need a bit of help please

[mouseman]

Hi All
I recently brought my 8 foot + macklott python home from our showroom and set her up in the exact same cage, exact same setup and everything. Her cage is about 5 'by 2 1/2' by 2 1/2. The problem is that she is roaming a lot and rubbing her "nose" on the screen mesh lid a lot. She has never done this before and it looks a little sore. I take her out at least once a day and have shown her the new room but she can be pretty destructive if allowed loose. Any ideas on why she is rubbing her nose so much now and what can I do to get her to calm down. Could this be breeding season frustration because she has no mate?
Lori

[Oliverian]

I don't know WHY she's doing it, but it doesn't help having a mesh enclosure. Snakes tend to rub once in a while, and when they do it on mesh, it'll tear their face up. I would recommend trying to get a different cage, or fixing the one you have so it doesn't have mesh. Mesh also doesn't hold humidity well at all. I don't know if maclotts need humidity as i've never kept them, but if they do you should switch it quick.

-TammyR

[Gary O]

Here are a few question and maybe some help lol

How many hides do you have?

And maybe cut the handling down a bit untill she settles in. This might not be the problem but could help.

[mouseman]

Tammy, my husband is going to make her a new lid for her home; one without metal screening, just in case she keeps up the rubbing for a bit. Also, she has one large hidebox that she uses occasionally. She doesn't seem to use it a lot though, I think she likes to see what's going on. She has always been a very curious snake so that's why I thought showing her the new surroundings would help calm her but I think I will leave her alone for a couple of days. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Gary O]

That could help. These are great snakes to have also. Keep us updated on how she doing...

[mouseman]

She seems to have calmed down now. I think I was actually making matters worse handling her; I have been leaving her alone more and she is acting better. Glad anyway - her "nose" is a bit sore.