New Woma

[AzJohn]

My new woma python. This poor guy was at a pet store for over a year. The only interaction he had with people was when a hand entered the cage and fed him. You can imagine my first handling session. He tried to eat my hand. He put his nose on my pointer finger for a few seconds then bit down and started coiling. Less than a week of two 15-20 minute handling sessions daily and he has really calmed down. I still use a hook to get his attention before I pick him up, and I probably always will. His feeding response is well, woma like. I still wear gloves but he rested his head on my arm, feeling the hairs and smelling mammal, without trying to eat me, so I'll try without gloves after I feed him on Thursday.

 

[AzJohn]

He's around 40 inches.

 

[Teal]

Stunning Woma! They are such neat snakes. Lovely to hear he is calming down a bit with regular work

 

[Dry Desert]

My new woma python. This poor guy was at a pet store for over a year. The only interaction he had with people was when a hand entered the cage and fed him. You can imagine my first handling session. He tried to eat my hand. He put his nose on my pointer finger for a few seconds then bit down and started coiling. Less than a week of two 15-20 minute handling sessions daily and he has really calmed down. I still use a hook to get his attention before I pick him up, and I probably always will. His feeding response is well, woma like. I still wear gloves but he rested his head on my arm, feeling the hairs and smelling mammal, without trying to eat me, so I'll try without gloves after I feed him on Thursday. View attachment 313558

Womas are considered one of the most placid of snakes, so it should calm down nicely in time. Keep up the good work

 

[damhan]

Beautiful..!

 

[AzJohn]

I handled him without gloves this morning. He was cruising around his tank so I took him out. I had a few nervous moments when he was checking out my fingers. I think he was looking for food, but he's decided I'm to big to eat. He's smart for a snake. He doesn't think of me as a branch. He spent the whole time this morning checking out both hands and arms, probably looking for food. When I would move him in a way he didn't want he would go right back to where he wanted to be. I quit trying and figured I'd just let him explore. He's never been defensive. No hissing or bluff strikes. I guy that worked at the pet store told he would bite me every time I took him out. I don't think they knew much about woma behavior or had the time to socialize him. A little bit of work and he's not trying to eat my hand. We still have some work to do, but not being bit is a good start.

 

[AzJohn]

A few more pictures.

 

[AzJohn]

His favorite spot. He's starting to act woma like. When I first got him, when he coiled on my arm he would squeeze a lot and not let off squeezing. I'm not sure if he was still trying to kill my arm so he could eat it. Now he just sits and looks at everything. When I walk through the house he'll move his head so he can check out whatever he wants to see. He still will tighten up some if I move my arm to quickly, but he relaxes in a few seconds. I'm starting to have a difficult time getting him back into his tank. I try let him uncoil himself. Today, I put my hand on the bottom of his tank and he started uncoiling, but then instead of going off to his hide he started moving up my arm and poking his head above the tank. It took me a good ten minutes to get him to realize that play time was over.