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My male yearling jcp is still mean as hell. he tags me like 10 times every time i pick him up. the little MF'er nailed me in the face yesterday just under my left eye.fucaaahhh!!!! i don't think he is ever going to chill out.what can i do? i handle him for about 15 min every day and i don't feed him in the tank anymore.he strikes at any and everything NASTY!!! he is always in strike mode ready to bite! all comments welcome if not guess i will get a good face mask! LOL and what is a good temp to keep my tank at its at 80 right now. 30 gal with a 75w infrared and a small heating pad under.this is my first jcp WOW what a difference from ball pythons!!! thanks guys

I have a female yearling JCP that's just as you describe. Bit like crazy. She'd even thrash her head violently from side to side in a tantrum if I was gently restraining her.

She hated me and everything that had to do with me.

So, I bought a pair of suede work gloves. I said, "OK, you wanna bite, well bite away!" I started handling her with gloves and doing everything that she hated just to get her to bite as much as possible. All this was gentle, BTW, I did not hurt her.

I took her out every day and over-stimulated her to bite. She hated being touched or tapped on the neck -- I did it over and over. She hated being pet on the sides or back -- I did it over and over. She struck at anything approaching her from the front -- I did that over and over.

All her striking and biting had no effect. It actually became amusing to see her get tired of all the biting -- and I'd still keep up with the stimulation. I didn't put her back in the cage until she burnt out on biting for that day. Next day, same thing all over again.

She was eating OK so I know I wasn't stressing her out too much, and I'd wait a few days after feeding before I handled her again.

Anyway, just last week she stopped biting my gloves, so I'd remove one after I got her out of the cage. She reacts awkwardly to the heat of my hand but hasn't bit.

So now, she's still jumpy but she keeps her damn mouth shut. I win. I'll continue the handling, of course.

This process took me a couple of months. I didn't handle her every day, but when I did I did it as described.

I suggest you get a pair of suede work gloves. Then, look him in the eyes and say, "So, you wanna bite? Well, I'll give you something to bite about!" And gently stimulate the crap out of him every day until he gives up.

You're gonna win this one.

Bill

It also depends on what type of aggression snakes have. My young carpet had a mean attitude, but he was outgoing. Wasnt shy at all. But when I saw my first aggressive Ball python, it was totally different. It was much more stressed, and not feeding. Once you get that carpet to strike with its mouth closed, then its pretty much what I consider docile.
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"People change and your changing"
Seals and Crofts 1976

I did pretty much the same thing as Bill with my evil little coastal. Only thing I'd like to add is that I use those stretchy-knit snow gloves that kids usually wear. They don't give as much protection as work gloves, but they don't block your body heat as much either. May be a good transition step to wean you little guy off gloves once he starts calming down...

Darci
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Takes all kinds to make a World...

Whatever you do, don't put the snake back in it's cage when it bites you! This only teaches it that biting works. You want to send the message that biting is useless and a waste of time. This goes for all kinds of animals.