stimson's python constricted

[gregford]

i was playing with my 1 year old stimson's python today i had him sitting on my arm nicely curled up tongue poking in and out he was actually a little less active than usual

i had him out for about 30-40 mins then i gave him to my girlfriend he wrapped around her wrist 3 times then constricted on her really tight so tight that her hand turned blue

i was wondering why my snake would do this?????


any help greatly appreciated


thanks guys greg

[Reptile_Boy]

has he been handled by her before?? prob just not used to scent

[Bonustokin]

My first thoughts are, your girlfriend probably holds him different to you and may have not given him enough support with her hands....He probably thought he was gunna fall Try supporting him a bit more.... other then that i dont really know...

[beeman]

it had prob had enough handling after 30 or 40 mins and
was starting to stress and that was its way of telling you it had had enough
you have to remember they are still a wild creature. most dont like being over handled

[gregford]

she's handled him stacks of times, and she's pretty good with him,
he hasn't been handled as much as usual in the last few weeks so i guess he wasn't used to being out of his enclosure for so long

he looked very relaxed when i was handling him tho
way more relaxed than usual

[the_tsar]

I gotta say all loverly theories about this constriction, But they all dont make any sense really.

My Green Tree snake doesn this on a regular occasion, for no reason constricts really tightly around my hand, and my wife at times.

I dont believe it is stress, handling time was too short, and it didnt exibit stress behaviours.

I dont think it is fear of falling, as i have had my snake in all sorts of positions some positions had the snake in "fall" type spots, and in these moments, the snake doesnt coil tightly around the hand for support, sure it moves and parts of the snake grip, but certainly not a constriction squeeze, like described here.

Nothing to do with scent either.

My only theory, and this threory isnt even looking so crash hot to me yet, is that it likes the warmth from your hand so squeezes itself to the object to suck as much radiant heat as possible.
My other thoery is it is like a stretch, squeezing tight against a softish surface, probably feels nice, like a squishy hug.
Sure it isnt an emotional thing for the snake but even my body likes a squishy hug, it just feeeeeels good. (not the emotion of the hug mind you).

So in my observations of this behavior (and I play alot with my GTS and happen to be curious about all of its behaviour and this constricting one didnt escape my notice, as it is a strange thing to do (for the snake) and feel) this is what I come up with, although I am not 100% on this, but I am enough not to pay any other theory posed so far.

Anyone else wid a comment?

[MrBredli]

It is clearly stressed out! 100% guaranteed, no doubt about it! Stop handling it (or at least for so long) and you won't have a problem!

[the_tsar]

Originally Posted by MrBredli

It is clearly stressed out! 100% guaranteed, no doubt about it! Stop handling it (or at least for so long) and you won't have a problem!

Nope,...... see above for why.

[MrBredli]

No offence, but you have no idea what you're talking about.

[Mangles]

My monies on Mr Bredli.

Definately stressed. I have a Diamond that is not handled a lot, and if he has not been handled for a while will constrict when you get him out. Does not do it all the time, but when he does you just put him back as soon as you can. Although sometimes will not get off your arm to go back in his enclosure. Having a 6ft plus Diamond constricting your arm is a bit different to a Stimmie.

[squeezen spotty]

my snake did this once too he was out for about 10 mins and traveling across my arm, stopped, curled up and squeezed real hard then just stopped and carried on.

[the_tsar]

Originally Posted by MrBredli

No offence, but you have no idea what you're talking about.

Sure, thats why I wrote some informative information, and you had your little spit of crap,containing nothing but bial.

Tell me again how much you know, thrill me with your wisdom, as I see none yet.

[squeezen spotty]

Ha ha ha good one tasr

[MrBredli]

Mate, you're talking about your experience with a GTS, we're talking about pythons, completely different barrel of fish. All pythons will constrict when they feel threatened, it's just what they do, it gives them anchorage so that they can defend themselves. Do you even own a python? I currently have over 30 and can tell you from personal experience that every single one of them will grab onto whatever they can and hold on as tight as hell if they feel threatened! Once they have a good grip of something (be it a branch or someone's arm) then they are in a much better position to be able to defend themselves. Remember pythons don't have legs, if you were going to fight someone you would be standing on your two feet so that you are balanced and poised ready to throw a punch, same with snakes except they don't have feet, so they grab a hold of something really tight so that they have that balance and anchorage to be able to strike at their attacker!

[itbites]

definitely stressed or had a fear of falling off your gf, also perhaps strong perfume? they only constrict when their either hungry or not happy jan! as for the "hugs/seeking heat" theory definite not the case. Never seen a calm relaxed happy snake display that behavior.