Children”s Python, Choice, Transition, and a Surprise!

Our Children's Python Macel and I benefit from cooperative care training as he shifts out of his habitat to eat and enjoy time on an activity station while I get the diirty job of cleaning his enclosure; howver, I still reaped the benefits of Macel's past training becuase I didn't have to be intrusive or force an interaction to accomplish the enclosure cleaning. The session was a win/win for both of us.
I want to remind viewers and listeners that choice matters! We look at Pavlova and Pfynix as examples.
Organisms are born to choose. The desire for control is present in animals and very young infants before any societal or cultural values of autonomy can be learned.
• Humans and other animals who have choices and who believe they have control over what happens have been shown to be more optimistic, more resilient, innovate and try new ideas, and be more likely to succeed at problem-solving when faced with challenges.
• Choice allows organisms to exert control over the environment by selecting behaviors that are conducive to achieving desirable outcomes and avoiding undesirable outcomes and so opportunities to exercise choice are desirable.
• Animals and humans demonstrate a preference for choice over nonchoice, even when that choice affords no improvement in outcome reward.
Leotti, L. A., Iyengar, S. S., & Ochsner, K. N. (2010). Born to choose: The origins and value of the need for control. Trends in cognitive sciences, 14(10), 457-463.
Remeber thare are lots of ways to interact with your snakes other than physical handling. You can observe their behavior, engage in training or enrichment activities, and record your snake acitivies in a journal, on video, or thorugh photographs.
We take a look at the method I am using to transition Ezra into a new, larger habitat. I am opting to place his entire furnished terrarium along with him into the new enlcosure for Ezra to acclimate and choose to explore it in his own time.
Bonus footage of our Angolan Python, Radek!
www.BehaviorEducation.org
www.Patreon.com/BehaviorEducation

[@MaliciousMollusc]

Children's Python are very inquisitive like that! Of all my snakes, this is probably one of the few that actively wants to interact whenever I pass by

[@snakemannn1744]

Amazing Lori ,,,, yes those Angolans are the puppy dog in the snake world ,,,,,Love ya works and teachings ,,, huggs '

[@spiritkeeperequinesanctuar6009]

Excellent video! Marcel’s enclosure looks really fun for him, so many options.

[@marcosavila1204]

Awesome video Lori your Snakes have both very good mental and physical health

[@antipyresis]

I've only just been introduced to your channel and I am so amazed at all the videos I have been binging from you! I have never seen someone care so much about snakes and their choices and autonomy and its amazing how much care you have in paying attention to each snake's behavior and what they need. I have my own children's python I got from someone that was not fit to keep her and it really is enlightening talking about you mentioning how they struggle with impulse control, as I think that is exactly what my biggest struggle has been with her. While I have done a lot of work and have made tons of progress in having her no longer think I am food when handling her, I have only recently noticed that her startle response is very tied to her feeding response. A separate issue, but nonetheless one that has had me at a loss for a while. With her already being quite an established adult, I'm not sure its something I can fully correct, but this has given me hope that I can at least make this a lot better for her and myself! I'll definitely be checking out even more of your other videos 😊

[@LoriTorrini]

Thank you and welcome to the channel! We constantly work on the food drive and impulse control with one of our two Children’s. We took him in as an adult around 8-10 years old already. The one we’ve worked with since a baby does fine.

[@snakemannn1744]

🍇🍇🍇🍇🍇🍇🍇

[@af7409]

I love the Ants! So underrated. Dwarf pythons that think they are retics. Inquisitive and confident. Will use all parts of the viv (and will explore further afield if given even half a chance 🤦🏻 ). Twice had to rethink setups to avoid them getting into trouble. But love that they provide challenges 😁

[@nataliaprado2337]

So funny I didn't see him right away either! Ezra is getting a beautiful upgrade.

[@trejones5965]

Thinking about getting my first snake which is a children python so I’m wondering if I have to target train him to handle it?

[@Shades1535]

The most ethical and respectful way to introduce handling to your snake would be through passive and active habituation and choice based handling. It takes a lot of patience but it’s so rewarding :) my snakes are responding really well to it. Lori has many videos on these topics I encourage you to watch as many as you can!

[@thewordistruth399]

Lori, I really like your videos. Do you have any videos on how you actually construct your rolling activity centers. I just got a year old corn snake and while I won't need a rolling activity center or pet play pen just yet, I'd like to start constructing one for when I do end up needing it, and I'm not very DIY handy or very intuitive of stuff like that so a step-by-step example guide would be beneficial. Just thought I'd ask in case you have something like that.

[@LoriTorrini]

@@thewordistruth399 if you search Lori Torrini Activity Stations several videos come up but this one shows how we out there wheels on: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3vUnmmIat2oncUsi=7C0DmIMhVuNvQIol

[@DrewShark11]

Lori, I am learning so much from your videos. I was just adopted by a 3 month old CP. We are in week 1 and I am giving him time to acclimate before our first feed. When is a good time to start target-conditioning?

[@LoriTorrini]

I start pairing the target with the first feed. If they’re eating they can be training.

[@petervenskus4706]

Where do you get the screen covers for the light?

[@LoriTorrini]

I ordered those from Reptile Basics. They’re made by Arcadia.

[@petervenskus4706]

@@LoriTorrini awesome, thanks so much.

[@dividebio]

Hey Lori how did you make those signs on their enclosures? It looks great 😊

[@LoriTorrini]

Those are from Cloud Forest Designs.

[@dividebio]

@@LoriTorrini thank you. Love the work you're doing on the channel!