 Recent Herp Discussion | | | | | | | | Online Users: 52 | | 14 members and 38 guests | | andyscott, Bono888, DerekRoddy, Drazzy, gman78, gold&black..., Ishah, Jay, kakariki, laurajayne, peterf, photogypsy, ravan | |  | | 
09-Mar-07, 10:35 AM
| | | Help!! My snake keeps biting
I have a 14mth old female spotted Python which I have had now for about 9months. I've always tried to handle her as much as a i can (as I work full time this is only in the evenings). for the first 3-6 months she was great, only biting me occasionally when she was hungry. However as she's getting older she's getting more aggressive and it's now to the point where I can't handle her without gloves on as 9 out of 10 times she bites hard and death rolls my hand and fingers (as though she thinks I am her food). i feed her regularly, every 7-10 days in a different tank to where she lives, and even sometime feed her 2 or three rats in a feeding (about the size of my thumb). She is very healthy and a good size for her age. I'm reluctant to get rid of her, but am unsure what to do about this behaviour. I dont' want her to grow to full size and still be biting as that will make it almost impossible for her to be handled. Has anyone got any advise or tips?
|
09-Mar-07, 10:37 AM
| | Suspended | Join Date: Dec-06 Location: Western Sydney Age: 22 | | | |
sell the snake and buy a puppy.
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
[I]I'm feeling weak, missing parts, incomplete...Don't let them throw me away...[/I]
|
09-Mar-07, 10:38 AM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Oct-05 Location: QLD Gender:  | | | |
they shouldnt hurt to much, just grin a bear it, she will soon realise your not food, also cut down on handling, 2 much will stress them out
__________________
R.I.P. Dimebag 1966-2004
..........Proud member of the coastal carpet lovers club..........
|
09-Mar-07, 10:48 AM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Aug-06 Location: Sydney | | | |
Feed her more?
__________________ [SIGPIC]THIS IS WHERE MY SIG SHOULD BE[/SIGPIC] Quote: |
Originally Posted by Wrasse Be the tree. | |
09-Mar-07, 10:52 AM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Feb-07 Location: Brisbane, Toowong Age/Gender: 20 | | | |
Handle less. You're handling her despite the obvious signs of her being pretty peeved about it (striking) ... You shouldn't handle them "as much as possible" just do it occasionally. Other than that, yeah, she should realise you aren't yummy. Plus it hardly hurts when they're that young
|
09-Mar-07, 10:53 AM
|  | Punk in Drublic Subscriber | Join Date: Feb-07 Location: Gold Coast Gender: | | | |
has she had anything new in the tank that may have her stressed out, or something takin out? i had a friends stimson that was a snappy buggar as he got older, about 2 years old from memory when he started doing the same as your mac. after a while he grew out of it.
Just a stab in the dark, but maybe feed her one big meal rather than 2 or three smaller ones so she is used to getting one food item rather than seeing your hands as desert. i don't know if it would work, im no expert, just a thought incase she's a greedy little mac.
|
09-Mar-07, 11:01 AM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Nov-05 Location: QLD | | | |
like people, all snakes have a different attitude, some will handle being handled some wont, sounds like your spotted is one of the " just look and dont touch snakes ", which imo is fine and should be treated as such. remeber even when captive bred, these are wild animals not demesticated pets.
|
09-Mar-07, 12:24 PM
|  | Regular Member | | | | |
LadyKat, sometimes it isn't something you do, it is just that snake.
I too have a spotted python like this. It doesn't matter how full he might be, how recently he was fed, how much or how little I handle him. I have even gone to the point of grinning and bearing it in the hope he will give up. Nope. He grabs, hard, rolls and constricts, everytime, without fail. He doesn't release and will happily constrict my arm until I give up and bodily remove him. As I manage to get a coil off, he is madly taking a harder hold elsewhere. When I finally get his mouth off, he snaps and stretches, constantly trying to get back to eat me.
He is now 6 and is simply an attractive animal to be viewed from the other side of the glass.
Incidently, I have only bred from him once and all of his offspring are the same, albeit not quite to the same extent. I no longer breed from him and won't do again in the future either.
__________________ Wr***e "Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?" www.arafurae.net Coastal Carpet Lover & Lying member of the FWC |
09-Mar-07, 12:44 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Dec-05 Location: Brisbane Australia Age/Gender: 22  | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Python Gal  might sound mean) I found (when he bit) that grabbing just behind his head and holding onto it (not strangle) hard enough so she knows biting is a no no!! Worked for me!!! | Well i have never heard of that technique... Interesting.
|
09-Mar-07, 12:47 PM
| | Subscriber | Join Date: Dec-05 Location: Brisbane Australia Age/Gender: 22 | | | |
And i wouldnt say its cruel, i mean, your holding him and he's the one gnawing into your arm..........
|
09-Mar-07, 12:53 PM
|  | Jellybean Club Subscriber | Join Date: Feb-06 Location: Hobbiton, Middle Earth. Gender: | | | |
sounds like a typical spotted to me! They are the most bitey of the childrens group.
|
09-Mar-07, 01:03 PM
|  | Willia6 fan Subscriber | Join Date: Jun-06 Location: Victoria Gender: | | | |
Keep handling to a minimum, a fully grown spotted even if bitey won't do much damage anyway.
__________________
[WFC] Member of the willia6 fan club
|
09-Mar-07, 01:17 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Nov-03 Location: Melbourne, Australia Gender: | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by ashs_dreams Well i have never heard of that technique... Interesting. | .......she might have that technique mixed up with her dog?? If you did that to mine they'd take a piece out of you!   |
09-Mar-07, 01:40 PM
|  | FAYSE! Moderator | Join Date: Jun-05 Location: Illawarra Gender: | | | |
Sounds like it is get sick of being handled every day!!
__________________  Fay There is nothing like a Dane! garthfay@bigpond.net.au
RIP Yellowbeard Illawarra Reptile Society Annual Show
Sunday, 5th April 2009
Koonawarra Community Centre
Fowlers Road
Koonawarra |
09-Mar-07, 02:17 PM
|  | Seller | Join Date: Apr-06 Location: Qld Gender: | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by GARTHNFAY Sounds like it is get sick of being handled every day!! | I agree Fay - mine used to be like that, I completely stopped handling him, only handled when necessary. I decided to pick him up the other day for the first time in about a yr - to my surprise "Striker" was a little kitten. I also have a breeding pair that I have no probs with now.
I can understand though that some just can't be handled as I have a carpet that is just admired from a distance.
__________________
Hell have no fury like a woman scourned
| | |
|
