Automatic Reaction to Strike

Hey All,

I haven't been on for some time because of life and also Tanveer has been doing awesome. I just have a quick question:confused:

He ate last night and tonight I was putting him back into his viv after I had cleaned it out for him. Everything seemed fine. While he was out I held him, a friend 'pet' him and he seemed content but curious. Well, I was putting him back in his viv, he was 1/2 in and 1/2 in my hands still (he's about 3 1/2 ft.). For some reason his heat lamp must have freaked him out and he struck at it. I wasn't expecting it, and then literally in a knee jerk reaction I freaked and dropped the rest of him on his hide:O. The lamp was off so he didn't burn himself. I always do that when I have him out just in case this type of situation were to happen. Also he didn't get dropped far at all and he was fine.

My biggest problem is that I had just got done telling my friend what a laid back snake he was and how I have had him for almost a year and he hasn't struck or hissed once ever since that first week he arrived!!! So I was completely unprepared for his strike tonight:O I am just wondering if any of you experienced that type of reaction and if you would recommend I do anything differently to change my reaction??? I would have been much more prepared had he been sassy or struck more then once in the last year LOL.

Caught Off Guard Completely!

:D;)

Okay so I did some research on another subject here and discovered my own answer (sorta) accidently as to his sassy behavior. I usually don't move him at all for the next couple days after feeding but tonight did long enough to move him into his tub so I could clean his viv that I had spilled water in.....sigh. So I am guessing the out of the blue strike was potentially because he had eaten the night before and wanted to be left alone still?! So I don't need to stress that my laid back bp has turned to the dark side? LOL.

That is almost certainly what happened.

I have 7 of the sweetest most laid back young BP's out there, but if I disturb anyone too much right after feeding, the crankiness comes out in force!

So take it as a lesson learned, and do your best not to mess with them too much right after eating.

Gale

Thank you so much Gale!! I would have to say that I DEFINATELY learned my lesson LOL.