How bad do Adult JCP's Bite hurt?

FuZZ84 · Sep 14, 2005

I was wondering this for a while, since I heard that they have bigger teeth than other snakes their size.

DAND · Sep 14, 2005

That depends on what you do when you get biten and the location of the bite. If you just sit there and take it, it'll hurt quite a bit. If you jerk away it's going to hurt a whole lot more as the teeth rip you open like the hooks from Hellraiser.

cka · Sep 14, 2005

from a full sized adult.

hhmoore · Sep 14, 2005

way to go Chris

Takin' one for the team, lol.

cka · Sep 14, 2005

hehe...First time in 4 years of keeping him that he did, I was real surprised when it happened...Normally a very mellow guy, he must of thought it was dinner time and got confused...He has a very aggressive feeding reaction....obviously ;*)

sirenofthestorm · Sep 14, 2005

I foolishly handled a gerbil and then a 6 ft jcp nailed me on my hand. I bled like a stuck pig and said some 4 letter words. It was not fun.

FuZZ84 · Sep 15, 2005

My JCP also has an aggressive appetite, after feeding him 1 fuzzy, I tried for 2 but instead he mutiliated the thing by squeezing the mouse until it ripped in half (I feed my snakes F/T rodents only!). Then I got pissed an reached in his feeding container to pick him up, and I got bit... Four letter words were mentioned as well. Only thing I'm worried about is how am I going to get a full grown JCP in his tank without me touching him... with my 2 corn snakes I just pick them up and place them in the tank without them even attempting to bite.

hhmoore · Sep 15, 2005

the simplest solution is to feed him is his tank

DAND · Sep 15, 2005

hhmoore said:
the simplest solution is to feed him is his tank

I disagree. If you train him by feeding him in another place other than his tank it will not associate it's tank and feeding. That way when you are spot cleaning or changing/adding water you're not getting nailed.

hhmoore · Sep 15, 2005

DAND said:
I disagree. If you train him by feeding him in another place other than his tank it will not associate it's tank and feeding. That way when you are spot cleaning or changing/adding water you're not getting nailed.

disagree all you want - it's your right (isn't this a great country)
obviously we have had different experiences

Only thing I'm worried about is how am I going to get a full grown JCP in his tank without me touching him

I still maintain that not taking him out is the easiest way to not have to touch it after feeding. If your hands are in the tank for changing water, cleaning, and perhaps some handling, the snake doesn't see your hands as food anyway...or do you dangle the mouse from your fingers?? besides, if a snake is going to strike like that, it is just as likely to go for your hand when you reach in to move it to a feeding container.
You don't want to touch it when removing it from a container? - buy a hook

Clay Davenport · Sep 16, 2005

I definately agree with Harald here. I don't know who started this whole feed in a seperate container thing but it makes no sense.
You have a hungry snake that's ready to feed, so you reach in and grab it. Then after feeding you have to move it again, when many snakes are still in "hunting mode" looking for another meal. I have several snakes that the last thing you would ever want to do is approach them just after they have fed, you WILL get bitten. They just always continue to hunt for a little while after feeding. My jungle carpets are a good example of that.

It's also very impractical if you have a collection of any size. I only have around 60 snakes, but I couldn't imagine the sheer amount of time it would require to move every one of them to a feeding container. Not to mention many of them, balls in particular, would never feed after being disturbed like that.

The easiest way not to condition your snakes to expect a meal whenever the cage is opened is very simple. Don't limit your cage opening to feeding time only. Do cage maintenance, handle them, whatever, throughout the week not just on feeding day.
I realize that some people for whatever reason are adamant about the benefits of feeding in seperate containers, but it's really just overcomplicating the issue and is unnecessary as well as impractical if you have more that a few snakes.

Karen Hulvey · Sep 16, 2005

I agree with Harald and Clay. I would never, ever move my ATBs to feed them. It would take an enormous amount of time to simply untangle them from their perches to move them to a feeding tub. I feed all mine in their tanks and they don't bite me when I stick my hand in later. I have 1.1 JCPs and the guy I got mine from said the male was a biter. He has never, not one time, even tried to bite.

If I have one that I think may bite me and I have to stick my hand in the cage, I use a plastic lid off a container and hold it inbetween them and my hand. Or I use a snake hook. I do have some Cali kings who shoot out of their cages looking for a feed every single time I open their drawer and occasionally they get me but it's not bad. They are like bottomless pits when it comes to food.

FuZZ84 · Sep 16, 2005

Only 60 snakes??? Wow... I have 3 and I think going for #4 is crazy, but besides that point, I understand what you guys mean by them being in hunting mode etc. I guess I'm just a sissy, because I still get freaked out when my snakes try to snap at me. I thought of feeding my JCP in his tank, but because its aspen bedding, I stay away from that solution and will try to feed him in a seperate container as long as possible. Thanks for all the info though. Very much appreciated.

DAND · Sep 16, 2005

Then I can only guess that our animals are set up are differently. I, like the original poster, use aspen for bedding and I would not feed in the tank and or tub with the probability of ingestion of bedding.

Clay Davenport said:
It's also very impractical if you have a collection of any size. I only have around 60 snakes, but I couldn't imagine the sheer amount of time it would require to move every one of them to a feeding container. Not to mention many of them, balls in particular, would never feed after being disturbed like that.

I realize that some people for whatever reason are adamant about the benefits of feeding in seperate containers, but it's really just overcomplicating the issue and is unnecessary as well as impractical if you have more that a few snakes.

I’m currently hovering around 400 snakes in my collection. I think I have a good system. In my one snake room I will start on the top levels of the racks and either cup (for hatchlings) or put the snakes in a separate empty tub. I have 8 to 12 tubs per level so I can feed 32 snakes at a time. When that level is done I just go to the next level until all 9 levels are completed. It works well for me. I do this with all my snakes: Corns, Kings, Boas, Asian Rats, and Pythons (balls included) without any refusal.

Clay Davenport · Sep 16, 2005

I don't use aspen, wish I could but it can't be found around here in the bulk bags. I'd still feed in the cage if I did, a lot of the big breeders use aspen and apparently don't have any trouble feeding.
I do have a good number of snakes on cypress though, never any trouble with ingestion.

It's good that your system works well for you. For myself though I can't see any reason to add to the amount of work required to feed everything.
Some of my younger balls will refuse to eat if you look at them cross eyed. I weigh my up and coming breeders monthly. I used to do it just before feeding, but found that quite a few wouldn't feed after being placed back in their normal cages after weighing. Now I weigh the day before feeding at least.
I couldn't imagine hauling out my adult boas to a seperate feeding area, or trying to convince the GTPs to leave the perch.

hhmoore · Sep 16, 2005

I have fed on both aspen and cypress...the only difference between those and paper is I prefer to have the prey items on the drier side. (I defrost in a bucket of water) When I had things in aspen - I either dry defrosted them, or wrung the stuff out and laid it on paper to drain excess water. Snakes in the wild do not live in sterile environments, and they can ingest foreign matter along with their prey and get away with it. Is it a risk I want to take with MY animals? Absolutely not. And if you feel safer moving each animal before feeding, and you have the time to accommodate that - Knock yourself out. I personally use paper to eliminate that risk...but it also pretty much eliminates spot cleaning, too. Life is a compromise, this hobby is no exception. We all have our preferred methods of care, and they don't always match...this doesn't necessarily mean that one of us is wrong.

Anyway, back to the initial question...If you want to use a separate feeding tank, but do not want to touch the animal afterwards - you have two options,
1) obtain a snake hook and learn to use it
2) use a secure enough feeding enclosure that you can leave the snake in it overnite, then move it home the next day. Since you have 3 snakes, you woud have to feed on separate days, (and of course, clean the feeding tank between snakes). this would make a simple feeding take 4 days. Or you could keep 3 feeding tanks and transfer and feed all at once - will power is a must here...If I had that many extra enclosures, i would probably fill them with stuff, lol

And David, please tell me that that 400 snakes includes babies, otherwise that would make the whole snake thing WORK, lol

Griz · Sep 16, 2005

I have never fed outside of the cage. I just simply don't have the time and I never did see the point in it. I have 95% of my animals now in a rack system, including my 9+ foot boa's, and each and every time I open their enclosures I make sure to smack them around a little. Not hard but just hard enough to let them know that I am there, that it is not feeding time, and to show them that I have some strength in me. I learned this from a good friend who kept burmese's. If it is feeding time, then I simply open the enclosure and drop the rat/rabbit etc in and walk away. No dangling or anything remotely like it for them to associate my hand with food. I have one bite to date and it was a defensive strike that took place when I forgot to let him know I was there. That's not to say they have not tried but I have been aware enough to move before it happened or I had my shield in place. It has worked like a charm and I don't plan on switching anytime soon.

Griz

PS I am keeping mine on newspaper so no worries of foreign objects etc.

Karen Hulvey · Sep 16, 2005

hhmoore said:
will power is a must here...If I had that many extra enclosures, i would probably fill them with stuff, lol

That is funny Harald and I'm the same way. Restraint is not my forte.

I'm no expert here. I've had one ball python for 10 years. Up until last year he was my only snake. My snake collection has now grown to 57. I keep mine on aspen shavings and the ATBs on cypress mulch. I haven't had a problem with ingestion of shavings. I offer prekilled or thawed prey off tongs. The prey is dry and (knock on wood) I've not noticed any shavings getting stuck to the mice.

It really is up to the owner as to how he/she wants to feed their snakes. There really is no right or wrong way IMO.

DAND · Sep 17, 2005

hhmoore said:
Or you could keep 3 feeding tanks and transfer and feed all at once - will power is a must here...If I had that many extra enclosures, i would probably fill them with stuff, lol

That's kind of what I do. I have some tubs with the latching lids that I feed in. They get stacked in the corner since there isn't room for them anywhere else.

hhmoore said:
And David, please tell me that that 400 snakes includes babies, otherwise that would make the whole snake thing WORK, lol

Yeh, a little more than half are hatchlings.

How bad do Adult JCP's Bite hurt?

FuZZ84

New member

DAND

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cka

i sjut liek sankes

hhmoore

tired & cranky shadow

cka

i sjut liek sankes

sirenofthestorm

ineffable

FuZZ84

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hhmoore

tired & cranky shadow

DAND

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hhmoore

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Clay Davenport

Cerebral Nomad

Karen Hulvey

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FuZZ84

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DAND

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Clay Davenport

Cerebral Nomad

hhmoore

tired & cranky shadow

Griz

Driving the short bus....

Karen Hulvey

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DAND

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