View Full Version : New pics of Jag & update on handling...
Ferae Naturae
03-12-12, 02:46 PM
Equipped with gloves, a thick sweater and a hook I took Jag out for the first time today. He went into "S" mode a couple times but never struck :) he actually appeared to be pretty relaxed and curious once he was out. He was completely content with me in the cage taking pics, didn't appear defensive at all. Pretty pleased considering the last time I watched someone try to handle him he appeared to be a real handful! Attached some update pics, not the best quality cell phone pics but let me know what you guys think!
marvelfreak
03-12-12, 02:54 PM
Very nice looking Jag. Glad to hear he was good for you.
I find carpet pythons rather difficult to read at times, but generally there are different S formations. You will learn the difference quite quickly, generally when food is around. I have my older carpets set up to recognise hand signals, because they don't know when they are getting fed and unfortunately think it's every time the door opens no matter what I do...
Regardless, there are 3 'S' formations that I've noticed. Defensive, feeding, and curiosity. Generally I usually see curiosity, it's them gauging their length to see if they can stretch out to reach a certain point. With feeding you can just see it in how they hover their head with their neck almost directly behind them, rather then slightly above or below. When defensive, they 'S' upwards, like a cobra would. They hold their coils in the air above their head making a mock hood, not to mention loading up the strike range. Odd's of you seeing this behaviour now is very slim, more of a baby/ unlucky me behaviour. Don't be to worried about the 'S', carpets kinda do it all the time...
Ferae Naturae
03-12-12, 03:35 PM
I find carpet pythons rather difficult to read at times, but generally there are different S formations. You will learn the difference quite quickly, generally when food is around. I have my older carpets set up to recognise hand signals, because they don't know when they are getting fed and unfortunately think it's every time the door opens no matter what I do...
Regardless, there are 3 'S' formations that I've noticed. Defensive, feeding, and curiosity. Generally I usually see curiosity, it's them gauging their length to see if they can stretch out to reach a certain point. With feeding you can just see it in how they hover their head with their neck almost directly behind them, rather then slightly above or below. When defensive, they 'S' upwards, like a cobra would. They hold their coils in the air above their head making a mock hood, not to mention loading up the strike range. Odd's of you seeing this behaviour now is very slim, more of a baby/ unlucky me behaviour. Don't be to worried about the 'S', carpets kinda do it all the time...
Nice to know! Thank you!
alessia55
03-12-12, 03:50 PM
Very nice :) Glad he's warming up to you
youngster
03-12-12, 03:53 PM
I've also noticed that Caylan, very sound advice.
Terranaut
03-12-12, 04:08 PM
I agree. "Word" is the appropriate answer ;)
Glad it's all going so well!!!
UwabamiReptiles
03-12-12, 05:37 PM
Thats a beautiful jag! Happy he's letting you take him out with no problems. Just keep working with him and you'll have a pretty snake you can handle whenever you want.
Freebody
03-12-12, 05:50 PM
Very nice :)
krystle
03-12-12, 06:01 PM
nice jag! love his coloring! :)
BigTimer
03-12-12, 06:51 PM
Love the jags
millertime89
03-13-12, 12:30 AM
he looks great!
MoreliAddict
03-13-12, 10:42 AM
nice pics and nice snake! (carpets are my fav)
congrats on a good handling sesh too
Ferae Naturae
03-13-12, 02:40 PM
Thanks guys! It was literally love at first sight when I saw him!
Today he was a little hissy and flighty in his cage when I went to get him, so the handling continues daily.
On a side note, I've been reading mixed reviews about what prey size is appropriate for carpets... I fed him a medium rat last Friday, I'm thinking he could take a large no problem...?
Lankyrob
03-13-12, 03:05 PM
Our Jungle Carpet eats xl rats that work out about 3 times his girth, one every 14 days or so :)
Terranaut
03-13-12, 03:11 PM
Yup he can. They can (but do not have to) eat huge prey more than double their own gerth.
My male eats large and my female eats jumbos. Just be sure to allow more digestion time if you move up a size. So if you feed now weekly move to 10 days on large or 14 days if you do 10 ect. Don't allow hissing or coiling to keep you from handling. The snake will learn that behavior makes you go away and do it even more. A bit of hiss means grab from the right spot and pull him out. Generaly he will calm within a few seconds of being out. Good luck!!
Xanafein
03-13-12, 04:18 PM
Im not sure if its the cell phone camera quality, or my horrible eyesight, But is that Sand that you have him on, because its my understanding that that is a bad substrate choice....
Ferae Naturae
03-13-12, 06:07 PM
Thanks for the info Terranaut. :)
Xanafein, it's black carpet from Menards :) I only use carpet or shelf liner for my reptiles. Snakes get carpet, lizards get shelf liner. I'm too paranoid to do sand with any of my guys, lol.
Xanafein
03-13-12, 06:20 PM
ah ok, it looked like sand and i was like HUH
Killer Jag tho reminds me of my old one, Hopefully yours doens tgo the way mine did
Ferae Naturae
03-13-12, 09:38 PM
ah ok, it looked like sand and i was like HUH
Killer Jag tho reminds me of my old one, Hopefully yours doens tgo the way mine did
Did you notice issues when you first got him?
Xanafein
03-14-12, 04:27 PM
Mine had a Very Minor head wobble, but i had him for two years, And it never got worse, Then one day a few months ago he was just limp, I took him to a vet, and they told me cause of death was spinal trauma
Ferae Naturae
03-14-12, 05:32 PM
Mine had a Very Minor head wobble, but i had him for two years, And it never got worse, Then one day a few months ago he was just limp, I took him to a vet, and they told me cause of death was spinal trauma
So sorry to hear that--I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary, no wobble or anything... Fingers crossed.
Ferae Naturae
03-14-12, 05:43 PM
Today's handling... He was awake and cruising around his "house", so I opened up the tank and let him come out to me. He came right out to me. No hissing and he was pretty calm and curious. =D Ahh, the little things in life...
Awesome!!! Warmed up to you really quick! Congrats!
Rogue628
03-14-12, 06:10 PM
He's a nice looking jag! He sounds like he calm down quick. That's always a plus :D
Terranaut
03-15-12, 04:46 AM
Awesome. Truly great snakes !!!
Xanafein
03-15-12, 08:39 AM
So sorry to hear that--I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary, no wobble or anything... Fingers crossed.
You never know, Keep an eye on em and im sure everything will be just fine, You've got one hell of a looker on your hands, I expect more pictures next to you have him out and about
Ferae Naturae
03-15-12, 06:28 PM
Thanks :)
Actually plan on using him in a photo shoot come early summer so long as he continues to come around. I don't want to stress him out too much, but I think he'd be an awesome addition to anyones portfolio & some of the proceeds will go to animal rescue.
I'd really like to know where he came from but the guy I got him from doesn't really know anything about him so I guess I'm SOL on that one.
I'll keep you guys posted & more pics to follow. Thanks for all the compliments and feedback!!!
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