Jungle Carpet.. I need some advice

So I recently got a 0.0.1 jungle carpet a few weeks ago. Now I had heard that sometimes jungle carpets tend to be a little nippy but this is ridiculous. As soon as I open the tub he's coming out striking. Now I know that they are supposed to grow out of this but I'm wondering how I should go about handling him until then. By biggest fear is that he will bite me or a glove and lose some teeth. Its mostly cage aggression because after I'm able to get through the long process of getting him out of the tub he's calmer but still ready to strike. So does anyone have any tips? or am I worrying a little too much about his teeth?

Normally, in their first year they will tend to be a bit nippy. You can wait it out, though. Some Carpets will calm down over time and don't even have to be handled at all. Some will need a bit of handling so they are used to human contact. Though, the advice I would give you on handling is just to go in and get it. Don't pull back when it strikes or bites because that will tell the snake that striking and biting scares you away, so the snake will do it even more. I'm sure the teeth would be just fine, but if you don't feel comfortable taking the snake out with youe bare hands, using gloves wouldn't hurt.

I think you need to get used to the idea that you are going to get bit and it wont be so bad. If it a baby it wont be so bad but other wise just be careful handling, use a hook, and try not to be scared...it just makes them more tense imo

Carpets seem to always be hungry also, so whats your feeding schedule? I would recommend more handling, dont be afraid of getting tagged, yearlings dont hurt IMO.

maybe I said something wrong.. the fact of getting bit doesnt bother me in the least. Its just that im worried that if he bites me he could lose some teeth, especially in a glove. Im feeding him every 3 days right now

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Originally Posted by HeartAche

maybe I said something wrong.. the fact of getting bit doesnt bother me in the least. Its just that im worried that if he bites me he could lose some teeth, especially in a glove. Im feeding him every 3 days right now

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If you reallly aren't afraid of getting bitten, then go ahead and handle him. He won't lose teeth unless you yank him off. Does he latch on when he bites?

Also, feeding every 3 days is far too often for any snake.

Nope they are defensive bites.
And as far as feeding goes, I decided on 3 days for the moment because the hopper mice don't leave any sort of lump in his stomach but hes too small for an adult mouse

you would be suprised the size of mice they can eat, my little IJ i eating adult mice. i didnt think it was possible but she does it.

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Originally Posted by J&Rmooney

you would be suprised the size of mice they can eat, my little IJ i eating adult mice. i didnt think it was possible but she does it.

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Your absolutely right. I spoke to the guy who was caring for him and he said that he was feeding the snake the largest mice he has available. So i followed his advice and offered an adult mouse. I was still a little skeptical but he downed it. I'm still a little in disbelief though because he is smaller around than my pinky finger and that mouse was like both of my pinkies put together.

Also as far as the biting goes, he bit me a total of 33 times this weekend lol. and he did get stuck once but he got himself free.

Snakes - and pretty much every other reptile with teeth - shed them on a pretty regular basis. Losing a few in your hand / glove won't really do much long term damage. (Mammals are the only animals limited to two sets of teeth throughout their lives.)

HTH!

~Bruce

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Originally Posted by HeartAche

Your absolutely right. I spoke to the guy who was caring for him and he said that he was feeding the snake the largest mice he has available. So i followed his advice and offered an adult mouse. I was still a little skeptical but he downed it. I'm still a little in disbelief though because he is smaller around than my pinky finger and that mouse was like both of my pinkies put together.

Also as far as the biting goes, he bit me a total of 33 times this weekend lol. and he did get stuck once but he got himself free.

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ive read that they can eat 2x their body diameter.

thats funny 33 times! did you really keep count?

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Originally Posted by Clear

Carpets seem to always be hungry also

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Too true. I swear my girl would eat twice her weight if I let her. On feeding day or the day leading up to it, if I approach the cage at night (feeding time), she sometimes strikes in my general direction. I've always assumed this wasn't defensive striking, but trying to grab something to eat, because she's always a peach while handling.

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Originally Posted by HeartAche

maybe I said something wrong.. the fact of getting bit doesnt bother me in the least. Its just that im worried that if he bites me he could lose some teeth, especially in a glove. Im feeding him every 3 days right now

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I'd suggest thick leather gloves rather than mesh-material gardening gloves to prevent just that, the teeth are more likely to "stick" in a mesh material.

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Originally Posted by nixer

ive read that they can eat 2x their body diameter

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YouTube - Snake swallows wallaby

i realize this is a scrub and not a carpet python, but I think the video still points out pretty well that these aussie morelia are designed to eat large prey.

Too bad the people scared the snake, it wouldn't have had an issue eating if they weren't videotaping it.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

I'd suggest thick leather gloves rather than mesh-material gardening gloves to prevent just that, the teeth are more likely to "stick" in a mesh material.

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It was bare hand lol. He caught me on my thumb while I was moving his water bowl and I moved.

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Originally Posted by nixer

ive read that they can eat 2x their body diameter.

thats funny 33 times! did you really keep count?

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I started counting after what I believe was the 9th time.