Pythons and Canines / Why did my python bite me?!?

[leosantare]

I have owned a Boelens python ever since she was 3 months old and now she is 8ft in length, 4.5 years old. Up until now, she was the friendliest python I ever owned/handled. Last year I lost my 12 year old Rottweiler, but while she was alive I never had a issue with the python. I would occasionally take out the python and let them smell each other while the python was in my hands. I would also let the python cruise around the room while the canine would eat a bone under close supervision. Again there was never an issue, they seemed to have no interest in each other. Also the scent of the canine was always present throughout the house and never bothered the python.

Well, last month I got a new Rottweiler puppy and ever since she got to the house the python has been acting aggressive. For example, I had my shorts on the floor that had the puppies scent on them and when I let the python out for exercise, she coiled up in the shorts. No, the puppy was not in the room, just my shorts with the puppies scent on them. When I went to pick her up she was stiff, the way snakes get when they become defensive. I had the puppy now for one month and wash my hands and arms every time I go to handle the python, but the scent is throughout the house and will always will be now. I know she smells the puppy on things still no matter how much I wash my hands and arms.

Last night I had the puppy in my room for the first time. I had her in my bed laying in my covers and walking around the floor. BTW, the python does not live in my bedroom, she has her own room and so does the puppy. Anyway, I put the puppy away for the night, washed up and took the python out into my bedroom. She was fine, cruising around my bedroom floor and even on my bed in the same covers the puppy was laying on. Now, I don't recommend this, but due to my situation I let the python crash in my bedroom with the door closed. My bedroom is safe for the python, she can't get into any trouble. I only did this because she is 8ft long and is currently housed in only a 2ft tall x 4ft wide x 2ft deep enclosure. Before you judge me, I have been working on her 4ft tall x 8ft wide x 4ft deep enclosure for years now. I have spent thousands of dollars on it, but continue to have issues with lost and/or damaged materials from companies. I just lost $1000 worth of hardware from a plating company. The cage will be completed in a few months and since my bedroom temps were right I thought I would let her crash in my room. I have done this once before, last week without any issues. She hangs out/goes to sleep in a coiled position on the floor, right next to the head of my bed, between my bed and my nightstand. She stays there throughout the whole night.

I woke up at 7am this morning and the python was still in the same exact spot between my bed and night stand. I simply and SLOWLY lowed my hand down from my bed, about 1.5ft from the pythons face (I was still laying down, just opened my eyes) to let her know I was there and she lunged and bit me on the hand. She bit me, clamped down and started to coil around my hand. I knew not to panic and just let her do her thing without applying any force. I got up from bed and started heading to the bathroom, I was just about to turn the cold shower on but she let go herself. What a way to wake up, there was blood everywhere!

Why did she bite me? I cant see how I spooked her in anyway nor did I smell like a rat. (I don't think she even flicked her tongue to smell my hand when I very SLOWLY lowered it down to her level, she just went for it.)

Why has she been acting so on edge since the new puppy has arrived, especially since I had another canine in the house before with out any issues?

I'm really scratching my head with this one and need some advise to make the python not feel threatened. I'm not sure if its because she knows a new animal is in the house but doesn't know what it is or what. I'm too afraid to introduce the python to the puppy, I would be afraid that she would attack her or me again. Either way, we all need to get along and I need some help. BTW, do I need a tetanus shot for the bite?

[GoingPostal]

Your snake probably had just been sitting there waiting for a meal as snakes do and a nice warm hand moves into its face, not really a surprise it bit you imo. There's also no reason whatsoever to introduce your python to your puppy and I would recommend against it for the safety of both. It might be the extra noise, strange smell and movement/changes with the new pup that have it on edge, I'd keep the puppy out of the snakes area-assuming they are separate rooms?

[Eavlynn]

The scent of your previous rottie was in the house from the very beginning. Now there is a new scent, which could potentially be a predator. I definitely wouldn't introduce them any time soon. As time goes on, your python should become less edgy, as she realizes the scent isn't going anywhere, and nothing has come to eat her yet. Introducing them while your puppy is young could be very tricky, especially since the python is 8 ft. Some keepers never introduce their furry children to their scaley ones. If ever you did want to introduce them, I would make sure your python is in her enclosure, and let them look at each other through glass. They may never get along, or be able to roam the same room, but your python should become less defensive with time as the scent becomes normal, and not so new.

I can't really say that I support letting her sleep in your room. I'm going to leave that topic for someone else and remain neutral.

As for the bite, no shot needed. In a few days, you'll hardly even notice it.

[DennisM]

I'm thinking pythons and dogs are a bad combination. introducing them is just asking for trouble.

[leosantare]

For the record and just like I said, I DON'T support or recommend letting a python out for the night either. For the simple fact that if she climbed up in bed with me and I accidently rolled on her while I was asleep. Like I also said, the ONLY reason why I let her crash in my bedroom was to give more space and the temps were just right. Therefore, I thought I was doing her a favor that backfired on me big time. I still don't believe I did anything wrong and I think she was at fault, big time. Obviously, the door was shut and the puppy was out in the kitchen, neither of them could get to each other. Also, my bedroom is safe for a python that is 6ft+ and can't get into any trouble or be lost. I designed my bedroom with that in mind. My bedroom is where I let the python out at night to cruise around for exercise. I also take her outside in the grass when the weather conditions are OK, but that is only a few months throughout the year. Needless to say I will never her let her crash in my bedroom again with the new puppy here and I should have her adult enclosure finished in a few months. Although, I would bet my life and can guarantee that she would have never bit me if it wasn't for the new canine scent present in the house. Like I also said, my python is very friendly and would describe her best as curious. She would always inspect things that were brought to her with her tongue. The point I'm making is that she would never bite at something without inspecting it first. For example, my hand! She never tried to bite at me or anything else other than a rat before this happened.

I understand that a "new canine" sent is present is in the house, but it's still a canine. That is what is making this difficult for me to understand. She should be very use to the canine sent by now and realize it's not a threat, no matter what canine is in the house. Perhaps, a puppy canine scent is much different that an adult canine scent?

Before I posted this thread, I did bring the puppy into the python room and let them see each other through the glass, but I can't see how this can help. I don't even think the python knows the puppy in there. Is there anyway I can speed up the process, the puppy has already been here for over one month? Also, what do I need to do to make sure that I don't get bit again? I can try my best to keep the puppy scent out of my bedroom and wash up every time before handling the python. Although, would this prolong the situation? At some point when the canine matures she will also hang out in my bedroom, then what?

I went to check on the python before posting this reply and she was OK. I took her partially out of her enclosure and she was smelling the outside of the enclosure when the puppy was. Even though I tell her it's OK, she still seems a little uptight. Last, now that she bit me, will she be more inclined to do so again?

[Eavlynn]

Introducing them doesn't seem like something I would consider a necessity. There are 4 rescue cats in my household, and they aren't allowed near our snakes when they are our of their enclosures. Someone moves too fast, the other gets spooked and reacts defensively, and then you could have an injured snake, puppy or both.

Over time the scent will stop being new, and with time and patience, your python should stop being so edgy.

As for not getting bit again, if your snake is startled, or just in a mood and wants to nip, you can't really do much to stop them. It doesn't sound like normal behavior for your little gal, so I wouldn't sweat it too much. Just use caution until she seems as though she's adjusted to the recent changes. It may be a canine scent, but it's still new, and from what I've seen with my crew, they aren't very fond of change.

[leosantare]

No offense with felines and not trying to start a debate between cats and dogs, but imo there is a big difference between the two when it comes to compatibility/friendship with a python. I personally would never trust a kitten or an adult feline with a python. They would almost always want to swat and maybe even bite the python. Not to mention, a 8-9' python could easily kill a domestic Feline. Adult Canines on the other hand really have no interest what so ever and would not want to play with a python based on my experience. Also, I think size has a big role, I would like to think a 9ft python would be less likely to attack a 100lb dog vs a 20lb cat. I like cats, but don't own one just because I have a 8-9' python.

Perhaps you are correct and may never be safe together, but I think it's possible, due to the size. Anyway, I will stop taking the pup into the python's room and my bedroom for a while and be sure to wash my hands before handling the python in her room or my bedroom, (away from the pup.) Do you recommend I change clothes and take a complete shower when attending to the python, or would this just prolong the situation? Obviously, the pup doesn't mind the python!

The bite is much better now a took a picture of my hand today and the fam, thanks,

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