Help...frustrated with my python's behavior!

[Wizard]

I need some help.

I have a 300 gram 5 month old CB wild type BP that I have had since she was a month old. Ever since then she has been nothing but trouble.
The problem is I can't go into here enclosure without her striking at me. When I do remove her from her hide, she will usually stop striking and then go into a defensive mode but soon she will do everything she can to escape.

I have her in a 15qt tub with a suitable sized hide, H2O bowl and paper substrate. Temp is ~90 to 80 degrees and the humidity is between 50-70%.

She feeds weekly on F/T mice and rats and her sheds have been normal.

I need some advice on what to do to break her of this.

I got her as a gift for my daughter who absolutely loves snakes but if this behaviour continues I can not trust her when she gets to be 2000 grams.

I will take all the time, energy and effort it takes to tame her but I need to be pointed in the proper direction.

Thanks guys, I appreciate your help.

[Herpenthusiast3]

What is your feeding schedule like, and what actions do you take when your snake seems defensive?! If you have gotten into the habit of not picking the snake up when it seems to have an attitude it will began to get into that posture and strike as a learned response. Ball pythons are solitary creatures and would prefer the security of a warm hide as opposed to being picked up. Handling is a trust building experience. As for your concern about the snake being 2000 grams and delivering a bite.... I really wouldn't worry since even then a bite would be comparable to angry Velcro. That's Awesome your daughter has an interest In snakes. Don't let your apprehension and fear inspire the same in her because that interest/ passion can quickly be extinguished. Hope you get it worked out. Take care.

[ViperSRT3g]

This may be of use to you in conditioning your snake's behavior:

1. Tap on the hide a little to let your snake know you're there. This will wake them up if they are sleeping so they won't bite in defense of a hide suddenly disappearing from above them.

2. Lift the hide slowly off of them. Fast sudden movements are scary for them.

3. Rub them a bit to let them know you are about to pick them up. Do this ONLY if you are going to pick them up. If not, proceed to step 4.

4. Feed BP. If they are still not very interested in the food, do the zombie dance if they're eating F/T. If they are still not interested, there are other steps you can do, but another good one is to replace the hide and leave the food in front of the hide entrance. If feeding live, MONITOR the BP and food. If there is no interest, remove food and try everything again another day.

These steps will allow you to teach your snake simple command-based actions so they know what you intend to do. They reduce confusion between actions, and help them be less stressed out. If the reasoning behind these procedures are confusing, just put yourself in your snake's shoes. How would you like it if someone barged into your home and picked you up from your sleep?

[Ripsaw642]

Sounds like the snake doesn't know you're not a predator yet. More frequent handling will let the snake know you're not going to harm it, and also that you're not scared of its' bite....Mine was like this 3 weeks ago, hasn't struck at me in 2 weeks, handling him twice a day for 10-15 mins now......

[Wizard]

I will do my best to get her tame however I have tried employing some of the methods described above.

To clarify, when she is balled up in her hide she is easy to remove without problem. It seems that the only time she becomes aggressive is when she is out of her hide. She's usually in an "S" position and will strike at almost anything.

FWIW, at 2 MOA she was only 98 grams. Is there any chance this could be hunger related? Because once out of the enclosure, I never worry about her striking although she does exhibit flight behaviour from time to time.

Thanks again for you help in this matter.

[bcr229]

It sounds like defensive not aggressive behavior. It may just take time, patience, and work on your part before she outgrows it and learns that the Godzilla-monster (you) is not going to eat her... though I'm still working on it with one of my 1250 gr females.

[Chavo]

I think you need to devote more time to her. Relax when you do approach her, or she will feel your fear and get nervous too. Good luck!