for those who raised their bci's from a baby...

Did your bci's go through a weird "teenage" period when they stopped being so cute and cuddly and started being a little more aloof? I am NOT trying to personify my snake or anything, but when I take him out of his cage, he seems intent on getting away and trying to roam around everywhere. Maybe he's just an intrepid explorer looking for rats, or maybe I am just used to my Bps who just curl up in coils around your hand.
When I first got Apache, he would always be content to slither all around on me, my arms, and getting stuck in my hair. Now he wants to get away! Will this pass, as he gets bigger and heftier?

it won't pass, but you will get used to it. mine freaked me out when he started acting this way, because like you said... i was used to lap-dog ball pythons. nowadays when i handle my bci, who is pushing 4 feet at 1 1/2 years btw, i just let him do what he pleases. if he wants to get off of me, i let him, if he wants to curl around any and everything (which he always does), i let him. you'll learn how to handle your bci, it just takes time. i still get a little weirded out with mine sometimes.

also, this behavior baffles me for one reason. my bci is the only snake i own who seems to be completely content with being enclosed. however when removed from the enclosure, it is close to impossible to get him back in again!

I have handled many BCIs at the local reptile museum, all of them at the 7 foot mark. They all seem hyper when taken out, but calm down eventually. One of them likes to strangle my neck all the time :) And like Will said, its darn near impossible to get them back in!

I used to have problems with Homer and Sprocket both. Sprocket loved being out, and she would wrap around anything that was close because she just didnt like going back in the tank. Once inside tho, she just chilled out. Homer kept going up my arm or gettin himself on the side of the tank when i would try to put him back. He wasnt one for comming out, but once you had him out he was a good little boy.

yeah, Apache never wants to go back into his cage. He'll slither his neck over the edge of the cage and try to curl his head around it to prevent me frrom getting him back in!
Thanks for all your responses. It's great that there are people who can relate! Here's a pic of my lil' guy.

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/50110apache4.JPG

With your finger sticking up like that it looks like you are telling him to stay. Just a funny observation.