New bp is snapping at me?

I just got 2 bp's two days ago, they were in a cage together at the pet store. I got one one day and the next day went back for the other. The first one I got is so sweet and lazy, the second is very feisty and active. The girl working at the pet store says she's been bit 6 times by it. So far everything has been fine, my boyfriend takes them both out a couple times a day and lets them do their snake thing outside the cage for a bit. Tonight I took both of them out and set them in the floor on a blanket (cause lazy snake likes to burrow in sheets) and I was putting a new hiding place in their cage. I was finished so I but lazy bones back inside and went back and knelt down to pet the active one and pick her up and she struck my finger, didn't actually bite but put her mouth around my finger. I have no idea why she did that, is she just scared or nervous? Because it freaked me out and scared the crap out of me. I wasn't moving fast what so ever and I was calm when I tired petting her. Will she stop being so mean when she gets older and used to me and her new environment?

She is probably scared. I mean to her, you look like a giant monster who is probably gonna eat her. Move slow and give her more time to get used to your smell and the fact you aren't gonna eat her. I'm sure she will calm down. My little 6 week old high white pied girl bit the pet store manager 6 times or so and was a problem eater. I got her home and set her up and in 2 days she ate 1 fuzzy mouse, then day 3 she ate 2 fuzzy mice and day 4 she ate a rat pinkie and today was the first day I actually handled her and she is a sweetie. Sits on my arm and looks around and doesn't try to bite at all. Just give your gal a week.

Also, don't reach for the head. Reach around towards the back. For snakes, predators come from overhead, i've found that if I reach behind, to get the coils and avoid the head, my grumpy/scaredy snakes don't strike as often.

http://youtu.be/Heqx7dYdBZ4 this vid is, imo, gold, and goes over snake behavior and instinct and handling. I'd recommend giving it a watch and remember, to your snake you're a huge predator who might want to eat her/him. Be patient and think of how you'd feel if the role was reversed. She freaked you out, but you terrified her to the point of striking out to protect her life.

PS. Just because these snakes were housed together in the pet store does not mean they should be housed together in your home. Your post doesn't make it clear if they are in the same cage, but for the health of the animals I hope you are keeping them in two separate enclosures!

Outside of that, every BP is different and some have more feisty attitudes than others. Just move slow, take it easy, and give her time to acclimate to you.

I love the way the man in the video handles his snakes. He's confident but gentle. I hate to see videos of handlers that are just indifferent to the snakes and are kind of rough.


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Originally Posted by calmolly1

I love the way the man in the video handles his snakes. He's confident but gentle. I hate to see videos of handlers that are just indifferent to the snakes and are kind of rough.


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I do too. I have a lot of respect for him because his animals arent just a source of income, they're his pets. In fact I like his 'style' so much I bought a snake off of him! The bel, and she is a very gentle, inquisitive and handleable snake. Just going through and watching his other vids has taught me a lot!

Also, if one of your bps is striking I would suggest NOT taking the snakes out together or at the same time. You don't want to accidentally scare your snake(s) and have one bite the other on accident.


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that is an excellent video. i have got my wife to watch it because she is a bit unsure around the strike feeders

You are trying to handle your new pets to soon. Give them a week to settle in with out handling. Other than the necessary cage cleaning and water changes. After which handle them for short five minute secessions. You can gradually increase handling as time goes by. I know it's hard not to handle them, however it will help them to trust, you in the long run.It will most of all limit there stress. I imagine yours are still babies, that being so young ones are often a bit nippy. It should grow out of it with time. Finally welcome to the forum and the ball python addiction.:)

Well it's a wild animal, it's defensive, it is stressed because of the change of environment, and food (not knowing if it was fed adequately) can be an issue too.

Just leave it alone, let it settle for a week, feed it a few times and than start short period of handling.