I am afraid of son's BP!

[Scared to touch]

My 9 year old son bought his python in Feb. 2005. Up untill yesterday he/she was gentle and never cranky. We tried to feed it today and it struck at my son. We just fed it Sunday, I don't know if it is hungry again but it sure acts like it. My son is now afraid to try again to pick it up. Do we just need to handle it more or let it "cool" off for a day? I need some tips on how to reassure him that it is ok. Our BP is about 2 1/2 feet. I have never held it...TOO SCARED. That probably doesn't help. What do I do. I don't want to get bit and neither does he. Thank you.

[Brandon.O]

if you tried feeding it today then it was probably just striking out of feeding response.

Since there was rodents around it smelled like rodents, your snake is not that smart and saw the warmth of your hand and smelled the rodent and had mistaken your sons hand for a mouse/rat, be sure to wash your hands and try to handle him in a couple days.

[daniel1983]

Just like Brandon said. The feeding responce was probably initiated. I actually got stuck at twice this monday at feeding time(I love my females wicked feeding responce ).....but that does not happen all the time. To limit the bp from thinking your hand is food, be sure and use something to hold the mouse when feeding f/t or p/k rodents (i use tongs, some use hemostats) and be sure to get the rodent or any other animal smell off of your hands before handling. I always wash my hands before and after handling my snakes. If you fed on Sunday then tried feeding today, does that mean you are feeding every 3-4 days? I recommend feeding ball pythons every 7 days. Also, you will want to avoid handling two days after the meal to prevent stress on the bp.

...nothing to worry about with ball pythons...a bp bite is like a pinch with little teeth...nothing too painful

Hope that helps.

EDIT: I just read the other thread post. You might want to stop using the seperate feeding box. That would eliminate handling during feeding time and will prevent you from being confused with food.

[Shelby]

-If it makes you feel any better, pick the snake up with gloves on. Even if he's cranky, once a snake is out of it's cage, 99% of the time it settles down very nicely.

[TekWarren]

another thing that will help is if your feeding your snake in its everyday enclosure you may want to start using a "feeding tub" with my snakes they are only fed when moved out of their usual enclosure. The snake may think food is enroute every time you come near its enclosure otherwise.

[PrincessErica]

^^ I think that's just a myth. Everyone I've talked to who feeds in the enclosure has had no problem with their snake mistaking it for feeding time everytime a hand comes in the enclosure (unless the hand smells like food, of course). I guess maybe if the ONLY time you go into your snake's tank is to feed them, then maybe it could happen, but if you're handling them on a regular basis, and you're being smart about how you do it, I don't think it's really a problem at all. I know in my personal experience, I've always fed in the enclosure and have never even been hissed at, let alone struck at...

[daniel1983]

The snake may think food is enroute every time you come near its enclosure otherwise.

There is the risk of the snake being conditioned to seek food because of the opening of the enclosure ONLY at feeding time. But if the snake is taken out to be handled frequently the tendency to developed the learned behavior is pretty slim. You have to consider: if the snake could associated the opening of the enclosure with getting food, you would still be at risk when changing to a feeding box. I have fed both inside the enclosure and outside the enclosure, and there is pretty much no difference. I will always feeding inside the enclosure for this reason: The snake is not handled after eating a meal. When handling after the snake has just eaten, you risk initiating a regurgitation and also risk getting bit by a snake that is still in feeding mode after the first meal. It is the keepers choice to use a feeding box or not, so go with what works best for you...all I want to do is offer another way of doing things(since she feeds in a seperate box already).

Also, the choice to feed inside or outside of the enclosure can also be determined by your snakes behavior. Here is my experience with the two methods: I fed my male bp outside of his enclosure for about 4 months and he was just fine with being handled after feeding and always did well. If I attempted to feed my female bp outside of her enclosure I WOULD get bit. Her feeding responce is very strong, once she gets the smell of food in the air she will strike anything that moves around her(including the hands and face). She will do this even after she has eaten 2-3 adult mice, so I stay clear of her at feeding time.

I hope that helps a bit, sorry for the ramble

[frankykeno]

We feed our snake in her enclosure and have never had a problem with it, however, we do handle her for short amounts of time on a daily basis as well as open the enclosure for water changes, bedding clean-ups, etc. We make it a rule in our home with ourselves and the children to wash before and after handling the snake just for good hygiene as well as we have 4 pet rats that all the kids handle pretty much daily as well.


Best advice, mom to mom, is encourage your son to be slow and quiet around the snake (9 year old boys tend to be on the boisterous side LOL). Quick hand movements or loud noises may only encourage the snake to strike defensively if that's what it's doing. Remember that most snakes are a bit head shy as well. As well balls are nocturnal by nature so perhaps if your son is handling the snake during the daytime it's just trying to be left alone to rest and evening handling might be more appropriate.

If you are afraid of the snake, it might be an idea to find someone local who has snakes to come over and help your son over his fear of his pet.

Also if this has only happened the one time it may just have been a bad day for the snake and your son. Any pet, snake or not, has it's moments and quite honestly, anything with teeth may eventually nip a time or two.

~~Joanna~~