do pythons have such a sensitive smell that its making them want to bite my girlfriend?

Question

hi, i have a 8ft reticulated female python.

shes really cage aggressive, but once out of her cage, shes a sweet heart!
she will sit on my sholders for 2+ hours when i play video games.

but this snake (and my other redtail boa (2+ft) seems to want to bite my girlfriend?

she thinks that it can "sence" that shes scared of them, but i think its her perfume!

i dont wear anything when just around the house, and might spray a tiny bit of body spray on when i go to work.

but she wears lotions, perfume, expensive shampoo etc etc.

so im thinking thats it!

you guys have any info to help?

nc2701.....
thx for the extensive info!
now that you mention it, when i tell her to touch it/pick it up, she is very scared and grabs the snake inticipating it to go crazy and kill her i guess you could say.

the problem im having is when its sitting on me, and shes beside me, if she makes almost any movement it reacts to HER, but i could almost smack the thing and it wouldent care.

as far as size, shes a very small girl, 5'6 110lbs, so maybe her having thin arms/hands might make the snake think it can eat her?

idk

nc1701.....
thx for the extensive info!
now that you mention it, when i tell her to touch it/pick it up, she is very scared and grabs the snake inticipating it to go crazy and kill her i guess you could say.

the problem im having is when its sitting on me, and shes beside me, if she makes almost any movement it reacts to HER, but i could almost smack the thing and it wouldent care.

as far as size, shes a very small girl, 5'6 110lbs, so maybe her having thin arms/hands might make the snake think it can eat her?
btw, its only when i hold her, my gf wont get near the snake at all unless im holding it/controlling the snake well

but now becase its attacked/striked/hissed at her, shes to scared to get near it at all.
she wants me to put it away when shes home now.....

idk what to do

Answer 1

Although snakes can sense vibrations to locate prey, etc, It's a myth that they can "sense fear" - I've read/heard this from professional snake handlers & various other care guides. I've kept constrictors and non-constrictor snakes for years and they naturally will avoid contact w/ humans, unless they're used to being handled frequently AND PROPERLY. (some species are more agressive than others, of course)

Snakes have the same five senses humans do, the primary difference is a snake can taste the air for chemicals w/ its tongue (for the purpose of locating prey).

For reticulated pythons specifically, they do not attack humans by nature, but will bite and possibly constrict if they feel threatened, or mistake a hand for food. I don't think your girlfriend's perfumes, etc would necessarily provoke a reaction from your pets, unless the scent had rabbit or mice (lol). Maybe she could try to wash her hands w/ a perfume-free soap before approaching or trying to handle the animals.

If your girlfriend acts in a manner the snake might consider threatening, perhaps like reaching & retracting her hand/arm in a fast or jerky manner, the snake MIGHT act like it will strike as a method of posturing, or pretending it will strike w/o actually going through w/ it. I am curious if these behaviors occur if you're holding the animal(s) or anytime she's around them?
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Reply UPDATE: That's a tough call as to what to do...Since you handle the snake, it's used to you... but your gf obviously is a diff story. W/o picking a 'favorite' btwn your snake & your gf, I would suggest a 'cooling off' period - give your gf a break for a couple weeks...when she comes over just keep the snake in its cage. Then try to slowly re-introduce them to each other thru short, but expanding, periods/levels of exposure (i did this w/ one gf B4 and it worked out OK). This kind of 'conditioning' is used frequently in many cases of fear/phobias w/ positive results. Be sure not to bring out the animal right before or after feeding time, especially if your keep a strict feeding sched (of course, if you have a lot of experience in caring for captive snakes, you already know this)...

Try to see it from her point of view - your 8 ft python is big enough to kill a human (don't tell HER that!), so it's perfectly normal for her to be apprehensive toward the animal. If she refuses to have anything to do w/ the snake (which is also normal for some), you may just have to accept the fact that your gf & your pet snake(s) won't get along, and you may have accomodate the gf when she is @ your house..

If you're determined to get to the root of the problem & "fix it," try finding a local herpatologist or vet/ who specializes in snake behavior and and see if they have any add'l suggestions...w/o actually being there and observing the situation, etc, there may be other variables to the issue I'm not aware of....Good LUCK :)

Answer 2

He may be stressed. He needs to settle into his home for about a week before handling. He should be handled on a daily basis unless he's shedding (his body will be achey and won't be able to see from eye caps) or he's digesting. Don't hold him for a few days til after he eats or he will regurgitate and that's when he spits up his food and it smells AWFUL! Make sure his temps are right. It should be ranging from 75 degrees F to 85 degrees F. Keep the lights on a 12 hour cycle. Night time temperatures should be kept around 70 degrees F. UVB lighting is not needed, but flourescent lights, as well as incandescent bulbs, are recommended. Keep the humidity level around 65%.You can also use a heat pad under the tank but never a heat rock, they can cause severe burns, if you have one unplug it and snip off the cord. Make sure there is locks on the cage also or he might eventually escape. He will do okay in a ten gallon for now but a 40 gallon aquarium style tank will suffice for an adult Jungle Carpet Python, but larger is always best. Provide them lots of branches for climbing, as this species is aboreal. As with most snakes, hide boxes must be included, but they are better when elevated. For ease of cleaning, use newspaper or reptile carpet as a substrate. You can also use potting soil or peat moss but I prefer coconut bedding. If he continues to act up he may have parasites, etc so he'd need to be seen by a vet but make sure he needs all this and is comfortable as possible. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Yes, they see through smell.

Also if she has touched a rabbit or mouse or some rodent, it might think she's a huge rodent.

Some chemicals like alcohol or mothballs are hated by them and see them as a threat and try to defend against anything with that scent.

Answer 4

They don't sense fear, but they do have an excellent sense of smell. It very well could be something she's using that is making them upset.