Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I purchased this adult jungle carpet from a guy at a reptile show a few days ago. He's had the snake and its mate the majority of it's life. Well I got a good deal on him because the guy just didn't have time for them anymore and the guy's father gave me a fair warning that he's fiesty and more particulary when he's hungry.

Well after I got him he was really 'wiggly' but other than that he was fairly docile...boy was I wrong. The next day while inspecting him to make sure I hadn't missed anything the day before he bit me in the neck! [I've got the pictures to prove it!]

http://leon2ky.com/leon/carpet_python/carpet_python_011.jpg

Over the past few days I've attempted to handle him but he's pretty much fought me the whole way. I have to snatch him from behind his head or else I won't really get control of him. Am I doing something wrong? Will I ever be able to get him to calm down? And why is he so ready to strike? I thought Carpets grew out of biting! Any help would be great.

Pictures of him:
http://leon2ky.com/leon/carpet_python/carpet_python_015.jpg
http://leon2ky.com/leon/carpet_python/carpet_python_007.jpg

Grabbing behind the head isn't ever going to do anything to calm him down for sure!

It's going to take time and patience to get him to calm down and used to handling. Use some welders gloves if you have to initially to get him to calm down once out of his enclosure.

I'd suggest when you take him out of his enclosure, do it rather quickly, but once you get him out, be very slow and deliberate to earn his trust.

Never come at him from the top- always from beneath, and just go slow.

Every time you handle him, do it for only a couple minutes at a time, and put him back, and leave him alone for the rest of the day. (Except for a couple days after eating, and when getting ready to shed)

Make sure he's got PLENTY of tight places to hide inside his enclose to help him feel secure, too- absolute must.

//Todd

This guy used to be the same way as you describe... with a lot of time and patience, he's a total pussy cat!

Todd, you take the nicest pics...I'd agree and add one thing. I've gotten into the habit of hooking all the snakes with a strong feeding response...it makes accidental strikes much less painful.
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin

I've had similar problems with my coastal carpet and I've found that once I have him out he will not strike at me. One method i have used is to put a towel over his head and then pick him up and he is fine after that. I've been tagged a couple times and boy do they have sharp teeth!

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1.1 Rosy Boa
0.1 Mexican Rosy Boa
1.0 Coastal Carpet Python
1.0 Miniature Daschund