How to know when agressive?

[neur0tix]

My BP is 230 grams, just weighed. When I take him out of the tank, he is normally fine... but when I put him back in, he will take shots at me behind the glass. Like I just walked out of the room and went back in 5 minutes later and he still was sitting there waiting to bite me lol. When I take him out he is fine and does not bite, its when I put him back in. Temps are fine to my knowledge, he seems to like the coconut husk bedding... has proper hides, some plants, water, etc.

[Newbie39]

Maybe he just likes being out lol

[neur0tix]

lol probably

[EL-Ziggy]

Are you sure your temps are good? How much and how often do you feed him? My snakes typically only hit the glass when they're hungry.

[SDA]

Juveniles are not unknown for being defensive and it is not unheard of for this behavior but it can also be a sign of stress whether from husbandry, security, or even not being used to being handled. I think the term defensive might be more appropriate than aggressive in this case.

I know you have had some advice recently on this forum. Did you adjust your temperatures and how has his feeding schedule come along? Last I can check you have the hot side over 92 and cold side at 85 which seems a little hot to me but nothing that really would up defensiveness. If you are not noticing increased movement in the enclosure I would rule that out. If however you have noticed your snake out and about during the day or climbing everywhere at night you might want to make sure there is nothing making them stressed.

Also make sure you are feeding properly and adequate amounts.

The fact of the matter is you might just have a defensive stressed juvenile that needs more time to settle down and get used to handling. How often and for how long each time do you handle your snake? When starting out 5-10 minutes is a good amount of time to get them used but you also need to handle them properly to get them used to being handled. They don't need to crawl around or even explore anything. Cupping a juvenile is enough to get them used to being handled. It just takes time.

[oodaT]

The fact of the matter is you might just have a defensive stressed juvenile that needs more time to settle down and get used to handling. How often and for how long each time do you handle your snake? When starting out 5-10 minutes is a good amount of time to get them used but you also need to handle them properly to get them used to being handled. They don't need to crawl around or even explore anything. Cupping a juvenile is enough to get them used to being handled. It just takes time.

this is what i did with my spider, helped alot. I been doing twice a day, morning and evening, for about 10 minutes.

[neur0tix]

If I take him out he is fine and gets realy active. 10 minutes sometimes 15, once a day. He never really is active not that I've seen atleast. Onetime late night I saw him with his head in a S up near the top of the tank. I think he just skiddiesh since he's been nippy since I got him.

Eats one adult mouse every week. I will change to once every 5 days and see if that helps. I have had him a month and he's only pooped once. Puked up a semi digested snake one time, ate two successfully.

[ckuhn003]

Puked up a semi digested snake one time, ate two successfully.

wait......what???

[oodaT]

wait......what???

you read that too?!

[SDA]

You are handling it daily, it has only been acclimating for a month, it is a young juvenile, and he has had a regurgitation.

You have a lot that you need to address to get your snake calm. Handling should be the last thing you think about doing. You need to reduce handling dramatically. There is no reason to handle it right now more than 1-2 times a week for any more than 5 minutes at a time and you should not let it be active (most likely it is not calm but is trying ot find a hiding place and is stressed).

If you have been handling since you got it, you have never given it a change to acclimate to surroundings. I don't know your cage setup but if glass it might be too open for it.

Regurgitation is a concern you need addresses. If a ball regurgitates you need to not feed it for 2 weeks no exceptions. It needs to recover from the duress of regurgitation. Why normally I would point blame to heating, I am concerned you are handling too soon after feeding. You should give 2 days completely undisturbed after feeding.

Also, you do not need to feed more frequently, once per week is fine but as you provided that your ball regurgitated lately, you need to address the cause and eliminate it before feeding again.


Your ball is stressed not aggressive. You need to find the cause of stress and eliminate it. I would highly recommend you stop handling your snake for the next few weeks and work on lowering stress.