New Jaguar Carpet Python (Rescue) - Questions!

[Ferae Naturae]

Hi,

Newbie here... Of course I have questions!

I've attached a pic of "Jag" (for now, lol)

I was told it was a male and that "he" was an approx 1 year old Coastal Jaguar Carpet Python at about 4-5ft long (haven't measured yet). I just picked him up on Thursday.

I haven't messed with him yet. Actually he was overdue for a meal so I fed him yesterday and he ate like a champ.

I have a few questions...

(See pic) Do you think he is truely a Coastal Jag? What is the difference between the Jags?

He is nippy (appears defensive, obviously he's slightly freaked out). I'm not sure how bad it hurts to get tagged so me "taming" him will be a process that includes a hook and gloves (I am a chick BTW, so this should be socially acceptable, lol). I've been around snakes for many years and haven't been tagged yet, but I've never interacted with a snake that wasn't classified as "tame"; obviously bearing in mind that they COULD always bite... Any tips? Suggestions? Is feeding them in a seperate container to help reduce feeding response really a myth?

Thanks guys!

[Terranaut]

Well hes a looker for sure. More pics please!!
If you have been around snakes just feed him like any other. They ate great eaters and can eat very large prey for their size. As far as taming it was just discussed in detail right here
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/morelia-spilota/90890-aggresive-diamond-x-jungle.html
Check that out and come back with any remaining questions. Also make sure his viv has hides and stuff to climb. Carpets seem to like to sit on the hide more than in but a defensive snake needs some "chill" time.
Good luck. Enjoy!!!

[youngster]

The jag gene derives from coastals so basically no matter what he has a fraction of Coastal in him. :)

[UwabamiReptiles]

Thats a real nice rescue. As far as knowing if he's 100% coastal jag or not, you won't be able to truly know unless you know the parents lineage. Either way that is a beautiful jag. The taming thing is just something you have to tackle head on. I've been tagged by adult female carpets and its not bad at all. If anything, it happens so fast you don't even realized it happened.

I've never fed in another container, I feel like you would be more prone to getting bit trying to put him back into his cage since he'll still be in feeding mode. You can hook train him to know when you touch him with the hook, there will be no food coming his way. After you work with him for awhile you'll be able to read him and know when he's feeling feisty. Good luck with him and be careful...carpets are highly addictive.

[CDN_Blood]

Good-looking Jag - nice and plump, too. Youngster is indeed correct in saying that all Jags have their roots in Coastals, but this is the first time I've heard one described as a 'Coastal Jag'. I think most folks just call them Jaguar Carpets Python unless the have some Diamond Python in them, which I would say that particular animal does not.

I've always found the best way to 'tame' a Carpet is to let them come to you on their own terms. They're easier to handle once they come out on their own and are slightly distracted with exploring. Once they're out and moving around, it's easier to gently pick them up and start earning their trust.

Like UwambiReptiles, I've never fed in a separate container either, and there are reasons I don't recommend it.

I think the biggest question for this particular animal would be it's age. At 4-5 feet I have some doubts that it's only 1 year old. I think it's more likely 2 or more, but someone else may be able to provide some insight on that. My second biggest question would be it's sex. It's quite robust, which would tell me it's likely a female, but it easily well be a well-fed male that's not yet sexually mature.

Carpets are notoriously difficult to sex - you can't rely on probing as both sexes often probe the same, you can't visually sex them looking for spur size or visible lumps in a male's tail, and you can't rely on a male's tail being longer than a female's, so it can be quite difficult to determine actual gender.

Either way, it's a fine looking snake and I'm sure it'll calm down with some gentle handling :)

[Ferae Naturae]

I'll get some more pics once I take him out so you can truly see how big he is; gotta wait another day cause I just fed him.

I was a little skeptical about the age as well. Truly doesn't matter to me actually, but it would be nice to know.

Ironically enough, I was worried there was something wrong with him due to the fact that I saw him at a reptile show for sale last month. Only reason I passed him up was because the guy was having a hard time trying to get him out of the tub to handle him, I just wasn't up for the challenge. Then I got word that there was one for adoption and I decided to go take a peek, I knew instantly when I saw him that it was the same one and confirmed it with the guy that was adopting him out--said the only reason he wasn't keeping him was because he needed $ to build more enclosures for his other snakes. Seemed odd that he was trying to unload him after only a month, and he pretty much gave him to me... So I guess I decided that it must be meant to be!

I will do a full exam on him once he's settled in, he looks healthy; maybe he really is very aggressive? He hasn't struck at me once since I got him home. I haven't actually handled him either though. Even moving stuff around in the enclosure, he goes into defensive "s" mode but I wouldn't target that as aggression. He has a hell of a feeding response though! Instantly hit the FT rat at the sight of it! Maybe he wasn't get adequate feedings? I read through some of the other posts on here regarding taming techniques that I want to try. I'll let you know when I start the process how it goes.

Thanks for all the info guys! :)

[CDN_Blood]

Aaah, gotcha. Hardly surprising that it's a little touchy then. I can't think of any worse conditions that a reptile could possibly be under than a reptile show. Give 'm a few months and he'll get past that once he realizes that you're not the enemy.

Glad you rescued him from all that nonsense. You sound like you've got a good head on your shoulders, so you'll probably have a long and happy relationship with it :)

[marvelfreak]

Hello and welcome to our forum. They pretty much cover it all. Great looking Jaguar. Todd look at my signature when i got my female she was sold as a Coastal Jaguar.

[Swany]

Hi and welcome to the madhouse ;-)

[CDN_Blood]

...Todd look at my signature when i got my female she was sold as a Coastal Jaguar.

Yeah, I think it's a lot about personal choice, honestly. It can be so difficult to prove genetics. Jungle Carpets and Bredl's Pythons are pure subspecies, but anything that's Jag is a cross, so I tend to list those as 'Morelia intergrade' just to be on the safe side. Then again, I'm mildly unstable, so who can say for sure :P

[MoreliAddict]

gorgeous carpet! nice taste ;)