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Yesterday was the first time I tried to handle my Children's python. He's small, 15". I got him Fridy Sept 30th. He was quite perturbed to say the least. He bit and struck repeatedly when my hand was in the tank. I needed gloves. He calmed down a bit once held in the gloves, but still very squirrelly. I took him out today @ 4:30 pm. Has anyone else experienced behavior like this from a Children's? Am I handling too early in the day? Will this behavior go away w/ gentle persistent handling and my snake eventually tame down? He really has a nasty disposition!

Hey Mate.

What size teeth do you reckon that little python has? Gentle and persistent handling WITHOUT gloves for 20 minutes every second day will help him to become used to you.

When you wear gloves, you lose the ability to judge how hard you're squeezing. It is very easy to apply too much pressure and crush the snake. All dogs would be nasty too if they were picked up and squashed. Snakes are no different.

Let it bite you... you wont even bleed.

Cheers,
Aaron.
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Happy Herping

>>Yesterday was the first time I tried to handle my Children's python. He's small, 15". I got him Fridy Sept 30th. He was quite perturbed to say the least. He bit and struck repeatedly when my hand was in the tank. I needed gloves. He calmed down a bit once held in the gloves, but still very squirrelly. I took him out today @ 4:30 pm. Has anyone else experienced behavior like this from a Children's? Am I handling too early in the day? Will this behavior go away w/ gentle persistent handling and my snake eventually tame down? He really has a nasty disposition!

It isn't nasty! it is assertive. Yes, it is normal for a baby Children's to be that way. Mine so far tend to be that way till they are a bit over a year. Then they only do it when they are hungry, or think they should be hungry, or want to be hungry. I got a number of neat little velcro hickys from my yearlings last week when I was sexing them. One even thought she would eat my finger.
As was mentioned, handle them without gloves. They are not gonna hurt you unless you have a blood disorder and they will soon learn to calm down. Then they are the neatest curious snakes.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

Thin gloves might be an option. I'd say there's more of a problem with your 100 degree hands holding him. Also, as he gets older he should calm down.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 MacLotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
0.1 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)

Thank you for all your advice and help. I'm thinking that I should wait til later in the evening to handle him also since he's more active @ night. I'll handle him this evening (without gloves)and see how it goes. Thanx!

reako45

sorry in hurry and have no time to look at the other post

but about the python it will grow out of biting as it gets old!!

its just wat they do

bye

Thanx. Python now properly sexed. She's female. She's doing much better w/ the biting and striking. Next to none @ all. She must be getting used to it.

reako45