aggressive jungle carpet python

kayleegrace · 08-16-11, 07:53 PM

my carpet python is probably around a year and a half years old. he is very small still.. girth wise but reasonably long. i don't know if that is an appropriate length because i am only 15 and he is my first carpet. however i have been keeping snakes now for about 3-4 years.

im addicted. alright to my questions and concerns. i never handle him because he is VERY aggressive. even when i just walk by the cage he strikes at the side. and i can only spot clean because he bites me, i only do that when he is in his hide. i was wondering if there is anything i can do? i know now that jungle carpet pythons are nippy when they are young. however when i purchased him, he told me he was a good snake for a new snake keeper. i didn't realize that meant he was aggressive. (he has been like this since i have had him and i have had him for nearly a year now) thank you for any help.

stephanbakir · 08-16-11, 07:57 PM

Carpets aren't all aggressive, and they generally take well to hook training.
Is his humidity and temperature where they should be? Is he in a high traffic area? Can we see pictures of his vivarium (Carpets are arboreal). Can anything be stressing him out? He sounds stressed, very stressed.

Have you ever tried taking him out? If so, did he calm down once he was outside the cage? If so it could be that he is cage "aggressive" (It's actually defensive behavior instead of aggressive)

kayleegrace · 08-16-11, 08:02 PM

i am on my ipad so i cant post pictures.. i have tried taking him out and he calms a little however he still strikes a lot. and no he is in my room which i am the only one in and out of.. he has a vine across his cage and he is very calm in his cage and seems to like it very much. he is a very good eater and sheds regularly never any problems.. just when i get "too close"

if you give me your email i will send you a photo and maybe you can post it?

Freebody · 08-16-11, 08:09 PM

as well as what stephan said, young carpet pythons are naturally aggressive, some more than other. i have some that never bite me yet, and 3 females that wont miss the chance to bite me.. i just touch them with the hook gently, hold them on the hook and little by little and try to hold them on good days, they are calming down, alot since i got them, just take some time, keep at it tho. GL

stephanbakir · 08-16-11, 08:11 PM

Stephanbakir@gmail.com

I'll upload it for you.

You should learn to hook train for sure.

shaunyboy · 08-16-11, 08:12 PM

as stephan said try taking him out

wear a long sleeved jumper and some soft leather gloves.this will mask your heat signature and help to keep him calm.he sounds like a nervous defencive biter.

you will have to work on getting him used to being handled and show him you mean him no harm

i would start with 5 minutes handling each night,just let him run through your hands.always bringing your hand towards him from the bottom up.never approach his head from above they percieve this as a threat and may strike in defence

after he gets used to 5 minutes handling up it to 10 minutes.then 15 minutes after that.

once he's used to and ok with you handling him you can start to take 1 glove off.wait until after he's been handled for a few minutes.this gets him used to being out.taking the glove off introduces him to the heat from your hand.then you work up to taking both gloves off and a clam snake.just build your times up after he settles with what your doing

when taking him out do not hesitate as this will make him nervous and more likely to strike.jut walk right up to the tank with your gloves on and go right in and take him out

he's used to getting left alone when he strikes out,so it may take a bit of time,perciverance and patience to get him settled

i have to say some carpets never settle down and stop biting

let us know how you get on

cheers shaun

kayleegrace · 08-16-11, 08:15 PM

where do i get these hooks?

KD35WIN.AS.ONE · 08-16-11, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayleegrace

where do i get these hooks?

Midwest Tongs.Com

marvelfreak · 08-16-11, 08:31 PM

Her another place to get hooks. This is where i got mine. I got a couple of the 38" hooks. They are about as thick as my little finger and solid as hell. Never get the pocket or collapsible ones. They break to easy.
Reptile Husbandry and Stainless Products

stephanbakir · 08-16-11, 09:03 PM

I'd cover most, if not all of the sides in something dark so your movement doesn't bother him as much when you don't intend to work with him.
If your temperatures are low, covering the top in plastic/foil is also a great idea. Same for humidity.

I'd personally put way more branches in there, and a heavier hide.

kayleegrace · 08-16-11, 09:40 PM

ok i will work on getting more branches. thank you all for the advice

kayleegrace · 08-16-11, 09:56 PM

oh and about the heavier hide.. he is hardly ever in it he is usually on his climbing cave rock thing or his vine..

marvelfreak · 08-17-11, 02:17 AM

How often do you feed it? Does seem very small. What i do when my Carpets act aggressively is give them a light mist with the spray bottle an it calms them right down.

Lankyrob · 08-17-11, 06:20 AM

We have a 2yr old (ish) JCP and he is also a bitey one - we have found that taking him out of the viv with a gloved hand lessens the strikes and once he is out and calmed down the gloves come off and he is "happy" to be handled for 15-20 minutes with no striking or defensive/aggressiveness. One thing he needs to learn is that biting wont get him out back in his home so dont replace him as soon as he bites.

GOOD LUCK!!

Will0W783 · 08-17-11, 07:48 AM

I've found that carpets are generally nippy until they get about 3 feet in length and get some size on them. I have a 2010 Diamond x jungle that is occasionally nippy. You have to just handle them or they will never calm down. Hook training is a huge asset when dealing with any snake- I generally hook out almost all of my snakes. There are a few that I will reach in and grab, but not many.
Also, invest in a good pair of handling gloves. A lot of snakes will calm down when they arent' getting your heat signature, and gloves make the bites hurt a lot less when they do happen. Whatever you do, do NOT put the snake away right after it has bitten you. Keep it out until it calms down. If it bites and you put it right away, it will learn that biting gets it let go, and that will make it harder to tame it.