Another excellent episode about target training and positive reinforcement. One of my lab instructors loved to say, "Under carefully controlled laboratory conditions, the test subject will do whatever the h*** they want." It pays to be flexible in your training.
I love the peacefulness of your videos and the way you treat every life as just as precious as any other whatever their species. I also learn a lot 🥰🐍 thank you 😊
Such a beautiful boy! I have become much more interested in Calubrids lately than I used to be. I always thought Pythons were more intriguing, but observing my own Yellow Rat(who is a true cartoon character) and watching videos of yours and others, I have become a little obsessed with them.
So happy you showed a cal king! Your channel inspired me to try target training for mine and it was really interesting to see another cal king react to your set ups!
Cool Lori ,,,,, Yes those king snakes do enjoy other snakes ,,, man he was smelling and smelling very well n deed for the other snakes ,,,, I did love that tongue action '
Cal kings are so adorable; ❤️ Grogu’s cute little face. He does look like he’s going to be more brown than black, not uncommon in the wild. My favorite king was a chocolate brown with an unbroken yellow stripe down his back. He was always alert and up for fun if he saw me near his enclosure. This shows how bold in temperment many of this species can be, especially since the only way to get most pet snakes in the 70s was to catch them in the wild.
Garrett is awesome !!!! Another great video Lori and so true that it all depends on the time that snake owners are willing to invest working with each of their snakes to build that bond of trust because that's what it's all about it's not the snakes fault if their handler isn't willing to invest the time with their snakes !!
I had such a great interaction feeding my Mexican black king snake yesterday but the freaking camera wasn’t recording. 😢. It’s my 4th time using the target for my hatchling and she’s already learning to follow it. She even passed up a rodent to go check out the target.
Hah, I'm a long time snake keeper but am just learning about them being "trainable". So interesting and really adds another meaningful dimension to the keeping of these magnificent animals. Didn't even know that they could be tamed -- my assumption for decades was that to handle them would in all cases be to put them under unnecessary stress, so I avoided at most costs. But so much more fun to interact with them and know it's not stressing them at all (after brief "taming" is accomplished). Thanks for the vid. Gonna look for your others.
Hey Lori ,,,, How long would you keep your snakes in Quarantine ? I have heard some one month or two or three and most six months ,,, what do you think is the proper time length '
Do you have a video on humidity? We know where it’s supposed to be and importance. But so many on reptile groups stress about it, chase the perfect humidity etc. If my cool side and hit hide are locked in, I don’t stress if hot side is 50%. Right? Wrong? Thoughts 🙏🏻
I have done a video about how to make humid hides/moss boxes. I use those along with large water dishes for every snake. I am not a climate expert and each species lives in the wild in different environments with varying climates and microclimates. Research your species and climate conditions where’s they are native and more importantly the likely conditions of the microclimates they’re found in. Aside from that big you offer dry and humid options within your home habitat the snake will be able to choose where they need to be when.
Can you give me some advise please.I’ve ordered a brooks hatchling.also an oak viv 41x65x40cms just while it’s small.also heat mat and thermostat 28x28 and 14 watts.also coconut husk chips as bedding.is this ok as I want to get it right?
I would have to see a video or photos of how you’re setting it up. These snakes are very tiny as babies and can easily escape to check everything for places the snake can squeeze between. You also don’t want the snake to get into something they can r get back out of.
I have 2 kingsnakes I want to start training, but I'm afraid when I open the enclosure they're going To escape and not come back. How to you know when they're ready and won't do that? I want to start using choice based handling and target training. They need it and so do I.
If you haven’t already done so watch the target training playlist because there are step by step instructional videos there and the choice-based handling playlist. What makes you think the snakes will dart out of the enclosure? Have they done this before?
@Lori Torrini They're both very new to me and still a bit strikey and musky. And very fast. I only got my first snake 6 months ago and trying to learn how to do better. I've already learned some things I'm doing wrong from your videos.
How do you deal with nippy Kingsnakes? I bought a California king in July, who is also very nippy. I just purchased a Mexican black king snake 2 days ago and he already bit me for a good 20 minutes. I understand it's the type of snake but I have several snakes in my own and I never had snakes that just constantly want to strike you and yes I do hold them so I don't understand what the problem is there. I try handling I try handling by the first day of the body I just don't think I get anywhere with that.
I train all of mine from their very first feed with me using a target so they never get fed unless they’re cued first that food is coming or it is during a training session. This way they don’t have food responses at other times. I wait until they choose to come out on their own and are engaging in an exercise activity before I do any handling. You can also teach them a cue that indicates to them that you’re going to lick them up so they know what to expect and aren’t startled or surprised. What are the circumstances preceding the bites?
One, I had the Cali king since July, it was from a rescue, it is still a baby. He is always in strike mode and bought gloves. Two the Mexican black king snake I just bought on Friday and the second time I picked him up he latched on for twenty minutes, I imagine the store didn't feed him but then he went to the bathroom. I think the mbk just associated my hand with food. Thank you I am going to watch your training videos. None of my snakes have ever tagged me before I got into king snakes so this is a valuable lesson.
Gabrielle, it is the type of snake. Cal kings are not sit-and-wait predators like so many boas and pythons. They are active hunters and react quickly. Their instinct to feed can overcome even their safety instincts. I am going to try target training on mine, I never thought to try that on a kingsnake. Cal kings do seem to get used to handling over time, but babies will musk, and it is better to keep handling sessions short for young ones. If you can take it out, not have it bite, then put it back, that is a success. Many small successes can help in the long run.
My eastern king snake is really smart I put thumb and finger in a circular motion and my snake goes through the hole from my other hand to my other hand I put my hands at a distance he has a lot of potential do you have any ideas that I could use thanks
@@LoriTorrini no training. He just turned calm all of a sudden. He doesnt straggle pre kill anymore and i can pick him up like its nothing. He gets held like a worm , no squirm 🤦🏻♂️ calm little guy
Thank you! I do two live streams a month on my Patreon via Zoom. I’ve considered doing one for RU-vid but our internet is horrible and I have to schedule my Patreon live chats during off-peak usage times.
