calming down a JCP

[pilot511]

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

[Patrick Long]

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!!

[jeffjr464]

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!!

[djansen]

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

[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

[dalvers63]

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

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).

[jeffjr464]

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

[Charlie Smith]

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 () and she'll get me now, LOL.

Fun isn't it?