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**sclark** · 06-19-2003, 10:00 PM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

Hey BMoore,

I remember your post when it happened. OK, what you are feeling is not that out of the norm. In your mind the big one broke your trust and that is not always easy to get back. Now I can tell you stories of the first bites I have gotten, and a buch can jump in with there's, but if I remember correct that is what we did. So we need to come up with another game plan for you. Now if it is revoling around the one snake only, you either have to grab that puppy and almost temp fate and see if he wants to bite again. Don't shy off if he gets in what you feel is defensive posture. If I get a snake that I feel is trying to intimidate me I will keep it away from my face, but I will make sure any time it S's up I reach in a move her/him. I even say things like, you gonna bite me, go ahead. I make sure the handle the top and bottom of the head alot more. I also make sure I kind of control how high it goes on me. Sounds stupid, but I look at it as a mind game, just have to be the one in control. I am not talking about hitting the snake or anything, just controlling it to some extent. You know I love snakes, so i would never abuse them. That is my main suggestion. If you can't get over it, but you are fine with other snakes, you may want to give him up to a good home and rework your confidence with your other baby. But try not to give up just yet. It is purley anxiety. You need to face it head on, so to speak.. I wish you were not across the US. I would come over and help you work the snake.. Please let me know if I can help in any way..

Please keep us posted..
Steve

**sclark** · 06-19-2003, 10:04 PM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

BMoore,

Forgot to add, no we don't think your a wussy..

Steve

**BMoore** · 06-19-2003, 10:08 PM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

See... thats another thing I didn't mention. My husband works graveyard and I home alone. So I don't even have anyone to just be next to me or encourage me you know. It's so frustrating. A lot of my friends hold me in awe and will NOT even go near my snakes. You may know how that feels. Sooooooooooo
Thanks for the encouraging words. Like I said, the tag didn't hurt, but my heart gets pumping. Like next time it's gonna hurt! The sad thing is, I think I like Ezzie more than I do Jezebel and I am afraid to get her out and hold her now. Do you think that once she is out of the cage we will both be fine? Do you think she can sense my fear?

**Beth**

**sclark** · 06-19-2003, 10:20 PM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

Hey Beth,

I do believe that any living creature can sence tention.. But I do think your snake will be less likly to tag when its outside of its cage. Remind me, how big is he? If I remember the other thread you are not that big of a girl.. Let me make some suggestions for you to do when you hold him again and your alone.

One to play is safe, pour some drinking alchol in a cup and place it near the cage. No beer doesn't count..LOL

Two, go in with the idea that you are gonna get tagged and heck with it.

Three, reach in and pull that puppy out like you have 100 times before.

Now a tag is not a big deal like you know, the only place that may be uncovered when you hold him that might hurt is your face., so put you hand in the path of your face if he is going that way. Holding a snake naked could expose some other areas you may not want 300 teeth sunk into, but we won't cover that here..LOL

I he does bite and tag, which may not even happen again, it won't do alot of harm. If your worried about the snake tagging and not letting go or wrapping in a mad frenzy, that is douptful, very douptful, but here is where three tricks come in handy.. If the snake taggs and doesn't release, just take that alchol and splash that in its mouth, it WILL let go fast.. If a snake wraps, stay calm and search for the tail and bend it backwards pretty hard, it will let go.. One last trick is to bring the coiled snake into the shower and turn the hot water on. If you are worried alot about the snake wrapping, do not put him around your neck alone. Keep his body over your one shoulder and have his neck and face by your weak hand..

Knowledge is power, know what you can do if things happen and you will remain in control..

Let us know how things go, now go pick that snake up and have a long talk with him..

Steve

**Barracuda_41** · 06-19-2003, 10:21 PM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

8)Ok tattoo lady im here and tattooed to.. LOL!! Anyways Beth just relax and make sure you wash your hands and arms and make sure there is no food smell on your clothes, even people food smell, then when ya go to get the big one out just move its head out of the way with something and reach in and pic it up, once out and about just keep its head away from your face and watch it as it moves about, if your afraid of moving its head out of the way throw a towel over its head and then pic it up. My kids have been bit by lots snakes and that never stoped my oldest from working with them, she use to always say "now doggonit, they are gona get use to me picking um up wether they like it or not", man i give her tons credit for working with ones that would strike the glass just when you would walk by. I have been bitten by huge burms and retics no fun i would rather take a bite from a boa.. Come to think of it,, this is how the girl stated about Delilah befour i got her, You have to use a stick as she has bitten several times and i wouldnt say shes safe, well low and behold she is the sweetest boa ever, never has she tried to bite or get into the S pose even when shes hungry she waits for me to put the food in the cage befour she comes to eat. Well she hardly ever fed Delilah and she was only very hungry DA! add that up. I dont think there is one person that has ever owned snakes that has never gottin bitten.. Just make sure someones with you when you hold the big one and youl do fine... Just my 2 cents worth..

**ClayEnglish** · 06-19-2003, 10:31 PM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

Beth,

I don't think you are a woosy, by far... It takes a lot more courage to admit that you are now afraid of being bitten again.

I can tell you that being bitten is NEVER something you can get used to. We have a gentic programming to react to something like a bite from a snake. The reaction is immediate, the heart pounds.. it is just natural.

Thing is it is even easier to go into the "prevent" mode. And that is, not holding or touching the snakes at all, in order to not be tagged again.

I would encourage you to do the opposite. The old "get back on the horse" theory.

Here is what I would do. Get you some leather work gloves. They make them that are nice and soft. And wear the gloves for however long you deem necessary in order to get comfortable with holding them again.

Once better, then just use the gloves to get the snakes out of the enclosure. Then when comfortable, take off the gloves and hold the snake with your bare hands.

Eventually you will be back to normal.

I am sure others have better ideas, but this has worked well for me, with some boas I have inherited/rescued.

**redtailedmel** · 06-20-2003, 01:08 AM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

trust me you will be back to normal eventually my little guy i got from a store in texarkana bite me all the time when i got him the first few times i about peed in my pants then after that i just laughed it off and after 3 weeks he was my sweetie pie!!!! and nope it doesnt hurt you just gotta remember not to flinch or swing cuz they can loose a tooth or two. but of course the first 2 times he lunged and got me in the nose lmao hehe so i didnt have time to think about teeth

**sclark** · 06-20-2003, 03:53 PM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

Hey all,

Figured I would give you an update on BMoore and her boa. She did hold her last night and all went great. She is going to start holding her on a regular basis now. No problems at all with any agression. Beth I am so glad you were able to work through this, and remember if you need further help we are here for you..

Good luck and keep us posted..

Steve

**Barracuda_41** · 06-20-2003, 03:58 PM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

;D ;D

Way to go Beth!!!! wooohooo.. you go girl.. ;D

**BMoore** · 06-20-2003, 08:37 PM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

;D Hurray for me!!!!!!!! I couldn't have done it without all of your help...... And a very special THANK YOU to Steve Clark. After everyone's reply's last night, I was all pumped up and ready to go for it............. First I wanted to put my kids to bed............. Well the time rolled around and again, I clammed up! So I got back on-line and met Steve in the chatroom........... he got me pumped up again and again I backed down! I was soooooooooooo frustrated!!!!!!! So Steve offered to call me and he walked me through the whole thing! I prolly looked like a crack head trying to get my boa out of her cage with snowboarding gloves on. LMAO I think it took me like 15 minutes to get her out and then I held her for 20 min. She was totally fine. Just like her old self. Okay maybe it's only me who changed not her............. I was so relieved and excited! Thank you, thank you thank you a million times Steve and thanks to everyone else for your reasurrance and positive words! I should have posted this topic a long time ago! Steve encouraged me to start kinda messing with her head so she knows I am not intimidated by her. (Before I would never touch her head!) So I will hold her 2 more days then give her a day off. Steve, your awesome! :-*

**sclark** · 06-20-2003, 10:20 PM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

Hey Beth,

Glad we could all help.. I was only the cheering section on the phone. You did it all.. So you gonna do it again tonight right?

Please keep us posted on how things work out...

Steve

**T.C.** · 06-20-2003, 10:23 PM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

You are not a wus. You are like many other people. Just don't let it run you. The best way to get over it is to go ahead and just pick the snake up. It won't be easy, but remember how you said it didn't hurt? It won't start hurting all of a sudden. I had a black ratsnake grab on and corkscrew. That hurt a little, but wasn't real bad. Just try not to let your fear transfer to the snake. You don't want them to feel the fear because that will scare the snake into a possible bite. The key is confident, frequent, and gentle handling and you will be okay! 8)

**BMoore** · 06-21-2003, 02:04 PM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

Okay everyone..... Day two went good. Didn't have Steve's help over the phone this time but I went for it. I adnit it took me like 10 minutes before I finally got her out but I did. I almost chickened out! I held her about 15 minutes and she seemed fine. She was real curious and "straight necked". Just wanted to thank you guys again!

**Gun Lover** · 06-21-2003, 06:25 PM

Re:I'm A Wussy!

[quote author=BMoore link=board=18;threadid=2550;start=msg16481#msg1648 1 date=1056222294]
Okay everyone..... Day two went good. Didn't have Steve's help over the phone this time but I went for it. I adnit it took me like 10 minutes before I finally got her out but I did. I almost chickened out! I held her about 15 minutes and she seemed fine. She was real curious and "straight necked". Just wanted to thank you guys again!

[/quote]well it wont be long before you look back on this and laff about this..just takes time..keep up the good work

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