I would wait a week or so, let him get used to the move and let him eat and digest before trying to hold him again. Literally only go in his viv to change his water and then try after he's eaten and you've given him at least 2 days after eating to digest.

 

Best to leave him alone at first, let him settle into his new home. A period of about a week or so should do fine (I wouldn't even change the water over the week, and no feeding, I have a rule of thumb of no feeding in the first 2 weeks)

If you want to handle him, be patient. Young snakes are more prone to biting as a defence mechanism. It sees your big pink hand coming toward it and instantly thinks its a predator. Go in slowly, try not to take him by surprise and let him make the decisions if possible

Once you've got him in your hand, I'd again be patient, try not to move too much. Maybe try doing short sessions of just a few minutes and put him back, then as he gets better lenghten the time hes out. You'll learn to tell when hes had enough. You might take a few bites, and a musk, in the process, but it won't hurt. At 6 months his teeth probably won't even break the skin

Good luck :2thumb:

 

. At 6 months his teeth probably won't even break the skin

Good luck :2thumb:

Joking aint ya mate, my hatchlings draw blood already at a few weeks old, and I haven't exactly got soft hands :lol2:

OP. The key to not getting bitten is gentle handling, try not to grab at it, I know its difficult when its doing its best to escape, but you need to be as gentle as possible. If you touch its neck upto a couple of inches from the back of the head, this will initiate an instictive bite reflex.

Regular gentle handling is the key, watch your snake and see what makes it want to bite, and what its happy with. Cupping them in open palms tends to calm them down, try and hold them by the mid body area also they seem much more comfortable with this, than being held near the head or the tail. : victory:

 

Hey Everyone,

I just got my very first snake home yesterday, he is a 6 month old jungle/coastal carpet python and a proven male. I left him alone the first day in the viv so he could get a feel for it, and this morning I decided I would give it a try picking him up (Im not sure maybe I should have given him more time to adjust to his new surroundings). Anyways, I approached slowly at eye level and away from the head, but as soon as i got close he striked, then as I have read, I acted like it didnt bother me and continued to pick him up. But even when I held him in my hands he was constantly trying to escape and struck at me at least 3 more times until i decided it was best to just put him back in the viv. It has been 5 days since he was fed apparently (not sure if this is entirely relevant).

Am I doing something wrong? Can anyone give me any advice on how I should be approaching him? Is this common for babies to strike multiple times when being held, and should i just continue to hold him until he stops? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Also I should mention, It seems to me that the previous owner (a young teenage girl) was apprehensive about touching the snake and did not spend a lot of time around him, though I have been with him for 24 hours straight since i got him

Thanks!

this is normal for baby carpets just keep handeling him everyday apart from when fed leave at least 2 days
usually within a week it will stop! just be slow and calm

 

He's new to you and not exactly a baby so give him plenty of time.
I would only disturb him to change water this week, and feed him next weekend. Then leave him till the end of next week before trying to handle him. Get gloves if it makes you more confident.
The aim is to get him out, handle him for a couple of minutes then put him back without getting bitten. Do everything slowly with noone else in the room to disturb him. Handle him every day except feeding day and a couple of days after. Mine took 6 weeks to calm down, but she is now really laid back.

Good luck

 

As everyone else has said, leave him a week to settle in. I am currently taming my young carpet python which is hard but i'm being persistent.
I have been using a snake hook to get mine out because she gets into corners which makes my hand very vulnerable :lol2:
The main thing is to be confident, he will sense your fear. He also needs to learn that biting doesn't get him what he wants. If you feel more confident wearing gloves, wear them but i used them once and felt better without them.
Mine has already become easier to handle (once she's out of the viv). I normally get her out once a day for about 5mins but will increase it as she becomes more relaxed.
Better to get bitten now than when he's fully grown - remember that :2thumb:

 

Let it get used to the viv first....week or 2.
Then you will just have to bite the bullet and handle while expecting to get tagged.No other way really.
It will calm down when it gets used to you and realises that a nip will not result in you leaving it be.
Good luck.
Paul
ps....if the snake equates biting you with you leaving it be.......expect it all the time.

 

carpets that haven't been handled a lot are a handful and don't usually give much notice before striking. i would never wear gloves as you can damage their teeth.
it's just a case of daily handling and prepare to be munched on, as mentioned it'll take 4 - 6 weeks for it to calm down.
once it has calmed down it'll be a very rewarding snake. good luck

 

get a tiny snake muzzle for it.problem solved

 

Hey Everyone,

I just got my very first snake home yesterday, he is a 6 month old jungle/coastal carpet python and a proven male. I left him alone the first day in the viv so he could get a feel for it, and this morning I decided I would give it a try picking him up (Im not sure maybe I should have given him more time to adjust to his new surroundings). Anyways, I approached slowly at eye level and away from the head, but as soon as i got close he striked, then as I have read, I acted like it didnt bother me and continued to pick him up. But even when I held him in my hands he was constantly trying to escape and struck at me at least 3 more times until i decided it was best to just put him back in the viv. It has been 5 days since he was fed apparently (not sure if this is entirely relevant).

Am I doing something wrong? Can anyone give me any advice on how I should be approaching him? Is this common for babies to strike multiple times when being held, and should i just continue to hold him until he stops? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Also I should mention, It seems to me that the previous owner (a young teenage girl) was apprehensive about touching the snake and did not spend a lot of time around him, though I have been with him for 24 hours straight since i got him

Thanks!

I asked the exact same question on here about 3 months ago when I bought my first carpet.

She would strike constantly and I could only handle her with gloves.

She is now an absolute pleasure to handle and hasn't bitten me at all in the last month.

Keep at it mate - he will get better