Any suggestions for agressiveness?

[Coins]

I picked up a new girl today. Shes het for albino and completes my breeding pair. Shes about 3 weeks old and mean as hell. lol. She has tried to tag me numerous times already just on the way from the breeder's store to her nice, cozy enclosure. I bought some gloves and after I give her some time to acclimate Im going to start handling her. Im just shocked she is this pissy. She even seems to prefer to go for the face when she thinks she gets close enough. To be honest, she intimidates me. My other two balls are mellow and have not tried to strike once. Any suggestions to calm this behavior? I dont want a full grown ball trying to go for my face at every opportunity.

[starmom]

In my opinion, she is young and feisty and stressed out. Were she mine, I'd put her in a small little tub (16qt with 2 hides and a water bowl) and I would leave her alone for a couple of weeks except for tub maintenance

[Argentra]

heh... sounds like my male Het Albino. He has major attitude. He hasn't tried to strike yet *knock knock* but he does hiss every time you disturb him. I just don't handle him at all except for tub cleaning and it seems we both prefer it that way.

There's always one...

[BMorrison]

I live in Michigan and it gets pretty cold here. I used to take fussy snakes (Racers, Garters, Black Rats) whatever that would be crabby outside for about 5 minutes when it's cold out. They'll seek out your body warmth and I never really had problems with them after that.

[Coins]

I live in Michigan and it gets pretty cold here. I used to take fussy snakes (Racers, Garters, Black Rats) whatever that would be crabby outside for about 5 minutes when it's cold out. They'll seek out your body warmth and I never really had problems with them after that.

Its funny you say that. The breeder didnt seal the bag all the way that my little girl was in. On the way home she found the small exit and I picked up the bag to try to coax her back in and thats when she went for my face...while I was driving. lol. She then got out of the bag and wrapped around my hand, staring at me with her mouth kinda open. I quickly stuck her in front of the AC vent for a second to cool her off. She balled up and I was able to get her home without further incident till it was time to leave the car.

[Mochelem]

I have a male 100% HET male albino, and he is as mean as you can get, ever since I started feeding him double he hasnt struck at me... Just a though but maybe the snake is hungry....

[blackcrystal22]

Ahah. Your right Argentra, theres always ONE.
My corn is that one.. so far anyway.. she doesn't bite but man oh man she gets mad in plenty of other ways. (holy crap I just looked at her cage and shes out drinking! irony!) Guess she knows tomorrows feeding day. ;]

Some snakes can just be aggressive. The only thing I can advise is to wear gloves and try to handle her for 5-10 minutes every few days in a calm setting so she isn't too stressed. Is it just me or have I noticed Albinos being complained about with aggressiveness recently? O.o

[rabernet]

She isn't mean - she's terrified. She's just three weeks old. Has she even had her first meal yet? She's a baby, you're a huge heat emitting predator in her eyes. She gets put into a bag, which she finally escapes, the predator picks her up and she uses the only means that her tiny body has to defend herself, which is to strike out to try to ward off this huge predator.

Give the baby time to settle into a nice cozy small enclosure (I'm using six quart tubs for my hatchlings) with a tight hide with no touching for a week, offer her a hopper mouse, if she eats, you can work on short, positive interactions with her (15 minutes a day). If she doesn't eat, leave her alone another week and repeat until she feeds for you.

Understand the snake, and where she's coming from. She's not mean, she's frightened.

[Coins]

She must really be stressing. I noticed that from last night until today she stayed in reltively the same spot with her head kind of looking up. She did not use her hides at all. She did not have a traditional hide in her hatchling rack so I was curious if she was scared to go in the hide. My first snake would not go in until I slid his head through and then he realized what it was so I figured I would try this approach. I slid the top to the side and she tracked the ceremic bulb. Shes terrified of it. After I slid the top over, she struck at the bulb at least 25 times in quick succession. Its a normal setup up, 20L, screen top, bulb and fixture on the screen. I put my gloves on and showed her the hide and she went halfway inside.

Has anyone seen them strike at the heating bulb? Im curious if she sees it as a large predator waiting above her.

Edit: Im going to wrap the enclosure in black background so she cant see anything except her enclosure.

[Argentra]

Ok, first off that is not a normal setup for such a small snake. A 20L shouldn't be used until they're at Least 3-4 Months old.
A snake that little should be in a 6qt or at most a 12qt tub with a little water dish and coconut half or other small hides. That snake is probably Majorly stressed out.

On the hides issue, I have noticed that snakes coming from places with no hides or improper hides usually avoid any hides in their new home until a few days have passed and they 'realize' the hides are safe, dark spots.

Go to WalMart and pick up a 6 or 12qt tub ($1-3), melt some ventilation holes in the upper sides and lid, get some binder clips or mini bungee cords to secure the lid, use some flexwatt or a 1-5gal sized UTH to heat one side underneath, put in some paper towel, a little dish and hides, and leave them totally alone for a while. Things should improve for the little one in a smaller enclosure.