Help???

[FAY]

This question for help came into the Support Centre.


We have just bought a spotted phython that is nearlly 4 months old it is for my son who is ten and has wanted a snake for a long time we thought he was old enough to look after it. On the day we got the snake the handler had no problem with the snake he gently handed it to my son he was so happy to be holding his own snake , he had it probably 2 minutes and without warning it latched on to his little finger and coiled around his finger the handler released it from him. This was thought to be a one off thing as he was new and hasn,t had much handling, he was feed on the monday and we got him late wednesday afternoon so all should have been ok. Anyway the next afternoon my soon couldn't wait and wanted to hold his snake. We used the stick that he was on to lift him out of his box my son was holding him carefully and then the snake lunged at him once and then did a full lunge off his hands on to his lap as he was sitting down. This really scared him but he was determined to try again . I got the snake and put it back in container. We thought this is ok strike twice but no bite thats ok. the next morning my son got him out again using the stick that is in cage and lifted it up and put it carefully and slowly over his hand not even one minute and the snake bit him again latched on to his finger this was becoming very obvious to me that this snake didn't like something about my son. I have no problem handeling the snake and am not a big fan of them but have had to handle it as it keeps going for my son . To test this i had the snake and when i got my sons hand and put it under mine and only had a little bit of the back of his hand showing and tried to let the snake go over his skin it tried to bite him again instantly . We even went to the pet store and bought reptile hand sanatiser as we thought he had something on his hands this has not worked i have it on and it doesn't bit me or my other soon.
So can you tell me will the snake get over it or do we need to get rid of this one for another one? regards Trudy

 

[Vassallo2008]

Well Depending on weather or not its going to be your sons.. I think ifits going to be it might be wise to swap it.. Once a bully always a bully.. And that snake sounds like a bully tell your son his very brave.. At 10 if a snake bit me id cry for 3 months

 

[herpkeeper]

no disrespect intended, but you should leave the animal long enough to digest it's meal properly. quite often a snake will still be in "feed mode" for a few days after it has eaten. wait till the animal has deficated and make sure the young bloke washes his hands before attempting to handle it again.
hope this helps

* maybe it associates little fingers with big pinkies LOL*

 

[JasonL]

Spotted pythons are usually a bit on the bitey side, esp as Juvies. Some calm down as they reach adulthood, some don't. Alot of juvie pythons are snappy, though these snakes are usually better eaters which can be good for a begginer. Small python bites don't hurt at all, it is best he learns this, it will make him a better handler in the end.

 

[redbellybite]

So can you tell me will the snake get over it or do we need to get rid of this one for another one? regards Trudy .......Thats the part I dont like ...if you choose to get "rid" of it like you say ,then I suggest dont buy another one ...its an animal not a toy ! leave it be stop harassing it ,this is the time you can teach your 10 year old about patience part of owning a snake is learning to do whats best for the reptile ..Snakes dont like to be held ,some will tolerate it longer then others .Young snakes dont like it at all and most get bitten or find themselves in a situation ,that their snake is being "aggressive"so they comment ,in actual fact its not aggressive it is nervous and its the only form of protection it knows. Have you looked at how your son is holding the snake? if he has it in a grip /vice hold the snake will feel threatend ,cupped hands with fingers and thumbs held together is less of a threat...but I would leave it alone for a while try holding in a few weeks time after it settles in ,only feed and change water and clean when needed and try and avoid handling ,lift up on a stick and hold the stick while cleaning the tub ,get your son to hold the stick while your doing that ,at least he then can sort of interact without stressing it to much.

 

[FAY]

Baby snakes should be held at the most once a week to clean only.

 

[dickyknee]

There is not much point in getting rid of it for another one as you may get one that's even worse.
As others have suggested . leave it alone to settle in for a while .
Does your son breed/keep mice or rats ?

 

[Jewly]

I just got a baby Stimson yesterday (my 5th snake) and it's the most placid little thing. Hasn't once even tried to strike out. Even though I only got it yesterday, I held it for about 10 mins last night and it was fine. Very calm and seemed to enjoy being held. Also, when I put it back in the click clack it happily sat outside of it's hide for a couple of hours even though it's in the lounge room with the tv on. I do agree with people when they say that 'most' baby snakes need plenty of time to settle in, but this one is an exception to the rule.

With my Children's, it was also very calm like this one, but my Spotted was a bit on edge and became quite agressive around the 1 year mark, which I've heard is pretty common with Spotted's.

To be honest, I would be seeing if you could maybe swap the snake for another one, and maybe go for a Children's or a Stimson because in my experience they are the calmest.

 

[trader]

I feel as others have said leave it settle in its enclosure for at least a week without handling it....
How large is the enclosure?
It may also still be hungry...depends on how much it was fed on the Monday?
You might want to try holding a pinkie or fuzzy mouse and see if it latches on?? Maybe your son's fingers looks like food because they are smaller than yours, therefore the snake goes for his fingers? Just a thought...Let us know how it goes.

Cheers, Judy

 

[Colin]

some settle down with some size and with time.. some always have this nervous nature.. and others are really gentle and excellent to handle.. so depends on the snake, its linage etc.

 

[Mooseman]

Give it some time to settle in and establish a good feeding schedule before handling. If it is biting and wrapping your sons fingers i have generally found this to be a food bite a quick nip and release is usually out of fear.

 

[cadwallader]

i got my first spotted on friday night
when i got home and got her out she striked at me over and over
when i got her out sat i left her on her stick a sat close enough to her the she could reach me if she wanted and eventually she came over to check me out before returning to her tree.
sunday i did the same and she came to my hand so try this may work?

 

[Colin]

for the really feisty ones I always you the whip and chair.. you need to show them who's the boss

 

[tenacres1100]

as pythons seek prey from both heat and smell, maybe as a child his hands are warmer than yours, so the python is striking at the heat source? also get him to wash his hands with the same soap you are using right before handling it, this might help with any difference with scent.
IMO leave it alone for a week or so and let it settle down before tring again.
good luck with it

 

[matt86]

I believe there is one word/sound effect that wraps this thread up nicely...

Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhh (pretends to wipe tears from eyes). :lol: