Question!

Hillsberry · 02-18-10, 05:07 PM

Okay so we all know I have a Jungle Carpet Python 08 female. That I got about month ago. She stop bitting. But when I hold her she is so tight around my arms and hands that I cant get her off. I am not sure if it is because she is still unsure of me. But she is still making the hissing noise when I touch her. Is this just normal for a new python to do that wasnt held alot and now is being held every day?

Will0W783 · 02-18-10, 05:12 PM

It is quite normal. Again it depends on the animal, but it sounds like she's still nervous and unsure. An uneasy snake who isn't sure its perch is stable and safe will grip extra hard. Just keep working with her and stay patient. Also, don't hold her every single day. It can end up causing stress. I would limit handling to 4 times a week at the most. I tamed my Macklot's holding him twice a week for 5 minutes at a time. I still don't trust him but he hasn't tried to bite in over two months.

Hillsberry · 02-18-10, 05:14 PM

Okay I will leave her alone for a couple of days. Man one time I thought she would never let go. She was so tight my arm turned purple.

Will0W783 · 02-18-10, 05:16 PM

Cipher (my Macklot's) did that at first and still sometimes does it. Usually it was when he was planning to try to eat me...lol.

Hillsberry · 02-18-10, 05:23 PM

I think she always wants to eat me. She is still very jumpy. Lol

marvelfreak · 02-18-10, 06:07 PM

It took me over a hour to get my diamond x jungle off my watch a wrist to day. She didn't want to let go. So i sat with my hand in her cage for almost 40 mintues before she let go and started checking her new home. I try to carefully pull her off at first but she wanted no part of it. I didn't want to stress her out so i let her do it on her own. Like Willow said give her a couple days off. Also carpets will make noises some times that sound like hissing or wissing. My big jungle done it for years. I had her checked by a vet when she was younger and he said it was nothing. Then a few months back on the Aussie python site they were talking about it. Turns out it common with carpets.

Hillsberry · 02-18-10, 07:54 PM

I think I am going to leave her alone for awhile. Maybe a week. I think she needs to relax I will feed her satureday and just leave her alone.

Will0W783 · 02-18-10, 08:06 PM

Yeah the loud breathing thing is common. My big male coastal/jungle does it. He sounds a lot like he's hissing but he's not. It's just an excitement thing I guess.

percey39 · 02-18-10, 10:17 PM

I would give her a couple of days off and try again whilst keeping a steady routine with handling times. The breathing is very common in most of the morelia species, i think it is an excitement thing as willow said.
I have a scrub that sounds like she is hissing 24/7 but will rarely even look like striking, it puts a lot of people off her as scrub's get a bad reputation any way.
Im sure you will have success with taming your jungle it may just take a little longer than your other snakes as jungles are generally very nervous and edgey.

never25 · 02-19-10, 04:45 PM

on the topic of taming them i had a quick question. my brother and i just bought a small reptile shop in auburn ca. still getting things figured out but will post website, anyway, here in the store we have a female costal carpet who i am told is aggresive. i dont think she has been held very much. i held her last week and she was biting me all over. i pulled her out yesterday for like 5 minutes and she didnt bite one time. i want to get her tame so ppl will take a second look. you tell them shes aggresive and they freak out. she is really beautifull and i was wondering how long i should expect to work with her before i can trust her. thanks

=Carinata= · 02-19-10, 11:04 PM

never25 I think most carpet snake that bite are wild. Captive animals calm down and stop biting. If you handle it regularly and feed it well and it still bites you I think you have a bad carpet there.

Hillbery, Theres nothing wrong with handleing your python regulary but once its start to get stressed you should return it to its enclosure.
When it starts hissing its really pissed off. Handle it at night time only.

Hillsberry · 02-20-10, 09:06 AM

Thanks Carinata. I will handle her more at night time. And will only hold her for a little. Thanks again
:P