New Bp "Keegan"

I just bought my very first Snake a Bp @ a Reptile Expo.
Bought him all the thing's i'm sure he needed.
My Neighbor handled him with out a problem,no striking etc.
I held him for the first time for hardly a minute until he decided to get aggressive. I haven't been able to hold him sense,He acts like he's going to strike every time. I understand today has been a bit stressful on him,Will the whole Defensive act go away? Or what should i do?
Thanks for any advice....

It should go away, the more you handle him the more he should settle down although let him settle in for a few days. I have one right now that does the same, he has been that way the entire time I have had him but is becoming more tolerant of it.

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Originally Posted by keegan87

I just bought my very first Snake a Bp @ a Reptile Expo.
Bought him all the thing's i'm sure he needed.
My Neighbor handled him with out a problem,no striking etc.
I held him for the first time for hardly a minute until he decided to get aggressive. I haven't been able to hold him sense,He acts like he's going to strike every time. I understand today has been a bit stressful on him,Will the whole Defensive act go away? Or what should i do?
Thanks for any advice....

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I recently got my third BP, a het Russo named Alisha. She was about 8 months old, and the breeder didn't handle her too much. I'm glad she wasn't my first snake. I've found that she is getting used to being held, but will still hiss and get all bowed up. I've been just taking her out when she's asleep and handling her before she has a chance to be all defensive. Seems to be working, and she's getting used to it. They younger you get them, the easier it is. Getting bit really doesn't hurt more than a puppy bite, it's mostly mental. Hope this helps

Did you just get him today? If so, leave him alone for a week so he can settle in. Only handle if you need to change substrate. He is probably just stressed and should calm in time.

On the other hand, me and my bf got two baby balls about a month ago and his (2 months old at the time) has been very defensive/aggressive since we've got him even with leaving him alone for a good week. Some just need longer to settle in and if your turns out like my bf's (very agressive since getting him) we've been working with him in short handling sessions and the baby has been getting calmer and calmer.

Thanks for the help..
I guess the whole aggressive behavior has me a bit freaked out,
And it's hard not to just grab him and kinda check him out,the whole being mean thing has gotten to me. I really hope he settles down soon .

BPs are known to be docile and calm. I'm sure he'll settle down. But you really need to leave him completely alone for about a week first. If he's stressing, he'll get defensive. Leave him alone and let him get used to his surroundings. Once he's relaxed in his cage, you can start to handle him again for a few minutes at a time. Start slow and be calm and confident. Put him away if he seems to get agitated and get him out again a little while later.

You need to walk a fine line at first. You don't want to put him away if he's reacting out of aggression since you don't want him to learn if he bites, he gets put down. BUT you don't want him stressing either. Try to put him away before he stresses to the point of aggression. Again, go slow but be persistant. He'll eventually be fine. :gj:

Oh man, when I first got Jackson, I posted a thread almost exactly like this. He made me so nervous because he struck at me twice when I first brought him home.

I gave him a week to settle in, then I fed him, waited two days for him to digest, and THEN started handling. I would only pick him up tentatively at first, and only hold him over his tank. This only lasted a few days. Now he is the most amazing lap snake!

Your baby will get better after you both get comfortable with eachother. Just give him a little time. :)

So far Keegan is staying in his hut and occasionally coming out . He has been staying balled up,
Going today to get a higher watt day bulb,I figured if nothing eles i can just talk to him and let him know everything is cool,Im not gonna eat him nor would i like im to snack on me lol.
I'll post pics soon if he grace's me with his presence lol.

I think alot of times they pick up on your anxiety. If your calm they tend to act different.

Going to feed Keegan friday and hope it goes well and wait til monday or so to try and make contact...