Jungle carpet python?

Question

Im 14 years old about 5' 3" and skiny. I wanted to know if i could safely handle a jungle carpet python. I was wanting to pick one up in daytona later this month. I handled babys in a store, they were bitty but not that bad of a snake. and today i handled an adult but it wasnt use to being handled so i had 7 foot of squirming sanke. i didnt feel threatened at all really but i want a snake that i can safely handle. Could i handle a full grown snake that had been handled daily since it was little? i dont want a 7 foot sanke to mistake my face for food. btw i have a ball python, 2 kenyan sand boas, 2 saharan sand boas, a corn snake and 2 leopard geckos. I want a snake bigger then those snakes but not something i cant safely handle that might bite me every secound. Would an adult handled from the time it was a baby be easy to handle?

Answer 1

Here's a page on handling these snakes  

http://www.petreptiles.com/guides/jcp/ha...

It sounds like you have a lot of reptile handling experience.  I don't think these snakes would be too much for you, but as with any large snake just use the usual precautions.  They get up to 7 feet.  Any snake over 10 foot long should be handled only when 2 people are present for safety reasons.

Answer 2

if all you said is true. and you have really been keeping the herps you stated successfully for a few years you shouldn't have any problems with a carpet at all. they are awesome captives for beginners to experts alike. just not the best choice for a first time reptile pet. good luck.

Answer 3

Your own size has nothing to do with whether or not you can handle a snake. JCP don't get too heavy, so as long as you are able to lift the entire full-grown snake, you have no other worries. It isn't like you will ever have to over-power it.

The point is to handle them often so they get used to it. Even if you do not get a baby, but an adult who is not used to handling, you can get them to tolerate it. Since you are experienced, you probably know how to tame snakes, by slowly increasing the time you spend with it each day. Just keep at it. I have one who we got from an adult that was hardly ever touched, and now she is a "lap-snake". With a baby, it should be a breeze for you. But just as long as you keep handling it daily, you will have a very nice snake.

JCP aren't too flighty really. They aren't likely to be snappy, at least none that I have met. Remember to only feed frozen-thawed animals, so it never mistakes moving fingers for prey. And also only feed it in a specific container separate from the enclosure, so that when you reach in its enclosure, again, it won't mistake you as food.

Answer 4

It doesn't really matter how big you are, its more important that you know how to react in a situation that a snake tries to constrict you, you don't need to worry until you start getting into Reticulated pythons and Burmese pythons, bigger stuff like that that have a lot of girth.

I wouldn't consider a jungle carpet python a large dangerous constrictor, they generally stay around 7-8 feet.

You should have another person helping you handle it if its over 10 feet.

10 feet of snake per person.

You'll be fine with carpet pythons, most snakes are nippy when they are young( a year and under ) but its no big deal, you will get bit though but I think you know that, just handle it before you take it home and ask about its personality and if its aggressive and so on.

Boa constrictors aren't really anything either as far as danger goes.

All snakes bite but almost all are fairly docile.

Burmese pythons, Reticulated pythons, African Rock pythons, Blood pythons(SOMETIMES), Anacondas and stuff like that is something that you shouldn't handle alone or even go around alone.

Blood pythons are generally ok but some can have very nasty temperaments and I've heard some are puppy tame.

Good luck you'll have no trouble with a jungle carpet.

Irian Jayas are generally the smallest being 5-6 feet.

Jungle's are generally 7-8 feet.

Coastals/Jaguars are basically the same being 10 feet+ most of the time.

Don't worry some carpets are nippy but you'll have no trouble if you pick the right one out.