New ball python bit me. Need a little help from experienced owners.

So first of all I'll just give all the general information about my new ball python:

Name: Aki
Length: 4ft (guesstimate)
Age: About 2-3yrs
Tank size: 30" X 12" X 12" (I plan on getting a way bigger one when I save up the money)
Temperatures: Cool side 25°C, Basking side 32°C
Humidity: 55%
In tank: log hide, log, rocks, fake plants, water bowl, ect.

So my friend owned a ball python but couldn't take care of him anymore so I offered to take him of her hands. I love reptiles and have been taking care of a Bearded Dragon for 3 years now so I thought it'd be fine.

So I set his tank up in a corner of my living room and left him alone for a week except to mist whenever he needed it. Today I went out and bought two live feeder mice and when I got home and tried to take him out he simply bit me. It scared me more than anything else because whenever I went to my friend's house he was so chill and would let anybody handle him.

Did I decide to take him out to soon? :confused: How long should I leave him there before I try to take him out again to feed? This is my first time owning a snake so I am inexperienced. Any suggestions would be fantastic.

He might have smelled the mice on you if you were handling them. It also could just be the stress from moving. I wouldn't take him out of his tank to feed him and I'd leave him alone for another week before trying anything else. Good luck!

Regards,

B

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Simple Man

He might have smelled the mice on you if you were handling them. It also could just be the stress from moving. I wouldn't take him out of his tank to feed him and I'd leave him alone for another week before trying anything else. Good luck!

Regards,

B

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I didn't handle the mice at all since I read already that it may make them bite. But ya it would probably be best to leave him for another week.

Thanks. :)

He was probably not handled much. Do not reach in going towards his head. This can trigger either a fear/defense strike or a feeding response strike from any snake. Use something to touch his body before picking him up or lay a small hand towel over his head before picking him up. Both of these will snap him out of the striking response.

Once he's out, gently handle him allowing him to crawl through your hands. If he wants to crawl away from you, slowly bring your hand up his body from behind to his head. Gently (barely touching him) bring your hand over his head and down the front of his face to block him. This action is often used to calm larger snakes like retics and burms. Over time, it eases head shy snakes from jerking back if you touch their head. It also helps to calm the snake and earn it's trust. It gets use to your scent and slow, gentle touch.

If it was a feeding response strike, then I'd recommend feeding him every 5-7 days. It is the time of year when BPs come out of their breeding season feeding strike and eat like crazy.

Oh, and always put a couple days between feeding and handling to allow for proper digestion.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

He was probably not handled much. Do not reach in going towards his head. This can trigger either a fear/defense strike or a feeding response strike from any snake. Use something to touch his body before picking him up or lay a small hand towel over his head before picking him up. Both of these will snap him out of the striking response.

Once he's out, gently handle him allowing him to crawl through your hands. If he wants to crawl away from you, slowly bring your hand up his body from behind to his head. Gently (barely touching him) bring your hand over his head and down the front of his face to block him. This action is often used to calm larger snakes like retics and burms. Over time, it eases head shy snakes from jerking back if you touch their head. It also helps to calm the snake and earn it's trust. It gets use to your scent and slow, gentle touch.

If it was a feeding response strike, then I'd recommend feeding him every 5-7 days. It is the time of year when BPs come out of their breeding season feeding strike and eat like crazy.

Oh, and always put a couple days between feeding and handling to allow for proper digestion.

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Wow. Never new some of these things before, thanks a lot! This was definitely very helpful. :bow: I'll make sure to keep some of those things in mind when I go to take him out of his tank next time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xXNibiNoNekoXx

Wow. Never new some of these things before, thanks a lot! This was definitely very helpful. :bow: I'll make sure to keep some of those things in mind when I go to take him out of his tank next time.

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also dont jerk back from a bite.
they really dont hurt.
plus you'll scare him away more each time you try to touch and he scares you back.
kinda gives him control.
just reach in for the tail and lift. the faster you get him in hand the less time he has to scare you.

Sent from my MB611 using Tapatalk

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sookieball

also dont jerk back from a bite.
they really dont hurt.
plus you'll scare him away more each time you try to touch and he scares you back.
kinda gives him control.
just reach in for the tail and lift. the faster you get him in hand the less time he has to scare you.

Sent from my MB611 using Tapatalk

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Definitely makes sense, that works for most animals.

I backed off because he really startled me but next time I'll try and "stand my ground" a little more I suppose.

Thanks a lot guys. :)

You may have startled him. I often, when I'm working too fast, don't let the snake wake up when I go to clean it's cage, so I get a good snap. This is when I know I'm working to fast and need to slow down a bit. If he didn't coil, it wasn't a feed response in my opinion, it was my fault. My method, always come from behind, much harder for them to strike you then, and even then, attempts often miss. It's how I deal with rosy boas mostly, but works with ball pythons as well, I do it so I don't scare them into hiding their head, theres no need for that. I don't like stressing them. Now that you know, I can bet it that will be your only bite form that snake, approach is soo key. Slow and steady, come from behind, underneath when at all possible, and try not to touch the head. Also, I would bump up the cool side temp just a bit, even 26-27 is better. This should get you a nice feed response hehe. ~Caylan.S.~

Something else you can do that may help is each night take the shirt that you wore that day and lay it on the screen top of the tank. This will help him get used to your scent...

and :welcome: to BP.net

All this advice is right on the money, but since you are new to owning snakes, I highly recommend reading through the caresheet on ball pythons here: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

Just because your friend was doing it, doesn't make it right.

If this baby only has one of those open ended log hides, that's probably not helping anything. Ball pythons need really tight closed hides, or they get stressed. Since a major move is stressful enough, a major move combined with a feeling of insecurity is going to make for a cranky, snappish ball.

We look forward to helping you down the road with this marvelous addiction called ball pythons.

Gale