up then when I try picking her up after I got her off of the plant she tries slithering back in the plant so it takes me a minute or two to pick her up. After I pick her up she's fine and she's really chill and nice.

[vangarret2000]

SOme snakes will just be cage deffensive. As long as they are being chill once you get them out it's not as much to worry about. Hook training is a good thing to do and can help with it. It might not stop him from struggling to get out but it will let him know not to strike at you if you are taking him out.(if his is striking or not)

[retic720]

hmm. I was hoping the yearling could be as "approachable" as my 3 year old female (also a retic); that female doesn't need any "hook" or "shield" unless you just handled her food item.

The hatchling WOULD get on defensive pose, but as of monday, hasn't struck at me at all. I refrained from handling again coz he is on shed this week.

As for my yearling; well...I guess I should be lucky that she becomes manageable once she is on your hands already; it's the picking up stage that she doesn't like so much unless I use a "shield" to block her from my hand. But I did notice just recently that she doesn't "jerk" as much when I begin to pick her up.

PS: they're all dwarves; so I don't have to worry about a 40 foot python overpowering me...lolz....

But really;

the yearling's barely 5 feet long

the 3 year old's length is somewhere between 5.5 - 6ft

the hatchling...is a hatchling

[vangarret2000]

hmm. I was hoping the yearling could be as "approachable" as my 3 year old female (also a retic); that female doesn't need any "hook" or "shield" unless you just handled her food item.

The hatchling WOULD get on defensive pose, but as of monday, hasn't struck at me at all. I refrained from handling again coz he is on shed this week.

As for my yearling; well...I guess I should be lucky that she becomes manageable once she is on your hands already; it's the picking up stage that she doesn't like so much unless I use a "shield" to block her from my hand. But I did notice just recently that she doesn't "jerk" as much when I begin to pick her up.

PS: they're all dwarves; so I don't have to worry about a 40 foot python overpowering me...lolz....

But really;

the yearling's barely 5 feet long

the 3 year old's length is somewhere between 5.5 - 6ft

the hatchling...is a hatchling

If she is simmering down now she will probably be fine after time. Just give it time. THe more you handle the more it will get used to it. THe less you handle the more it will stay the same.

[Whodinidunit]

I found mine to be a case of getting used to you. My JCP was very cage aggessive when i first got him in Feb. But I started off handling him with heavy hawk gloves to get him out of the cage then takign the gloves off. did that for about 3 times a week about 2 months lateri can reach in with out the glove to pick him up. it wasn't the fact that he struck all the time but the fear of being bit I had to get used to. now I've never had to deal with a big snake like a burm or retic so cant say ive had to use a hook or shield method. but calmness comes with handling and time

[Shawn]

never used a shield with my retics or burms but have hook trained all my animals and have only been bitten twice in six yrs one time not even my animal and the other was just stupid human err when feeding one day. IMO hook traing is the best way to go.

[luna13]

Hook training is a life saver!