BP temperment

[Creeptastic]

Hey guys, Iwas just wondering what your experience has been with baby ball pythons, temperament wise. How the react to being held and such. I have a 6 month old , and when I hold her, she is quick to want to get away, and goes into strike position, but she has not struck at me yet...its more of her doing it, flicking her tongue, and then moving on. Does not like being held at all. I know that in time she will get used to it, and am not worrying, just curious what your experiences have been. Thanks!

[Kaorte]

Usually babies are pretty fidgety. With some steady handling they should grow out of it.

[stratus_020202]

Yeah, I have a pet store baby, and she's pretty jumpy. I'm thinking she was a November/December baby. I also have two others that were bought from a breeder. They have wonderful tempermants. They don't even wrap around my hand to hold on. They just lay limp and sniff around, will even crawl up your hand out of the cage.

I think pet store babies have more security issues. Depending on the pet store. I know the pet sore here doesn't even have a hide for the bps. I'm hoping the one little will calm down eventually. She has struck me, but it was right after a shed, I was cleaning her cage. It didn't hurt at all, and I just shoed her into a hide and let her be.

[Creeptastic]

Yeah, I could see how pet store ones would be more jumpy. Always see them in tiny overcrowded tanks with no hides.

[grim reaper in NY]

it's a defense mechanism that's born into them. They are small and must survive in an environment where there are many larger animals that prey on them. When they grown in size and realize they aren't going to be harmed, they will calm down. I have also found that captive bred babies from a breeder tend to be more accomodating than those you find in a pet store. It's just the environment I think more than anything else.
Keep the faith and be patient. You'll be rewarded with a very docile and calm reptile if you spend time with it in the end.