Snappy Woma

[wm460]

Don't laugh, we inherited rather large male & female Woma pythons as a pair.
The female is ok: but the male can become very snappy. :Sometimes strikes at the glass even if you get a little close to have a look at them.Is this snake always going to be like this. Not a cuddly snake like our childrens are.

[Scubadiver59]

Too little information...how long ago did you "inherit" said pair? How long ago did you feed? What time to you pass the glass and the attacks happen? Lots of questions...

I have a few Boas that do the glass strike, even after a feed...it's probably just that you're a huge heat source and possibly food. Once in their cages, I see none of this activity. My juvenile Zebra JCP also does this, well, used to, but after some tap training he stopped.

You're going to have a long time together so take your time...at least it's not venomous!

[Captain837]

Could be feeding response. As adolescents they have a crazy feeding response and are always starving. Once they reach adulthood it typically mellows out and they become rather chill snakes. There are however exceptions to this rule.
How old are they? How long? How much do they weigh? How often and what have you been feeding them?

[Derek Roddy]

Fairly normal behavoir for younger womas. Some of them can be rather defensive until they “grow out of it” or until they adapt to their new surrounds of they’ve been moved to a new location, cage etc. nothing to worry about and if he continues to hit the glass just covernit with newspaper until he figures out you’re not a threat by handling every couple days.

D

[wm460]

Can't answer all questions, we have had the pair since mid November 2017, the previous owner gave them to us because he said the male became too snappy, don't know exact age but by the size of them they are adults. Feeding medium size rats (frozen). My record of feeds shows 1X rat19 & 21 Nov, 1X rat 7 & 25 Dec, 1X rat 3 & 22 Jan and 2X mice & 1X rat 10 Feb. The cage is inside so pass at all times & we do have a dog that likes to look at them. Does this help

[Captain837]

Try removing the male from his enclosure with a hook and placing him in a large tupperware with a lid for about 10 minutes. open the lids and try handling him. If it a feeding response issue it should be gone at that point. If he is still defensive then you are just going to have to work with him.

[jjhill001]

Possible cause #1 : Sometimes it's easy to get into a routine when a snake is growing and you accidentally gradually underfeed to the point of feeding aggression. This seems most likely to me given Woma's reputation for strong feeding responses.

Possible solution to #1 : Double check your snake's size and the recommended food size for it.

Possible cause #2: Your snake is naturally just that dang ornery, either due to a lack of it being tame (not a common reputation among Woma from what I understand) or it could be that the snake is feeling unsecure.

Solution to #2: Regular gentle handling is a solution to dealing with an aggressive, non-venomous snake. Adding hides, covering 3/4 of the sides of the terrarium glass is a way to increase security.

[wm460]

Thanks again to your replies, Will give it ago & see what happens!