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?
Help!! My snake keeps biting
- Thread starter LadyKat
- Start date
Help Support Aussie Pythons & Snakes Forum:
- Status
gaara
Very Well-Known Member
sell the snake and buy a puppy.
PhilK
Very Well-Known Member
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
Ozzie Python
Very Well-Known Member
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rediah
Well-Known Member
Well i have never heard of that technique... Interesting.
Rediah
Well-Known Member
And i wouldnt say its cruel, i mean, your holding him and he's the one gnawing into your arm..........
JasonL
Almost Legendary
sounds like a typical spotted to me! They are the most bitey of the childrens group.
J
junglepython2
Guest
Keep handling to a minimum, a fully grown spotted even if bitey won't do much damage anyway.
moosenoose
Legendary
.......she might have that technique mixed up with her dog?? If you did that to mine they'd take a piece out of you! :twisted: :lol:
F
FAY
Guest
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.
Python Gal, I am more than happy for you to pop round and use that technique on my spotted boy (his bite doesn't hurt). I am local and will pay for the fuel.
$10 says it gets you nowhere with him.
lmao at Wrasse
slim6y
Almost Legendary
Hey LadyKat... Can you tell me what is a good size for a 14 month old spotted... Mine is 82 cm and eats one adult mouse every week (7 days). I would say that one larger feed is better than 3 smaller feeds. As I don't know the size of your thumb I would suggest upping the size of the food.
Do you have other pets - like a cat, dog, guinea pig? The scent of them may also attract a feeding response.
My spotted never bites, but sometimes she thrashes around angrily... But that's the worst she does. she never bites.
I haven't read anyones comments here - other than your own and gaara's because he's amusing with his anecdotes. But I would strongly suggest limited handling and bigger feeds in one sitting rather than several smaller feeds.
I have troubles finding adult mouse sized rats (I think weaners or hoppers). So that's why she lives primarily on adult mice.
Hope this is of some help - Cheers
slim6y
Almost Legendary
Python Gal, I am more than happy for you to pop round and use that technique on my spotted boy (his bite doesn't hurt). I am local and will pay for the fuel.
$10 says it gets you nowhere with him.
My technique is more guaranteed.... Hold said snake by tail. Use the 'throwing motion' so the head of the snake hits a concrete floor or wall. This is followed by a return motion where the same head hits the same wall or floor. Generally the accepted speed of this action is regarded as fast to extreme. The faster you go the bigger the difference in biting.
Generally you'll only have to do it once... and then a gentle tap on the head with the stern words "NO!" will surfice from here-on-in.
That advice is free of charge.
Every time I clean his cage/change his water, I am tempted to do just this !!
- Status
