calming down a JCP

So I've had a little JCP for a few weeks now....still hasn't really calmed down, the only time i can really handle him is when hes climbing on top of the cage, other wise he just goes into the S and strikes....been trying to handle him regularly but I really don't like getting bit everytime I do....any suggestions on how to get him out? (not a big hook fan)....or how to really get him calmed down more? Or would size make the biggest difference?

Babies are nippy so trying wearing gloves. Be sure your temps and everything is good so that he isn't overly stressed.

temps are good and I did finally get a pair of light gloves....Any better ways to approach him in his enclosure though to get him out?

You can use a hook to get him out if you like. That seems to help with my yearling JCP.

Other than that, the best thing you can do is keep the sessions short in the beginning and whatever you do, DON'T put him back until he's calm. If he's biting you and trying to get away you want to keep working with him until he stops. If you don't, he'll learn that by acting up and biting he can get let go.

Be consistent and also just give him time. Baby carpets can be nippy but they almost all settle down after a year or so of age.

Do you have any pictures of the little guy?

I have two "hatchling" carpets none of which was aggressive or had struck at me. Again I think its based on a snake to snake basis and not all hatchling carpets are bitey.

Like most people have said just take your time with the snake, be careful and mindful of what the snake is going through. I generally only handle my carpets during the day, at night they usually come out and are in a hunting pose.

Other than that my experience is limited with these snakes. Good luck!! Should get better as the snake attains a bigger size.


Mike

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Originally Posted by dalvers63

You can use a hook to get him out if you like. That seems to help with my yearling JCP.

Other than that, the best thing you can do is keep the sessions short in the beginning and whatever you do, DON'T put him back until he's calm. If he's biting you and trying to get away you want to keep working with him until he stops. If you don't, he'll learn that by acting up and biting he can get let go.

Be consistent and also just give him time. Baby carpets can be nippy but they almost all settle down after a year or so of age.

Do you have any pictures of the little guy?

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Is your yearling still nippy or docile now?

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Originally Posted by pilot511

Is your yearling still nippy or docile now?

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Well, she's a special case. We got her from someone in our herp society. It seems their friend picked her up at the local show last March and for whatever reason, they didn't hit it off :)

When we got her she would strike with no provocation AND musk. With consistent handling she's gotten better and only tends to strike after being out for 10 min or so.

All of my other carpets (Irian Jayas, Coastals, Centralians and a pair of IJ/Jag coastal sibs) only bit for the first few days and then calmed right down.

Keep working with yours and I'm sure you'll see improvement!

There is lots of good advice already offered here by Dalvers63 and 8b8ll. There is one more piece I would like to add.
Most carpets are nippy as babies and outgrow this. Baby or not, most are always aggressive in their cage (carpet or any other snake). You need to find a way that works for you on getting the carpet out of the cage.
Your best bet is to use a hook but I see that you do not like hooks. The next logical thing is to use a rolled up newspaper or empty paper towel roll. When you open the cage, rub this object across the top of the snakes head, most times this kills the feeding response. You then can reach in and pick up the snake. It will take a few times for this to work and the snake to associate the rubbing on the head as a handling or cage cleaning time. Once the snake gets accustomed to this, you will have a much more pleasurable handling experience.

We have only had our JCP for a week, but we learned a lot already. So, from the research I've done and my limited experience - but a successful one, here goes.

Get gloves he can't bite through. Rub them on your skin so they have your scent. Wear long sleeves and put the gloves on. Put his tank/tub and yourself at eye level - don't tower over him. Then let him know you are coming - no surprises. Open the tub/tank and just leave it open for a minute so he can relax again (maybe). Then, reach toward him slowly, but steadily and just barely touch him. He'll probably jump or strike. But just leave your hand against him. I've found that once you stop moving, the instinct to strike lessens. Then just start to pick him up. This may include unraveling him from a branch, just do it slowly and gently while you "talk baby talk" to reassure him.

Take him out and hold him - keep his head away from your face. Hold him w/out moving - or as little as possible. Don't even talk to anyone else in the room - and do this either alone or w/ any bystanders far away, few, and unmoving, too.

He'll start to get interested in his surroundings, or even in escaping from you. As he does, just let him walk the "snake highway" of your hands/fingers. Stay close to his enclosure and see if he makes a move to go back in. We have let our JCP "tell us" when he wants to go back in. Sometimes, he goes back in; and other times, he has used his tub as a getaway to the other side to escape. A few times when WE were ready to put him back, he didn't want to go back in!

Keep up the good work. It will come.

How old is the little guy? Where did you get him? What is his history and how long have you had him? 6 months to 1 year seems to be the magic number if you continue to be patient and work with him. Try not to be too afraid. They know it. :D

Good luck and keep us posted! I can't believe our guy has mostly turned around in a week. But we had the fortune of getting him from a woman that already did the 5 months of leg work to get where we are with him!

Pilot, I don't know if you ever checked back on this thread, but here are a few more quick points I thought of last night while handling our JCP (who bit me twice the other day!):

1) I think they are less sensitive to touch on the bottom and lower third of their body (due to having contact with objects on these parts while moving). Start by touching these, instead of the more sensitive dorsal scales.
2) They strike/bite because they are afraid. Keep remembering that - they are not "mean." I think it will help you focus on trying to keep from scaring them - thus gaining a JCP's trust more easily.
3) Our JCP bit me twice in one handling session after I hadn't handled him for a day or two. I think they need a lot of attention on learning to trust us - or you end up with two steps forward, and one step back. Once the JCP has settled in and you start handling him/her, make sure you keep it up and do it at least once a day. Keep handling sessions short if the snake wants them to be (if you can read them).

Good luck!
4) Don't give up!

hey I appreciate it...he's still a little guy, not exactly sure on the age, got him from underground reptiles (i know the owner there)....been handling him everyday except feeding, he still goes into the S, but lately has just been head butting me, no open mouth and when he's out hes fine unless hes not supported...then he goes nuts...thanks for all the advice though

What has worked for me in the past, is have a squirt bottle nearby, and if it gets in the defense mist it, that should take it out of that mode.....sometimes! LOL. Ive also used MPenns method. Go Mike!!

ive had mine for around 6 hours and he's tried to bite me twice!! i was just cleaning his tank, moving him from a holding cage to his clean cage and he tagged me twice, had gloves on!!

either spray him before you grab him or try a paper towel over your hand to get him out.

i think ill stick with the gloves he didn't get through them, im afraid of hurting him when i have them on cause i can't judge my grip very well with them on, they are my work gloves

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Originally Posted by jeffjr464

i think ill stick with the gloves he didn't get through them, im afraid of hurting him when i have them on cause i can't judge my grip very well with them on, they are my work gloves

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If yours is a baby I personally wouldn't worry about using gloves. Both of my Irian Jayas were nippy for the first week after they arrived. That stopped as soon as they were comfortable and after I handled them once or twice. Now they are some of the calmest snakes I have at 9 months old.

Let your new guy settle in and then pick him up and hold him. Even if he bites you, he can't hurt you (this, again, assuming he is a youngster).

he's a month or two old, not crazy chainsaw bitey, but he will strike at heat or movement, will his bite draw blood? i don't care about getting bit really, but if i have the choice to get bit or not i choose no bites :) i have enough scars

Be Patient! What's the hurry? He thinks your going to eat him each time keeping him stressed out.

Just put your arm inside the cage and don't move it even if it strikes. Leave it there for a while 10-15 minutes, when it gets used to it and doesn't seem to mind then you know it's working. Of course when you move your arm it will get defensive again but the point is getting the youngin to try to recognize you/your smell/arm as not a threat. It's worked for me in calming down wild caughts in my neighborhood.

I would use a hook over gloves if he's small. Rub the head then hook him. Move in with your hand form the opposite direction of his head to trick him into being held by you. If you are going to use both hands to hold him don't let him know it, bring in your second hand like you did the first one.

My 2cents. But most of all, it's going to take time and it could be a long time months before you can hold it with confidence. My first JCP was a handful and I used the above technique with success but it took many months of moving slowly and just getting her from hand to hand without striking it. Move in fast (:colbert:) and she'll get me now, LOL.

Fun isn't it?:rolleye2::banana: