Suddenly aggressive!!

[girlsluvdiamonds]

Hi I am currently the pround owner of two beautiful pythons 1x diamond python male and 1x coastal diamond female. They have always been a joy to handle until recently when my boy started striking at me everytime I open the cage, my fear peaked when I picked him up one day and whilst being held decided to have a go at me! he has never done this before, I have in the past been bitten by him but never while handling. Also my female has become very flinchy and while not striking at me has given me several warnings. They have both been like this for around two or three weeks now, still feeding perfectly and recently completely their first good shed since I have owned them, anyone have any theories on why the sudden change in attitude?

 

[atothej09]

1. How old are they?
2. How often do you handle them?
3. Have you got a pic of the setup you have for them?
4. When was last feed?

 

[Bel03]

5. What temps are the enclosures?
6. Where are the enclosures situated at your house? ie; busy or quite area?
7. What size food are you feeding them?

 

[girlsluvdiamonds]

Girl is about 4 boy is about 2
Less than usual but still at least two times a week
will take one
I fed both last week and the girl on Monday, Axe missed out because he got his head caught in the door and had to go to the vet instead.
Their tank is located in our sunroom so they have plenty of natural heat and no-one else goes in there, the tank is an old tv unit with hole cut to provide hide box as well as top section with ceramic heat globe and long section with branches and UV lights. It's normally about 30 in the tank but lately has been warmer so they have both been in the cooler section.
Boy gets one large rat and the girl gets an extra large one

 

[atothej09]

All seems normal...so very strange.
Did you handle rats beforehand?
When you say Axe got head caught in the door, was this before you you were struck at?
Maybe you just got them on a bad day? Sometimes my jungle can be a bit flighty and defensive when handled.
Were they constricting your arm or flexing their muscles with you when getting strikey?
I find that I get the best out of my pythons when I get them out and let them go for a wander around the backyard for a bit, then handle them. Maybe try that next time.
If temps are right, housing is right, have been fed etc, it may just mean they don't want to be handled...this does happen. When my jungle displays this kind of behavior, I simply put her back and just leave her alone for a few days.

Hope this helps

 

[agro11]

my jungle is the same it only nine month old gee it can hold on cut the blood Flo to my thumb .only had it a few days want to get it out of that very soon and try to bite me all the time .to night i noticed its eyes were cloudy shed coming on i should know better very grumpy lol

 

[Bel03]

So they are in the same enclosure? Do they seem to maybe stress each other out at all? Do they have seperate hides if they want to be alone?
Hopefully people with more knowledge on diamonds 'pops' in with some advice soon......the only thing i know about them......is, well, they look good with anything i wear

 

[Chris1]

do you mean 30 as the basking spot, or cage temp?

how long have u had these snakes?

 

[girlsluvdiamonds]

I have had both snakes for almost a year, they have always been together and are good mates. Both were very sick when I got them and have since made full recovery. The cage temp is 30 near the heat globe and around 20 in the hiding box, I have since increased the size of axels rat to see if that calms him down at all, rose the coastal is coming up to a shed and seems reluctant to be handled so I am leaving her be. Axel got his he jammed while striking, it was not pleasant for either of us, luckily no permanent damage just a bit sore and sorry for himself.

 

[Vincey]

Bump up your temps a bit.