Crazy Water Python HELP!

[SarahJane]

G'day,
I'm having trouble with a large female water python. She has become very bitey lately. It's an issue because she's such a large animal and was being used as a demonstrator specimen. About 8 months ago she bit a 10 year old boy, consequently she is no longer available for guests to handle. She has chased me out of her enclosure on a few occasions with designs on me (I had to fight her off with a broom). And today she's had a go at her (much smaller) boyfriend of 9 years. He's on his way to the vet, it looks as though she's bitten him at the base of the neck and I don't know if he'll survive. It is very unusual behaviour for her, as we've had no issues with her in the 9 years that she's been in our possession. I'd go as far as to say that she was the most behaved of all the snakes we have in our collection. Does anyone know why she would act out in this manner all of a sudden? If her temperment doesn't improve we may have to give her up! Please help!
Sarah Jane

 

[JasonL]

She may be getting cranky from a few old age aches and pains? or maybe she just worked out that she's a Water Python.

 

[TahneeMaree]

Python Menopause?

 

[Casey]

You will hear a lot of people saying "well she is a water python" But I had one that was about 4 years old, she had been a great handler and had not bitten. She changed and started biting and we couldn't work out why, we ended up finding out that she was sick. I account the illness for her bad behaviour, maybe she was in pain and that was the only way she could respond. Unfortunately I will never know.
I hope that's not the case with yours.

 

[Ewan]

I would recommend a vet check to rule out any health problems or injuries incurred from a possible fall. As JasonL and Casey said, this kind of response could be a response from pain.

 

[SarahJane]

I called the vet to check up on the boyfriend (Billy-Bob) and he' confident, Bob will mend. I just had a thought, when Bob was out doing a show, he shed before he was put back into the enclosure with Miss Bitey (Angelina), would that have made him smell different?
Thanks for the replies I've had, as far as I know I don't think Ang has ever had a fall! As it is I've found that they really have no interest in climbing, and have taken the low branches out of their enclosure, she's never been dropped. If she was ill, would she go off her food? She eats like a demon, I don't think she's ever refused a feed. And how is a vet going to know if she's sick?
As for the, 'she's a water python' statements. Don't think I'm oblivious to the fact that they have a stigma about them, but until all of this Ang, truely was a beautiful animal to handle and Billy has never shown any aggression, but maybe I've just been lucky?

 

[pythons73]

That just goes to show that ANY snake whether captive or wild CAN bite,even the most placid snake in captivity can have a bad hair day...Alot of ppl say that Water pythons,Jungles and even Darwin are always bitey...i would say they are defensive especially when their hatchies...I got a few Darwins this time last year,the 2 females never been handled...now the both are great to handle,also with the male..he was a bit jumpy at first.now he his one of my favourites to handle..Just remember Reptiles especially snakes DONT like to be handled..but infact they do TOLERATE IT...

 

[-Matt-]

And how is a vet going to know if she's sick?

Thats their job. They will do tests to rule out different problems.

 

[Casey]

When mine was ill she did not go off her food at all, she still ate whatever she was given.

 

[pythons-rock!]

Like any animal they will change over time, and can make a gear shift from placid to pugnacious and vice versa for multiple reasons. Could be a health issue, definetly get it checked out by a vet or two.

 

[malisa]

She may have a kink in her spine...