BP showing signs of aggression. Advice?

So, I feel like I am always posting about my pastel BP!

Any time I get anywhere near her viv, even a couple of foot away when I am cleaning etc she goes instantly into the strike position. Tonight was cleaning night as her tank was needing to have a good scrub and as soon as I removed her hide to take her out her neck went into the tell tale s shape.

As it's not my first experience of her striking I had a trusty pair of gloves on stand by and when she followed my hand with her head when I tried picking her up I stuck them on. She struck and hit the glove twice followed by any amount of hissing. She will twist herself into a position where I cannot get behind her to get her no matter what angle I go at.

When I first got her about a month or so ago she wasn't anywhere near as aggressive as this and I would appreciate any tips you guys may have! (P.S she was fed 48 hours ago so I doubt she simply thought I may be food)

How big is she and what did you feed her?

She is around 200g and a small weaner rat (f/t)

The weaned rats I get are around 36 to 46g. I'm guessing that's about the same for you? Or are they smaller?

What are the temps and humidity levels? She has enough places to hide and feel secure?

Temps and humidity are spot on. Two hides, one at hot one at cold. I haven't been handling her much as she hasn't been eating consistently (2 feeds out of 5 so far) so I basically leave her alone apart from water changes and cleaning.

I'm not too sure on the weight of the rats, I'll quickly pop one on my scales to check! The rat I have (frozen so may alter weight(?) is 51g

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Naom9Anne

So, I feel like I am always posting about my pastel BP!

Any time I get anywhere near her viv, even a couple of foot away when I am cleaning etc she goes instantly into the strike position. Tonight was cleaning night as her tank was needing to have a good scrub and as soon as I removed her hide to take her out her neck went into the tell tale s shape.

As it's not my first experience of her striking I had a trusty pair of gloves on stand by and when she followed my hand with her head when I tried picking her up I stuck them on. She struck and hit the glove twice followed by any amount of hissing. She will twist herself into a position where I cannot get behind her to get her no matter what angle I go at.

When I first got her about a month or so ago she wasn't anywhere near as aggressive as this and I would appreciate any tips you guys may have! (P.S she was fed 48 hours ago so I doubt she simply thought I may be food)

---

It sounds like you may benefit from trying a basic desensitization process coupled with making her feel a lot more secure. First things, it's obviously she does not want to see out of the cage so either put some bushy plants at the fore front of the cage or just cover most of the glass with construction paper or card board. After a week of being alone you can start to pet her gently in the cage about three times a week for two weeks, next you will remove her from the cage for about 10 minutes 2-3 days a week for three weeks, after that you will know her progress well enough to go on with a pace best suited for her. Hope that helps.

The only problem with attempted petting in the viv is I can't physically get close to her without a well placed strike. I will attempt to cover over the glass doors though, it may help! I do really appreciate your input on this matter! :)

She has one retained eye cap which could not come off for love nor money so I have been advised that this may be a problem although the aggression did start a couple of weeks after this. Also she has had mites, I am still treating in case there are some stragglers which didn't come off after the first snake and enclosure treatment.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Naom9Anne

Temps and humidity are spot on. Two hides, one at hot one at cold. I haven't been handling her much as she hasn't been eating consistently (2 feeds out of 5 so far) so I basically leave her alone apart from water changes and cleaning.

I'm not too sure on the weight of the rats, I'll quickly pop one on my scales to check! The rat I have (frozen so may alter weight(?) is 51g

---

51g is pretty big for a 200g snake. I think for younger, growing snakes the recommended range is 10% to 15% of bodyweight.

If she hasn't been eating consistently, she may be hungry. Try a smaller rat...around 20g if you have one.

EDIT: Although if she just ate a large one like that 2 days ago, she's probably not hungry. Hmmm...

If she's truly not hungry she may just be one of the pissy ones. Out of our 20 I have one female that would just as soon nail you as breathe. I had to clean her tub last night as she'd thrashed it, which wasn't a problem as I can pull the tub completely out of the rack and get behind her to pick her up. Even once in-hand she will strike at your other hand or any movement, so my husband held her while I cleaned out her tub, replaced her water, cleaned her 2 hides, etc. Temps and humidity are fine, she's in a 9-level 41-qt rack and it's obvious she wants to be in it as she races to the back as soon as you return her to her home. She has had the same attitude in both rack/tub and tank setups.

We've tried handling her for a few minutes daily except for feeding/digesting days, we've tried limiting handling to when her tub needed cleaning (she got worse), the racks are in a quiet upstairs spare bedroom with no foot traffic, she eats weekly unless in shed, etc. She's just not into being handled.

Unfortunately I only have the 50g and a 66g at the moment (the 66g is for my larger BP)

The one I fed 2 days ago may have been less in weight, they are size appropriate for her (Just slightly larger than her body and I mean very slightly, they barely leave a bump in her) I don't tend to weigh the rats, I simply ask for the size I need when I go in to buy them.