My Insain Coastal

[liggitt]

hey guys and gals,
im new here my names chris.
i picked up my coastal python last friday and she is no a happy snake.
she wasnt to bad in the shop ide handled her in the shop 3 - 4 times and she only bit me once.
but since i got her home (last friday) she has been nuts.
always in strike position i have been bitin every time ive had her out (only 3 - 4 times)
not quiet sure how old she is but shes 2 foot 8 inches if thats any help
i think shes close to 18 months
she wouldnt take food sunday or monay night

is this common with coastals?
did i get a bad one?
how do i calm her down?

any feedback is apprciated.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[MatE]

I know its hard to do but leave her for atleast a week in her box dont pick her up just leave her settle down.
She is just freaked out about all these big scary things picking her up lol.She will eat when she is ready leave her a week or more as well she will come good.Carpets have great tempers she will be fine.

 

[liggitt]

cool thanks for that, thats a releaving feeling lol

Cheers
Chris

 

[mysnakesau]

Everything is all new to your python. In the pet shop she had to put up with strange eyes gorking at her all day. And how many "tire kickers" made false enquiries just so they could handle her. Then she was shoved into a pillowcase for you to take home and into a new enclosure. Her world has been turned upside down. New smells, new scenery - are big stress factors for snakes. She is biting because she feels threatened. Thats her way of telling you she is frightened and will try to defend herself. She doesn't know you aren't going to hurt her. She is most likely refusing food because she is upset, or her heat isn't right, or both.

Whether you bought a good or bad snake, depends on you. You need to have patience with her. Put her away now and don't touch her for at least two weeks or more. Look in on her if you must, but she will learn to settle down more, if she is left un-disturbed for a period of time it might just be the key to her calming down. She is not going to starve to death, so don't worry about offering food just yet. I would strongly recommend that you limit your handling, or not at all would be best, until you have got her eating properly. Properly means striking at the food voluntarily to eat it, not because you have to tease her to make her strike it. When she well established feeding properly, then try handling again. There is no time frame with snakes, it will take as long as it takes. Your patience will be the determination to calm her down.