Hissing young BP

[Guiding Golden]

We purchased a young 77g female Lesser from NERD, at White Plains Reptile Expo at the end of November. She is one of our only 3 BPs. I got my first BP only a short time earlier, at the previous expo, in September. I handle all three extensively.

Each of the three have distinctive personalities, but all are a joy to handle. However, Spectra, the Lesser, has gotten into the habit of hissing as I approach her in her container, to take her out. She has never tried to strike.

I can't identify any sources of stress, beyond being disturbed to be taken out, in itself. They're all kept in individual Sterilite bins in a rack, have spot on temperature and humidity levels and a hide on both the warm and cool sides of the bins. She has gone through one very nice shed, since we've had her. All three snakes eat fabulously.

Once she's out, she relaxes nicely.

Is this hissing something that is likely to subside, wih time and more handling, something I'll just have to accept as part of her personality or should I be doing something differently, like handling her less?

Thanks in advance from a BP noob!

[swansonbb]

Lots of baby balls are hissy. Most of them grow out of it. She'll likely stop within the next few months.

[Punkymom]

I have a 2 y/o ball that still hisses from time to time and my 4 y/o will even hiss if I have to mess with him while he's in shed. It's perfectly normal and is pretty much their only "defense". She should grow out of it, eventually! Good luck with her!

[snakesRkewl]

Some just do hisss
I have a couple 1 and 2 year olds that still do this when I grab them up to clean or handle, I just ignore it and once I grab them up they are fine and enjoy their time out.

[rafacacho]

She´s 77gms. Your a giant to her...she´s scare for sure!!! Like the others, it will go away...

[LLLReptile]

Give her time, as well. She's a little bitty baby, and while they are typically quite mellow, she might still be getting used to you and her new environment. Little babies just need time to get used to what's happening. Most of my hatchlings come out cranky (it's a running joke here at the store, actually) but after about a month they all mellow considerably. It'll probably get better with time, it'll just take time. You may want to let it hang out in the cage with less handling for a little while to help it feel more comfortable!

-Jen

[alpine]

She's just a wee one I have a small one that hisses and even my yearling BP hisses from time to time. As soon as I take him out for handling he relaxes right into the feel of things and has no issues though. My other BP makes no such noises ever and is content to just enjoy the ride and the warm hands. I'm sure she will become more comfortable with you as time wears on and she realizes that you will not hurt her. Good luck though!

[SlitherinSisters]

She could stop hissing, or she may always hiss. I have a couple hissers, one being 4 years old.