Carpet Pythons Fighting?

[triplehp4]

I recently acquired 2 carpet pythons, a jungle jaguar male and a jungle carpet female. They are both of breeding age, so I wanted to see what they would do if I put them together for a while in the female's enclosure. I was expecting either nothing at all or copulation. Instead, I ended up with the snakes repeatedly slamming each other into the ground and a lot of loud hissing. I separated them after about a minute of this, as I was fearing for the significantly slimmer male's life. Any idea why they were fighting? As far as I know this behavior is only seen in male to male combat. I'm thinking it may be the result of putting them together when I've only had them for a few days, and they are likely still stressed from the shipping process.

[SnakeyJay]

Are you 100% sure they're not both males?....

[triplehp4]

Are you 100% sure they're not both males?....

I bought the female from East Coast Exotics, and I was informed that she had already laid a clutch of eggs, but they died due to an incubator malfunction. So I am fairly certain she is female, and if she isn't, I'm going to have to have a word with Jerry...

[shaunyboy]

i'm thinking you have two males mate

they are combating with each other,they try and hold each others head pressed to the ground,the stronger of the two being the winner

imo if you get them sexed and you will find that both are males


cheers shaun

[franks]

What you described sounds like male v male combat. I do not know if males and females combat each other like this.

[SnakeyJay]

I bought the female from East Coast Exotics, and I was informed that she had already laid a clutch of eggs, but they died due to an incubator malfunction. So I am fairly certain she is female, and if she isn't, I'm going to have to have a word with Jerry...

Get em probed... Good luck :)

[triplehp4]

I think I'm going to let them sit a week or so, reintroduce them, and if they fight again I will get them probed. The guy I bought her from says that if I get her probed and she is male, he will take her back and give a full refund along with him paying for return shipping. So he seems pretty confident.

[Derek Roddy]

If that's the behavior you saw.....You have 2 males.

D

[formica]

does sound like sparring males to me too



and yes, you should be giving them time to settle, considering that you already know this, I have to wonder why you did it in the first place, for your own amusement or for the good of the snakes?

[pinefamily]

The only way you'll know for sure is by getting them probed.