I dont know If I posted it on here but in april I got about a three foot JCP. Up till today I had one bite which I'm almost 100% positive was out of hunger cause It had been a couple of weeks since his last feeding (Vacation). Anyways less than a half hour ago I took him out and withing a minute he bit me and held on for about 15-30 secs. I'm pretty sure that from right out of the cage he had been almost constricting me, but holding on tight nonetheless. I didnt want to immediately put him back into the cage to teach him thats all he had to do to make me put him back. So I carried him around for a minute or so more then went to put him into the cage. He wasnt slithering back into it, and I wanted to clean the bite so I started spraying him w/ the reptile water bottle on mist. With no effect. He bit again and held on for i dont know how long, but I turned the spray bottle onto the jet stream. And he started to go into his hide about halfway so I began moving my hand out of the cage. He quickly came back out and I squirted him a couple more times and tried to move him off. Then he bit me right on the fleshy inside part of my left hand and held on for a couple of minutes. By this point I was in pain (dont call me a pansy it's my first snake in a while, and my first python) he did let go and I managed to get him off quickly once he wasnt tightly coiled on me. Okay so now that u know the backround of tonight I'll give you my theory. I always feed him inside the cage (Yes I know this is a problem, and I'm making the blueprint for a stack of cages for my herps) I think this may be a feeding response. It's been a week since his last meal of 1 adult mouse. It always seems like a couple of days later he could eat another. Is he Hungrier? should I give him more? is this a feeding response? Right now he's about 4 feet or so I'd say, and beautiful so I dont want to get rid of him. I will say It again that I dont want to be thought of as a pansy but I dont want a 6ft aggressive python to deal with. Let me know if you think it's a feeding response or not. Sorry if this is jumbled up but It made more sense in my head. Thanks for the help
a question about Jungle Carpet Python
- Thread starter Kobi9019
- Start date
Sounds like typical carpet python behavior. At least in my experience with them. A bit of an unpredictable snake at times. I have always thought of them as more of a showpiece than a snake that should be handled. I don't think it's a feeding response though because he repeatedly struck you. Is he about to go in shed? One mouse seems like a rather small meal for a 3 ft plus carpet python. Try giving him 2 or 3 and see if it calms him down.
How often do you handle him? Sometimes reptiles revert back to their wild behaviour when you don't continue their routine. I never really understood why people consider Carpet as "nasty" when they only handle them for 5 to 10 minutes a week.
I never said they were nasty, just that they can be a bit unpredictable. You ever keep them Irish? Mine hit me a few times but wasn't always on the aggressive side and you could tell from his body language if he wanted to be left alone. I just wouldn't recommend them to someone that wants to hold their snake all the time.TheBloodyIrish;1015735; said:
I never implied that you said that they were nasty.
I have handled them before and cared for them, more specifically Diamond Python and JCP, however it just that a lot of people are quick to discredit them to be something that should not be owned at all due to their so-called "nippy nature." I even see the complaints all the time on various forums, yet the people that handle them daily don't have the same problem. They are not really unpredictable, since it is usually for a reason. A scent can set them off, how you approach them, and so on.
I have handled them before and cared for them, more specifically Diamond Python and JCP, however it just that a lot of people are quick to discredit them to be something that should not be owned at all due to their so-called "nippy nature." I even see the complaints all the time on various forums, yet the people that handle them daily don't have the same problem. They are not really unpredictable, since it is usually for a reason. A scent can set them off, how you approach them, and so on.
Sorry, I thought you took my post as saying they were nasty. I agree with you on the people that are quick to say they are bad pets because they CAN be nippy. I think they just need a little more attention than most snakes to have a tame one. It would never keep me form owning or recommending one to someone who knows what they are getting into.TheBloodyIrish;1015867; said:
Nah, it is really my fault. I didn't make my point clear enough. What I was saying is that with some species, you need to handle them often for them to tame down without making it stressful for them. Unfortunately, Carpet Pythons are a genus that get attributed to the "wild" stereotypes due to the lack of proper handling.
So either there is a problem with the snake-handler relationship or the snake had been left alone for too long, or has been free-roaming.
So either there is a problem with the snake-handler relationship or the snake had been left alone for too long, or has been free-roaming.
kk I'll try feeding 2 to start. Then I'll work on getting that new cage setup. To be honest I dont hold him alot every once in a while. I'll try and take him out every day now. Well a couple of days after I feed him. I wait 2 days right including the day I feed him? Then I think I read In another caresheet that they should be kept w/out a night drop? maybe i'm mistaken. Sry for the sloppy post but I'm in a rush. Oh almost forgot, I think he's part diamond too. I'll post some pics up if I get the nerve to hold him again lol. thanks for the help.
I like 'em, it's personality. Sometimes the older they get the better they get. Maybe you aren't feeding enough, have you tried rats yet (I know it can be hard for them to start taking). Be careful not to overfeed though.
Out of interest... with these diamond crosses that are out there.... do you have to treat them more like a diamond and give them the cooler temperatures, and not feed as often? Just wondered if they would get the similar health problems DP can get... Don't suppose there have been any reports of DPS with the crosses has there?
Out of interest... with these diamond crosses that are out there.... do you have to treat them more like a diamond and give them the cooler temperatures, and not feed as often? Just wondered if they would get the similar health problems DP can get... Don't suppose there have been any reports of DPS with the crosses has there?
My carpets were both nippy at first, and my 07 still is a little, but I wouldn't call them aggressive or unpredictable. Well, maybe the 07 is a bit unpredictable because she bit the back of my hand the other day, just completely out of the blue...none of the usual physical signs beforehand, and I didn't surprise her by popping her on the head or anything.
weird, but I wouldn't worry about it.
If yours is only three feet, it's still pretty young, right? I hear most of the really bitey ones mellow out around two years old, so just give it time. Feeding it in its cage is probably not going to give you that kind of a reaction unless you just smell like mice all the time. Oh, and an adult mouse should be fine for a three-foot carpet, but a similarly-sized rat would be better
weird, but I wouldn't worry about it.
If yours is only three feet, it's still pretty young, right? I hear most of the really bitey ones mellow out around two years old, so just give it time. Feeding it in its cage is probably not going to give you that kind of a reaction unless you just smell like mice all the time. Oh, and an adult mouse should be fine for a three-foot carpet, but a similarly-sized rat would be better