Noob to aggressive Jag python

[sweet446]

Hello, I recently bought a roughly year and half old Jaguar carpet python, it seems he has a bit of an aggressive nature and trys to snap at me every time I try to handle him or put him in his container for feeding, just wondering what is the best way to handle him? do I move slowly or quickly to handle him? not to familiar with jags and love him to death and want to be able to handle him regualarly, just wondering the best way to get to this point, any help would be great, thanks.

[Terranaut]

Just handle him for 2-5 min everyday. If he bites ignore it and continue. They all do this.

[Lankyrob]

Dont remove him from his home for feeding, they normally eat hanging off a perch anyways

My Jungle carpet is almost 3yrs old and is still snappy when getting him out of his viv, they arent aggressive as such but are defending themselves, imagine having a huge hand many times the size of your own head reaching for you!!!

We find once he is out of the viv he calms down considerably, we use a hook and gloves to get him out and get rid of both "safety items" as soon as he is out and about.

[Norm66]

I second the advice to feed in the enclosure. There's no use handling a carpet python in feed mode.

I use a small "cage hook" when I get my JCP out. I just rub his back with it a little and if he's all the way in the back use it to grab hold and pull him over a bit where it's easier for me to grab him. I find not too slow, but not too fast and steady to be the way to handle him.

[MoreliAddict]

You don't have to feed him in a separate bin, in fact, it's better if you don't so the snake knows the difference between "handling time" and "feeding time".

Use a hook, and handle it a few times every week, and just ignore it if it bites. The vast majority of carpets calm down, but some stay a bit aggressive. At a year and a half old, it sounds like this snake might have a more aggressive nature, but keep working on it.

[sweet446]

ok, thank you so much guys, i kept getting differnt advice from people and was confused lol, I was told by almost all snake handlers I know to take him out seperately for feeding? and never to use a hook or glove so he can get use to my scent, is this true? I just wanna make sure he has a good unstressed life with me and I can actually handle him a bit more, hes snapped at me a couple times here and there but has never actually bitten so Im not to worried, but the more good advice I can get the better! thanks again guys.

[MoreliAddict]

It's good to use a hook to pull him out of the cage, then use your bare hands. You want him to associate the hook with handling.

[Lankyrob]

there is a theory that feeding out of the tank would mean that the snake doesnt associate opening the cage with food, BUT using this same logic the snake will associate being taken out of the cage with food the fact is that either way can work but if you feed out of the enclosure then you then have to handle a snake in feed mode to get it back into the viv.

In terms of using hooks/gloves once the snake is out of the viv and calmed a little then remove the hook and glove from the equation allowing it to get used to you. Also using the hook for snakes that have a strong feeding response can "switch off" that feeding response as long as you never use a hook at feeding time and only use it at handling time

[red ink]

I'll go the opposite and say no handling and let it settle in...

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by red ink

I'll go the opposite and say no handling and let it settle in...

^^^^^
let him settle in and start eating regular BEFORE you handle him,then after he's ate 4 to 6 meals in a row,i'd start the handling.....

i ALWAYS give them 3 days after a meal,to allow them to digest their meal,before i would handle them...

you may cause them to regurate,if you handle them too soon after a feed

1.begin calming by wearing thin soft leather gloves

2when taking it out the tank,.DON'T dotter about at the front of the tank,just walk right up,open the doors and take the snake right out,DON'T give it a chance to get all defensive

3.the gloves will hide your heat signature,so you can let the snake,run through your hands,also wear a long sleeved jumper/shirt,again to hide your skins heat signature

ALWAYS keep the snake OUT of striking distance of your FACE

4.start by taking it out for 5 minutes per day,until it stops striking so much

5.once its calm for its 5 minute sessions,keep it out for 10 minutes

8.after its calm for 10 minutes,keep it out for 15 minutes

9.after it remains clam for the 15 minute period,let it go through your gloved hands for 5 minutes,if it remains calm,take 1 glove off,gradually let it run over your ungloved hand,at first it will get spooked by the heat of your hand,it will spring back into strike position and get defensive...

10.so with your ungloved hand,try NOT to move it TOO FAST,with your fingers,or hands,because until they're used to,the heat of your skin,they WILL instinctively,DEFENSIVELY bite...

11.if they bite and do NOT let go,try running a TRICKLE of COLD water,from a tap on their heads

12.if that does NOT work,then removing a snake,holding on with its bite,we have to be carefull,NOT to damage their teeth

13.gently prize open the jaws.....lifting the TOP jaw,in an upward and foward movement.....the BOTTOM jaws,in a downward forward motion.....(ALL jaws HAVE to be,moved at the EXACT same time)...this method allows for,the shape of a carpets teeth

14.ALL that said,you do get carpets who DON'T ever calm down

please let us know how it goes

cheers shaun

[sweet446]

Thank you so much for the awesome help guys! he fed about 3 days ago, already passed the mice and doing awesome, he seems fairly settled in, today I took him out un gloved without a stick and he seemed a little defensive but as soon as I picked him up softly and let him feel the heat he was great!! he didnt strike once or even seemed fased by the fact I was holding him , he was out for roughly ten minutes and didnt get defensive with me once at all, odd to see but hey im not gonna complain! he is still a bit skidish but seems to be doing better, again thanks for all the help guys and it seems to be doing the trick, also I did feed him in his enclosure and when I went to handle him today it seemed as though my reaching in didnt fase him slightly so Im going to keep being progressive with all these techniques you guys have offered and update you! thanks so much

[sweet446]

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