Why does my girl insist on treating my hand like prey

[JimmyBalls]

I've had snakes for the most part of my life and I'm acustomed to getting bit on the odd occasion...more often by juvies but my one girl who I picked up about 5 months ago doesn't seem to enjoy my company.

Everytime I go to pick her up she'll try to bite. I pick her up anyway and she puts herself into a "attack" position by raising her head as high as possible then will snap at me, last night 4 times in a row. When I put her back into her enclosure, she immediately gets herself into that attack position and stalks me really, I move to one side of her enclosure....she follows me, I move to the other side....she follows again and if I get too close to the plexi-glass, she snaps at the glass.

Could my BP be having some PMS issues or ???? Any help will be appreciated....I've had this long of a break-in period with any snake.

[Darkice]

How old is she? If she is very young she just might be scared. Make sure she feels secure by having a good hide and make sure temps are right so she isn't stressed. Eventually she will get used to you. Its not natural for snakes to be friendly to people. Takes them a while to get used to our big ugly faces.

[JimmyBalls]

She was hatched in early 08...her enclosure is a snakes paradise...lots of hides,water hide, trees, vines just missing the day spa...temps are good...humidity will not get above 55% for me at this time of year...hence the water hide...guess I'll just keep on trying to win her love

[Crusader71]

Maybe she is just showing you love!!! On the serious side it might be just her personality

[JimmyBalls]

Maybe she is just showing you love!!! On the serious side it might be just her personality

great first my wife now my snake

[boboso]

Yeah could just be her...

I would say the usual stuff (food smell on hands etc) but you mentioned you have had snakes before... My thinking is she is spooked or stressed (not sure why) but if she is treating you as a threat (biting) and as snakes are "instinctive" wired, that seems to make the most sense.

We got lucky on our adopted normal as he/she is a sweetheart even during current shed, blue eyed etc. We are pretty scheduled on how to pick up the same way all the time (mid body) and to give a "wake up tap" prior.

Good luck and keep trying.

[icygirl]

I don't have a whole lot of experience with this stuff BUT... I would reiterate to watch out for weird smells. BP's are very attuned to scent. My 2 year old female, is an absolute sweetheart. The ONLY time she hissed and went into strike position was after I had come home from the doctor's office and reeked of "doctor smell". So maybe it is something that you are handling often that she is reacting to?