nippy female JCP

[Xanafein]

recently purchased a beautiful Jungle Carpet, shes only three months old, and is already very high yellow, problem is she is extrordianarily nippy, i have heard that handling with gloves is a good idea, but am wondering what type of glove, leather work gloves rubber kitchen gloves cotton gloves, nitrile gloves, what works best and wont harm the snake?

on a side note, ive found shes most nippy when being removed from her enclosure, and when being put back, bites dont hurt, but on average i get bit 3-4 times, she is now almost 4 months old, and i am wondering if she is ever gonna tame down

[Will0W783]

Baby carpets, especially JCPs, are known for being nippy. It's a defensive thing, and they usually grow out of it with age. My adult carpets are some of my tamest, most personable snakes. I would keep handling down to a max of 2-3 times a week, only hold for 5-10 minutes. Gloves are very helpful, and also don't put the snake away right after it bites you...it will "learn" that biting gets it what it wants, so it will do it again. If you keep holding it, it will figure that biting doesn't get it anywhere, and be more likely to stop. Also, the use of a hook to remove snakes from their enclosures tends to help. Remember, your hand is a giant heat signature to them...it's too large to eat, so they assume it's danger. It takes time for them to realize you're not going to hurt them.

[Lankyrob]

My JCP is exactly the same, he bites one removal from the viv, andnanytime my hand goes into the viv! Imuse a pair of gardening gloves, you can still feel the bite but it stops the teeth penetrating too much.

[Xanafein]

things went well today, ive found that if i put my hand in at one end of the cage and wait for here to come to me i dont get nipped at all, shes still a little skittish but shes only hit me 3 times today once on the nose after a photo op, and two little kisses on the hand when i was putting her back in, shes really starting to enjoy the time, i dont need the gloves any more, but i may pick up a small hook just in case:P picks are uploaded on my intro post

[kenchenzo]

welding gloves are the best to use.

[shaunyboy]

welding gloves are the best to use.


welding gloves may be a bit harsh on a hatchlings teeth mate

i use shammy leather gloves (bad spelling) for the young ones

leather like the cloths window cleaners use or you use to dry down your car after washing

welders gloves are more for sub adult and adult snakes imo

a trick i use with hatchlings is medical rubber gloves.they dont seem to like the taste of the rubber and stop biting almost instantly.

your hatchling will most likely calm down once it realises your not going to eat it.young carpets tend to be nervous at first so will defencively bite to protect themselves.

cheers shaun

[kenchenzo]

i don't use anything with hatchlings mate.
i only use the gloves with adults & sub adults.
should have specified.