hissing carpet, some advice please

[snakemad2]

hi all i am just wondering if this is normal or if its a sign of a snake peed off?:unhappy: i will be getting my complete care of carpet python book tomorrow so will be glued to that for a fair few weeks lol. :nerd:
He doesn't seem to hiss at me when hes in his enclosure, just when i had him out in the shop a little.:bouncy: I know hes healthy as can be as first day i got him i took him to the vets to get him checked out and he said hes i peak condition. Hes about 5 foot max and just under 2.5 kilo. I am just worried if this would of had have a negative effect on him as being handled by a vet? :sorry:he has very impressive teeth lol and relay don't want them sticking in me... i got my squirty bottle of Listerine if he does and don't let go. i have heard this is unharmful to them and if anyone else has to use it or uses something else? i heard some people use vodka.
Also what is the best way to NOT get bittern and best ways to avoid this?:freakedout: i have a snake hook to hand also (and know about picking up from underneath so as to not think i'm a predator or going to try and eat him lol) and if he did bite would it just be a strike with mouth open/shut and just let go or hang on? as when i was feeding him after he did struck at the top of the feeding tub i popted him in. That unnerved me a little.:O_o::suspicious: then i thought he could still be hungry. i gave him a medium rat but want i to give him a small rabbit now and then along with some chicks as treats. I don't want him to feel threatened or scared enough to feel he has to bit me, i don't want to have to check for broken teeth ect an take him to the vet.. i would if i had to... i would rather just avoid this sito altogether. i heard handling them and carrying out their daily routines is best in day an feeding is at night. as that is what i have been doing since i got him.
I'v had him just under 2 weeks now in quarantine and just been letting him get used to his new home and distress. i have red a few books on cp's but long term keeper knowledge is always second to none and it's good to ask more experienced keepers their views and ideas.:yes:

[MDT]

Wait...you're gonna spray Listerine on your snake if he bites you? Don't spray Listerine
(or Vodka) if you get bit. Just gently remove him.
Give your snake some time to acclimate....without jacking with him. Like a week or two. Then, gently use a snake hook and gently touch him with it when he's in his cage. This will get him use to being touched with a non heat producing object (unlike your hand which he will detect with his labial pits). Then get him use to you hooking him out of the cage and manipulating him with the hook and possibly a hand. The reality is that these are not "domesticated" animals, sometimes a snake is just a hands off pet. They're all diff in terms of personality. Maybe yours is just pissy. You will likely get him to tolerate being handled, but as for snakes enjoying it, prob not.

[Lankyrob]

Hook training is the way to go, if you are changing water or getting him out GENTLY touch the top of his head with the hook first, over time he will associate thsi to mean no food is coming and will switch off the predatory senses.

When feeding throw the rat into his viv with no sign of the hook, he musnt ever be touched with the hook and then fed.

And remember as said above, some snakes will NEVER calm down and stop biting.

We had our jungle carpet for three years and he would still bite when being taken out of the viv, he never struck and held on, just quick three or four strikes. Once he was out of his viv he would calm down considersbly.

[Terranaut]

A few things for thought before I talk about hissing.
1) you bought a 5' carpet...is this your first snake?
2) snakes bite for 2 reasons...defense of hunger. If it's defensive it is normally very quick like a rattle snake..bam!! And over before you knew it happened. The little teeth make you bleed a bit but 2 days later you won't even be able to see where it happened. Now the second reason is hunger...this a a tag and hold. This hurts more and bleeds more. If you want the snake to let go you don't spray listerine...use a drop on your finger and put it near the snakes nose. You won't even need to touch it.
3) hook training is great but the hook is not for picking the snake up. You just touch them lightly to say "hey I am not food" and when you see them have that slight drop in interest you pick them up.
4) The complete carpet python is a great book but doesn't hit on handking tips much. Carpets tend to climb all over you when handling. Your a moving tree right? Let them. All of mine are on the move when handling unless I wrap them around my arm.

Ok so now hissing when handling can be normal. I have 2 of 5 that do this on a regular basis. In most cases they are just breathing. No big deal. How was the sanke with the vet? Did it strike at all? If there is no reason to be worried then stop. No need to avoid a bite. Most snakes do not bite. That being said I have one I fear will always bite but this is rare.
Trust your carpet and it will trust you. Until it tags you someday which will most likely not happen , handle the snake confidently. If your tense the snake may become tense too.

Hope this helps ..enjoy your carpet.. IMHO they are the best to keep :)

[sharthun]

Hook training is the way to go, if you are changing water or getting him out GENTLY touch the top of his head with the hook first, over time he will associate thsi to mean no food is coming and will switch off the predatory senses.

When feeding throw the rat into his viv with no sign of the hook, he musnt ever be touched with the hook and then fed.

And remember as said above, some snakes will NEVER calm down and stop biting.

We had our jungle carpet for three years and he would still bite when being taken out of the viv, he never struck and held on, just quick three or four strikes. Once he was out of his viv he would calm down considersbly.

^^^^^^^^:cool:

[snakemad2]

HI thanks for the many reply's all very helpful. I failed to mention i have had snakes/Lizards more on than off for prob 12+ years and never feared a bite, quite the opposite and didn't phase me. Its his teeth are a lot bigger that any other snake iv had, although my mam keeps boas, placid puppy's lol, get a bit to big for me though. I guess i feel intimidated by his teeth. I keep telling myself all he can do is bite. and if i were a snake and scared i would prob bite. lol. i try to put myself in there scales lol.
I used to breed garters some years ago. I held him loads in the shop and he was fine. he isn't my first snake but my 1st carpet (an i was thinking at times maybe something smaller, but smaller would get bigger anyway, an i fell in love with him. he was so placid and lovely an active) and i know its not if but when i get bitten. I had started hook training properly like yesterday (also trying to pop him back in his quarantine enclosure after feeding last week).
I was cleaning his quarantine with him in it as he wouldn't come out so i decided to clean around him, till i moved the tube he was in. its like one of the vent tubes that hangs out windows but a bit narrower. he was hissing like mad when i moved him in his tube understandably, hides usually don't get moved with snakes in there... i am thinking maybe a lift of slate hide will prob be a better move. i stupidly put his fresh newspaper in his feeding tub that i stupidly forgot to clean out (there was no squished rat bits anywhere) 1st time for everything, and i'm sure he could smell the rat on it, he started hunting, an i was all if i hold him now ad def get bitten. so i let him be. I will feed him today or tomorrow and change him again on weekend
About the Listerine i have not used it yet as when i heard about it i was thinking it would prob hurt more than the bite being sprayed with Listerine. so just waft the smell towards him. got it.
About hooking him out i did try that but then he was like nope gonna turn round and wedge myself in this tube an he refused to come out. i don't want to stress him. and that's why i am asking about handling techinks as i don't want to hurt or pee him off.
I think once i got bitten i wont be as bad... hopefully. i think its just the initial fear of getting bitten that worries me.
That's good to know that is normal but he relay seems grumpy and doesn't want to be disturbed. i know he is prob stressed so i bought some arkvits ect for him to try and chill him out a bit it seems to have helped but hes just very hissy. and i think when he struck at the lid that worried me a bit. got me thinking if he was still hungry or not. He ate a fat white Medium rat.
whats the most damage that a bite can do? aka, artery's, and nerve damage? an i seem to think if he did a feeding response bite that he may try to eat my hand/arm. i dunno where i have got this from just overactive imagination lol.
he hisses a little when i was holding him in the shop, expelling air but now he hisses and puffs up. i'm hoping hes just tank defensive and not nasty? as i dint know why the change of temperament all of a sudden? stress wouldn't help i know.

[Lankyrob]

Even a feeding bite will most likely not do anything more than some bleeding and some bruising, if it was a really unlucky strike it could hit a vein but unlikely.

Can i ask where you got him from? PM if you like :)

[franks]

He is intimidating you because he does not want to be picked up and because it is working. I think you may want to try putting a towel over his head when he gets like this and then just go in and pick him up. The more you try to get him out when he is hissing, and the more he sees it making you hesitant and intimidated, the more he will hiss.

[Terranaut]

I also suggest you use hides that you can lift off of the snake like flower pot of plastic hide. A tube is great for the snake but can be tough to remove him from. I generally try to use a very direct approach with my colubrids as they are much more prone to this sort of behavior. I open the cage and grab them without any delay. No time to think about means no time to get hissy about it. I will post a video this weekend and try to show you what I mean with my more defensive snakes.

[snakemad2]

Thank you all ever so much. yes i was thinking about just grabbing him and if i get bitten just get it over and done with. i am feeding him a large/jumbo rat in a little bit when its warmed up to see if hes hissy as he could be hungry, then that would rule that out. and i will be getting some slates off a friend to make a lift off slate hide, you know from roof slates (30 cm X 60 cm each). I am getting 5 pieces so should be able to make a descant size one from that. So any ideas? i assume aqua sealant to stick the bits i was thinking of doing a back and 3 sides with a roof bit so it has no bottom and is easy to climb in and out of rather than trying to cut a circle out of slate. any ideas if this is possible and if so how? or if i should make it a near complete cube without 1 piece in it? i will try the towel trick next time. i know its against my rules but i am going to feed him in his enclosure tonight for quickness. i may regret that will soon find out.
if you could post the video that will help loads. as i know that's why he is hissing louder as to deter me but i'm not having it i will be more proactive with his hide and make him a new one and take the tubes out and retry. hopefully with better results this time.
he has done a huge poo so glad to know hes not constipated as i was ordinarily suspecting as i hadn't see him poo yet. So gonna inspect and post picks in a new blog to ask other more experienced people if it looks OK to them. i didn't see any urinitary acid (white solids) so gonna inspect that after i have fed him and pop a quick blog up for feedback. i know its gross but these things have to be done to ensure best care for him.

[shaunyboy]

give him some time to settle in and calm down,that said he may just be one of those carpets that don't calm down,only time will tell

re bites
he will either bite and let go (a defensive bite) or bite and hold on ( a feeding response).if he bites and holds and you don't feel confident enough to remove him without breaking teeth,then take him to the bath and trickle cold water on his head,he will let go once he feels the cold water (only a trickle though)

i personally would not use vodka or mouth wash

once he's had a few feeds and some time to settle,he will more than likely calm down

he will also pick up on your nervosness,so just go right up to the tank and lift him straight out,the more you muck around preparing yourself,the more defensive a nervous/defensive snake will become

cheers shaun

[ErikBush97]

When you go to pick him up, don't think about him... Think about a really sweet, tame jungle, and pick him up! No hesitation, just do it!

[snakemad2]

hmm ok i will try the above. i haven't posted a while i have been busy, sorry guys. i have slate now 8 pieces so will make him a new hide tonight hopefully to be in there for him in the next day or so. i took his tubes out to moniter him as i noticed he was yawning a few days after he had been fed but he seems to have stopped yawning now so im glad it doesn't look like he may of had I.R. jiust yawning. it was a big meal i gave him though. hes not been happy as he not had a hide but i will sort that out tonight. and i hope he will calm down soon. how long do you recon it will take him to calm down? iv had him in quarantine now for about a month. will do another 2 months and get his big tank sorted out once its built.