Questions on "S" Strike Position

[drezden]

Are BP only considered to be in a strike position if the "S" shape is stretched and raised a bit? I sometimes see him resting in a very tight "S" shape when outside of his hides in the enclosure, and then when I handle him sometimes he will get into a very tight "S" shape at first before he relaxes and starts wandering about.

When I say a "tight" s-positon I mean all sides of his body making the "S" are touching each other.

[Vypyrz]

Just because they are in a "S" doesn't mean they are going to strike. And it doesn't always mean that they are going to strike when they are S'd with their head raised, although, it is a more alert posture. You just have to learn to read their overall body language as to how relaxed or tense they are...

[cmack91]

yep, also ive noticed that when their in striking mode, and they move foreward, they move their entire body in an S motion, while keeping their head still (like how a cheetah keeps its head while running), with intent staring

[Skittles1101]

I've also been struck at without seeing the "S"...

[LLLReptile]

The "S" shape, while it can be a helpful indicator of an impending bite, does not always indicate that the snake will, in fact, bite.

With ball pythons, there are typically 2 kinds of bites: Fear bites, and feeding response bites. A feeding response bite often has the snake in the S shape, staring intently at whatever it is it might eat, with only the first half of the body tensed at all. Or, a feeding response bite can be elicited by putting your hand in front of your snake's face while it is sleeping, or surprising it while it is in the cage.
Fear bites are typically preceded by a few signs. These include huffing and puffing, and/or hissing in conjunction with these, and tenseness throughout the entire body. Some snakes will tuck their heads and then, when the threat (you) won't go away, will start striking without ever moving their head into the expected S coil.

In addition, snakes will keep their head and neck in a loose S shape to inspect their surroundings; from this position it is easiest to move forward in any direction. So the S shape, while occasionally an indicator of an impending bite, doesn't mean the snake is always going to bite if it is in the S shape. I've been bitten plenty of times by snakes in the stereotypical strike position, and almost as many times by snakes that didn't look like they were about to bite.

-Jen

[Mike41793]

yep, also ive noticed that when their in striking mode, and they move foreward, they move their entire body in an S motion, while keeping their head still (like how a cheetah keeps its head while running), with intent staring

I agree with this. If they seem really tense too then its another good indicator but if theyre body is relaxed and theyre just slithering towards you i wouldnt be worried.

[Randy J.]

I've only been struck at once, and it was from a completely coiled (hiding) position.. The poor guy was scared, I had just picked him up from under his hide, but it wasn't a full strike even.. He only struck far enough for me to notice, he was at least 4-5 inches short of connecting.. I think I had woke him up, and picked him up too fast.. He was actually in my hand balled up, and returned to his ball position, only to slither up my wrist almost apologetically..
And he stayed on me without incident, for another 30 minutes.. That was my 3 month old ball, my two older snakes have never struck, not even when picked up in that same manner...