Aggressive spotted python

[jacko2411]

Hi all,
I got my spotted python when he was 2 months old and he is now 4 years old. I am becoming increasingly reluctant to hold him as he suddenly started becoming really aggressive and strikes at me whenever i try to get him out. This has been the case for nearly 6 months now. I always used to be able to put my hands in his enclosure and get him out no troubles, but if I do this now it almost always ends in me being bitten. Any ideas why this has started happening or how to settle him again.
Cheers

 

[Paintbrushturkey]

Have you not handled him for extensive periods of time? Does he settle down once he is out of the enclosure? It's only a spotty so, being bitten isn't really a big deal, i'd suggest handling him more regularily.

 

[jacko2411]

I get him out almost every day so he is used to being handled. Once he is out he settles right down and rarely strikes.

 

[Paintbrushturkey]

yeah so he's just cage protective, try feeding him in a feeding tub or the like and see if that works

 

[andynic07]

I always feed my snakes in their enclosure so they do not become stressed from being handled after a feed and always use a hook to get them out to avoid the cage defensiveness. So far I have only been bitten a couple of times , once by my spotted who was extremely jumpy when being handled when smaller and once by a hungry woma who was also coming up to shed. Both my fault.

 

[Snapped]

If he's being cage defensive, just use a hook to get him out, lots of pythons become defensive of their home.

Just make sure it isn't a feeding response, maybe he is still hungry if he's attempting to bite every time, what size mice/rats is he on?

 

[John_lisa]

If he's being cage defensive, just use a hook to get him out, lots of pythons become defensive of their home.

Just make sure it isn't a feeding response, maybe he is still hungry if he's attempting to bite every time, what size mice/rats is he on?

i agree cage protective is commen so long as he is settleing down once out of the tank there is nothing wrong just use a hook i do with all my snake i will hook them up i dont get them right out before touching them but they seem to relise whats going on as soon as the hook touches them i am yet to be bitten doing this

and yes make sure ur feeding them enough if its started randomly iy could be that ur snake is growing and u have not adjusted the food size

best of luck

 

[ubermensch]

Mine tend to get a bit more aggressive in warmer weather - maybe try on a nice cold day when he'd be a little bit slower?