Curious, Striking BP.

[Seru1]

Well she had been doing so well roaming the cage with people in the room the past few night I foolishly decided to Check temps while she was out.

As I was I saw her attentively watching me, Foolishly my hand approached her and moves soon enough to avoid the strike.


Did I just Interrupt her acclimation time, is this her anticipating feeding sunday, or is this a separate care issue?


I was surprised, thought I don't fear a bite she's never struck at me before. Atleast she's energetic.

[mr. s]

I did not totally understand the event. So she struck at you or she looked like she was going to?
Also, how long have you had the snake? Acclimation is usually a week or two.
It could be a number of things, including just being an aggressive snake.
I am guessing that you feed this girl in her enclosure? I know what people have been saying about feeding in the enclosure, and yes, maybe it does not put as much stress on the snake, but I value a tame snake. Maybe it is time to feed in a separate enclosure. (Again, assuming you feed in the same enclosure).

[A.VinczeBPs]

How old is she? Young ball pythons are easily stressed, and can strike more.

Are you feeding the correct size meals? Maybe she is hungry.

Is she close to a shed? They can get grumpy.

Most likely it is one of those options, I doubt anything is wrong.

[Seru1]

8 months old.

No signs of a shed I can tell

Fed Hopper mice recommended by the breeder, someone I trust.


She has good temps lots of hides.


I got her saturday(last saturday as in the last one of march). I admit it was to early to come int he cage while she was out. but she had come out so often at night when people were there. I misread her I suppose.


I feed in the enclosure with tongs and prescent. The breeder fed ever sunday and I continue as he does. Like I said I don't mind getting bit. Her biting me is fine with me. I just want to make sure she's healthy. An aggressive snake suits me fine as long as she is in good health.


I had an afternoon of drinking but I wanted to make sure her temps were okay.

She did have 82-91 under the substrate. I was just surprised instead of balling up she chose to strike.

[Elise.m]

She might still feel threatened by you. Only one of my snakes has bitten me, and it was within the first week that I got him (I was messing with his thermometer). Eventually they will get used to your scent and won't be threatened, so I think it's just time.

Only the younger BPs ball up alot. I've noticed as they age, they don't ball as often. I would continue to leave her alone til Sunday then attempt to feed her.

[Seru1]

It was probably the beer that told me to go in and check temps. I tend to worry about things.


I'll leave her alone till a sunday night feeding aside from a morning temp check/misting.

[Elise.m]

I've done it before. When I first got Snickets I had some problems, had some drinks and went to check how she was doing... That was the only time she's hissed at me. Lol... Maybe they just don't like drunk humans?

[j_h_smith]

Some ball python babies can give you a little nip, some will hiss like they've sprung a leak. It's just posturing. Nothing is meant by it.

However, I feel that once they start, you have to continue holding them, touching them, picking them up. If not, they can learn that if they do this, you will leave them alone. I think it's called negative re-enforcement.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

[Seru1]

Them and the girl I was talking to at the bar. Maybe she was a snake



I should just leave her alone. It's hard though I am eager to handle her. Not that I did. I am just excited to do so again.

Some ball python babies can give you a little nip, some will hiss like they've sprung a leak. It's just posturing. Nothing is meant by it.

However, I feel that once they start, you have to continue holding them, touching them, picking them up. If not, they can learn that if they do this, you will leave them alone. I think it's called negative re-enforcement.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

It wasn't intil I moved to lightly touch her she struck, Perhaps I shouldn't have relented? Ah Still I felt stupid for interrupting her week of acclimation. She's had it hard enough.

[TessadasExotics]

We have a cinnamon male that is grumpy 24/7. He hiss's all of the time and strikes 1/2 of the time.