Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi!
my husband and i have a small rescue in our home, i used to breed reptiles and have had them for over 12 yrs, so were not new to this but...
ive never really had much time with a rock python, we just took one in, the original owner had to move and so passed it on to a guy who suddenly wanted to unload it quickly. when we got to his house i saw the cage, but no snake...he was letting it run free in his apartment, he picked it up and it was dog tame, i was so excited, id love to have a big snake good for education, but when we get him home and in his cage he was striking at the front. i know the original owner fed him in his cage, we have put a stop to that. and the striking has gotten better, wondering if its a cage aggression issue (why it was free when we went to pick it up) or the feeding, which should get better as we feed him outside the cage, or stress of moving? maybe a bit of all three?
i guess time will tell, but if anyone has any tips on dealing with a rock that would help, my husband is a very understanding man, but he thinks this one may be more then he can deal with being in our home, hes worried cuz if this guy got out the cats and dogs would be at risk, or in a year or so even we would be at risk...
thanks!
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

I assume you mean a Burmese python, as opposed to an African rock python. Rock python is a misnomer for Burmese...actually quite dated. As to the striking, feeding a snake in it's cage (all mine are) does not make them strike. I'd wager the move and new surroundings and maybe a temp change could do that. Having a snake loose in your house is too cold. No one keeps their rooms at 80 degrees or higher for a tropical animal. 68-70 for humans will slow a snake down and make it calmer, then when it's back up to it's normal temps, it may be a bit more hyper. How big is it?
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1.0 Blackheaded pythons
2.4 Woma
3.2 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
2.2 Bloods
2.2 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.3 Macklotts
1.2 F2 Carpondros
2.0 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Carpondro
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
1.1 Striped Bolivian Boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

its an African rock python, s/he is about 8 feet, currently blue so will not feed this week, but next time s/he is out we will try to sex, the striking is getting better, i hope its just the move that pissed it off, these guys get to big to deal with if mean, learned that after i took in a sick retic!
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

African rocks can be some of the meanest pythons around, and like some other snakes, seem to recognise the human face as a target There ARE tame ones, but I've only had one that was. The lighter color ones seem nicer. Had my first African rock about 30 years ago...
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1.0 Blackheaded pythons
2.4 Woma
3.2 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
2.2 Bloods
2.2 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.3 Macklotts
1.2 F2 Carpondros
2.0 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Carpondro
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
1.1 Striped Bolivian Boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

he seems to have settled in some, i guess time will tell. wish i had a building out of the house to keep this one and others, next house i guess (hate the "burbs"
anything you can think of that kept yours nice?

i only call him a he cuz we named him "Corwin" fron the jeff corwin show when he sings "african rock python" as the snakes tries to bite his face...
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

I have a question.

I bought an "african rock python" at the snake show a year ago.

Are you saying that it is a burmese? Same thing?

Or is there a difference.

Thanks,

MS

Feeding a large python out of the cage can be more than dangerous as they can hold onto their feeding response for up to two days. Snakes are territorial and feeding out of the cage may have no real effect in preventing striking when the cage is openend. I want a large python/anaconda to think it will NEVER eat when taken out rather then it think it will eat when taken out-think about that. Use a snake hook. Every time the cage is openend touch the snake on the nose with a snake hook except when food is entering the cage. When you feed, don't let the python even see a hook. They soon associate the hook with "no food is coming in" and calm down nicely. Good luck with your rock !!! Bill
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...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.