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klink70

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Hi

I purchased my first snake on Monday. Its a South West Carpet Python.

It roams around the enclosure quite a bit at night. Since Monday, everytime i stand at the enclosure and/or open the glass window she gets in this position and strikes. Its about 9 months old.

I cant put my hand close ( i try to go for back of snake and keep clear of the head ) without it striking.

Is this normal?snake.jpg
 
Feed it..... lots!

It sounds hungry to me.....

At least if it has a full stomach, it can get on with learning its new surrounds. Feed it up and leave it be til it settles is my advice ;)

Yes, it is fairly normal for a python to be defensive when it is in a new place.... once he realises you arent going to turn him into a wallet and belt, he will settle down, I am sure..... give him some time and space :)
 
ok thanks. it was last fed on Sunday by the breeder, I was going to feed it tomorrow

do you recommend feeding it out of the enclosure? in a smaller temporary container ?
 
Yeah sounds hungry to me as well like CRB said.
Had an MD that wasn't in the right conditions so it didn't feed at all.
As soon as it's environment was improved and it started eating it calmed right down.
Could also be the fact it was never handled and in a massive enclosure for it's size, but I'd still bet it's because it was hungry.

Got two other Pythons that have never bitten me. Even a Jungle (that has never refused a feed since I've had it). That should tell you something.
 
Last edited:
Remember a feed should be 15-20% of the snakes weight, every 10-14 days. SWCP's are usually part gannet, so like thier tucker....

Did you get it from a breeder? Was it in a click clack or opaque storage tub? You might actually be the first human he has really seen properly, thru glass..... he might be trying to work out what you are?

I would be feeding him in his enclosure rather than stressing him out by picking him up again into another 'new' environment..... then back again after feeding.

make sure he has plenty of hides.... this may be the first sizeable enclosure (that he can see out of) so he might be feeling vulnerable and defensive. Even old corn flakes boxes and things will do for temporary hides ;)
 
ok cool thanks guys
he has a lot of trees/leaves and a hide rock at the bottom.

does it matter if it's day or night when feeding?
 
Dangle one in front of him and find out ;)

I feed my lot at night coz they are usually more active and go 'hunting' at night. I think if I were you, I would offer him a feed just before you turn off the light.... so he can eat in the dark.... might calm him down. However he might be really hungry right now, so offer him one as soon as you can. Make sure the rat is warm enough, so he can 'see' it. The rat should feel warm in your hand, or 39-40 degrees if you have a laser thermometer. If the rat is the same temp, or less than the temp of your hand, he will prolly go for your hand instead ;)

Let us know how you get on
 
Unlike the others have said. I do not recommend feeding it so soon.

You say it was fed on Sunday, that wasn't very long ago. Also it doesn't sound hungry to me, especially since it was only fed on Sunday. It's a young snake in a new big environment, it's going to be defensive until it settles in.

Every time someone buys a snake from me, I can't stress to them enough how important it is to completely leave it alone for at least 1 full week, especially young ones. That means, no handling, no constantly checking on it and definitely no feeding it. Feeding a freaked out snake in a new environment, will freak it out even more and a lot of the time they won't eat or will regurgitate the meal you give it.

You've only had the snake since Monday (going on 3 days now), leave it along until this coming Monday, then try and feed it. Moving is very stressful, don't stress it out with any unnecessary attention.
 
if u got it from a pet shop around perth u can guarantee its been fed alot less than what is really acceptable.
i have guy same age was angry as **** last month and is getting much better already, give him a weak or so to settle and a feed every 5-8 days of a good size then start handling once a day as often as possible, u will see the difference.
only time my guy is angry now is when i first open his doors.
 
RSPcrazy said:
Unlike the others have said. I do not recommend feeding it so soon.

You say it was fed on Sunday, that wasn't very long ago. Also it doesn't sound hungry to me, especially since it was only fed on Sunday. It's a young snake in a new big environment, it's going to be defensive until it settles in.

Every time someone buys a snake from me, I can't stress to them enough how important it is to completely leave it alone for at least 1 full week, especially young ones. That means, no handling, no constantly checking on it and definitely no feeding it. Feeding a freaked out snake in a new environment, will freak it out even more and a lot of the time they won't eat or will regurgitate the meal you give it.

You've only had the snake since Monday (going on 3 days now), leave it along until this coming Monday, then try and feed it. Moving is very stressful, don't stress it out with any unnecessary attention.
Click to expand...

I don't believe you have to be as prescriptive as this. Imbricata (along with all the Carpets) is a robust species which I have bred many times, and they are often pugnacious feeders from day 1. Like most captive-bred Carpets they are rarely put off by a change of scene, and will, if healthy, feed at every opportunity. I would feed it every 5-7 days for the first 6 months, and AFTER feeding is the time to leave it alone for at least a couple of days.

To suggest that moving is very stressful for a captive-bred Carpet fails to acknowledge the mobility of their wild counterparts - whilst they are young they are not sedentary and are moving around into new environments constantly. AS long as the new environment (new home for captives) has all parameters correct and comfortable for the snake, it will normally resume a normal pattern of activity, including feeding, within a day or two.

That does look like a very large enclosure for a small snake, and this may be one of the reasons why it is being defensive. Feed it and you'll probably find it will settle down quite quickly.

Jamie
 
OK thanks guys

OK i will try and feed it tonight after work, i will let you know how i go

cheers again
 
Fed my gammon ranges carpet (18 months old) as soon as I got it in the door after picking it up. Also make sure it's a big enough food item or it's still going to be hungry or feed more than one.
 
once i picked up a hatchling ant at a train station and the seller took out a dead pinky mouse from his pants pocket and fed it right there on a crowded train station with all the announcements going. it was very bitey at first - multiple lunges at a time, but after the first year calmed down and now is a super placid adult.
 
ok thanks again guys

a mate came over today who owns 2 south west carpet pythons and basically said mine is very snappy compared, and he guessed it wasn't handled much before hand.

i just fed it 10 mins ago, took a while to take the mouse but downed it pretty quickly, pretty awesome to see being the first time
 
surpose to give them a 2 weeks period where there in a quiet spot in the house in a container, I put a towel or sheet over and offer food after a week its just so it settles down from being moved. sometimes not always they do settle ok after this period. I've has BHP's to this day that will strike the glass everytime I get close.
 
yeh he settled down quite a bit. 2 days later I was able to pick him up with only 1 strike which didn't even get me. I did try and feed it 4-5 nights later and it didnt take it. I'm going to try again soon though

thanks heaps for all the advice
 
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