I have a Coastal carpet python that will be 2 years old in January 2010.
He has always been a bit snappy and I had hoped he would settle down a bit by now. (he seems to have calmed a little in the last 12 months)
He is in a clean cage with a regulated temperature and always looks quite comfortable in there, but seems to be very temperamental when he is being held and always has an extremely alert temperament, even the slightest hand movement seems to get him on guard.
I see plenty of people holding snakes that look quite calm and often see comments like "never bitten" and "extremely placid" in the for sale section. But these terms don't really describe my little guy once he is out of the cage. Like I said, he looks perfectly happy inside his cage and often has a sticky beak around without being too scared of what's going on outside. It just seems that he doesn't like being handled or approached by a human. I previously had a spotted python that never once looked as though he was scared enough to bite and I felt comfortable holding him without fear he was going to bite.
He looks like a really healthy snake and has never refused a feed. He is otherwise the perfect pet.
- Am I expecting too much from this animal?
- Is there anything I can do to settle him down?
- Are some animals just a bit snappier than others?
- Are coastals prone to this behavior?
- Should I give him up to someone who can handle a snappy snake and look for another with a more even temperament? (or is that a complete copout and now I should continue to take care of him?)
- Would anyone be interested in swapping my boy for a friendlier snake?
I would hate to see him go, but my partner is scared of him and I don't like being bitten every second time he is held either. Besides that, I'm not sure I really have the handling skills to deal with a 2+ metre snake that likes to bite?
Any help is greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.
He has always been a bit snappy and I had hoped he would settle down a bit by now. (he seems to have calmed a little in the last 12 months)
He is in a clean cage with a regulated temperature and always looks quite comfortable in there, but seems to be very temperamental when he is being held and always has an extremely alert temperament, even the slightest hand movement seems to get him on guard.
I see plenty of people holding snakes that look quite calm and often see comments like "never bitten" and "extremely placid" in the for sale section. But these terms don't really describe my little guy once he is out of the cage. Like I said, he looks perfectly happy inside his cage and often has a sticky beak around without being too scared of what's going on outside. It just seems that he doesn't like being handled or approached by a human. I previously had a spotted python that never once looked as though he was scared enough to bite and I felt comfortable holding him without fear he was going to bite.
He looks like a really healthy snake and has never refused a feed. He is otherwise the perfect pet.
- Am I expecting too much from this animal?
- Is there anything I can do to settle him down?
- Are some animals just a bit snappier than others?
- Are coastals prone to this behavior?
- Should I give him up to someone who can handle a snappy snake and look for another with a more even temperament? (or is that a complete copout and now I should continue to take care of him?)
- Would anyone be interested in swapping my boy for a friendlier snake?
I would hate to see him go, but my partner is scared of him and I don't like being bitten every second time he is held either. Besides that, I'm not sure I really have the handling skills to deal with a 2+ metre snake that likes to bite?
Any help is greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.
