Really pissed off my snake

I am a new owner, just got my bp 2 weeks ago. My son got one a month before that, he is about 16 months and 480g. I was checking on his and noticed that he had pooped in his enclosure. He was in his hide on the opposite side and I gently slid it over an inch or 2 and then removed the paper towels on that side and replaced them. I wanted to make sure the other side of the cage was clean and I had been wanting to weigh him, so I picked up the hide and lifted him out (with attempts at confidence....I have never owned my own snake and I am nervous getting them out of the enclosure). He did not seem pleased with being held so I quickly weighed him and then put him back. Instead of jetting for his hide like I expected he turned around and reared up aggressively. I tried to put his other hide back on the side I had spot cleaned and he struck repeatedly at the hide, slamming into it 5 or 6 times. I had to block him with a paper towel roll so I could put his water dish back, and he even struck the side of the tank a few times after I closed it.

So clearly, I really pissed him off. I have reached into my snake's cage and done spot cleaning, replaced the water dish, etc with no issues. I did not expect that aggressive a response, he usually seems pretty mellow but my son only handles him about twice a week. Does this mean I should remove him for spot cleaning if it causes him so much stress? Should I not have gotten him out after doing cage maintenance? It was almost time for a feeding so I don't know if that makes them more defensive being hungry, definitely not a feeding strike. From what everyone says on here ball pythons are pretty docile and rarely strike. I am nervous about reaching in there now, and I had been really trying to get over my fears! Btw, we got him from a friend who is a breeder and he was handled regularly by him. Thanks for any thoughts/advice!

Lol...I have had a few that make me think twice. Sometimes you just need to grab them and pick them up. They are usually fine then. I have one that is way more aggressive than my others. He will strike from weird angles and even when being held, which most won't do. Although he strikes a lot he has never connected. I think he is trying to warn me but I just ignore him and know he will never be the snake I take out for the kids, although my 11 year old always picks him up and gets struck at also. These are wild animals that sometimes don't conform the way we like. If you are totally worried about it get a hook to pull him out a bit before you grab him. Then it is easy to turn him the way you are comfortable picking him up.

Update....we fed my son's snake that night. Then left him alone for 2 days. Tonight my son changed his water and then tried to get him out. He apparently turned around and bit him on the hand. No real injury of course, but he immediately left him alone. Should you leave them be after they strike? Or should you proceed with handling so that you don't encourage cage aggression or something like that? I really want to be comfortable handling this snake when we need to.

i used to have snakes years ago me and my mate used to breed them so i used to get bit on a regulre basis and to be honest its something that you would laugh at more then anything we stopped breeding and sold up. now im getting back in to it and im to nervous some times about getting bit Evan tho i know it dose not really hurt its just a awkward sensation so i just want one to hurry up and bite me so i can get back in to the mind state of it lol but i promise once you get your 1st bite out of the way you will not be arsed if you get bit again..... this dose not go for emerald tree boas they are not happy guys

I would just pick them up if that was what I wanted to do in the first place, but that's just me. It's been a really long time since I got tagged but there is way more fear into getting bit than pain, not that I enjoy it. The hardest thing is not pulling away as you don't want to harm the animal by pulling away.

I have had my snakes for about 3 years now and never been bit. But sometimes my snakes will rear up to strike, what i highly recommend is just distract the head and get the back middle! It works well for me!:snake::) Goodluck!

I think both you and your snake need to get more comfortable with each other. If you are nervous about reaching in the cage and the snake naturally fears foreign objects coming at it, you are going to get a reaction. Come up with a routine for handling your snakes. Like many, I always approach them from a side or back angle (they will almost always react if you come towards their head) and I then just rub them on the fat part of their body before picking them up. The whole action is fairly quick though since they sooner they come out of the cage, the sooner they calm down (and start to accept your hand as their new environment). If I can't reach them with my hand, I have a small snake hook I use to rub their side and they usually quickly change out of defensive mode.

My big sweet BEL girl the other day was looking at my hand like she wanted to eat it because of the motion I was making as I was reaching in to clean the glass of the front window. She was tracking my hand like it was a huge rat and before she made a strike I took my hook and gave her a little rub and she visibly calmed down and went out of feed mode. I then picked her up and had a little handling session.

As you handle your snakes more you will become more confident and they will be more trusting of you.

A quick bite and retreat is defensive behavior. We look like big Godzilla predators to a baby ball python, and we're invading its home.

When the snake does strike out at you definitely don't retreat, just pick it up, especially at this age. If you can distract it with something like a paper towel roll so much the better.

I would hold it or have someone hold it while you clean everything, and only put it back when it's calm so it doesn't learn that striking out means you go away and leave it alone.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think we will be investing in a snake hook as I continue to hear it is a useful tool. Last night we tried to get him out again. He was in the corner in a position hard to get to him from the rear. We rubbed his back with a paper towel roll. He did strike it once but then sat still while we rubbed a few more seconds. I put the roll between his face and my hand and grabbed him around the side. He was calm in my lap, not exploring but not balled up tight. My son was making up his bed about 5-10 feet away and he kept half-heartedly striking when he would pass by but settled when he sat down. Not sure why he seems so defensive all the sudden but we will keep at it!

My guy likes it out of his cage, Both my daughter and i take him out all the time. He eats on Saturday so by monday he is ready to come out and see a little of the world. I started this routine when he was a little guy and just fit in my hand. now he is a pretty big guy at over 900g but still likes to come out and lie in my lap and explore. I love the fact that he is so calm, my daughter actually will drape him over her sholders and walk him around the sun room . i think if as a little guy you do a lot of handling it will help, I have a 15 min. rule start with 15 min. a day and increase it as he gets more used to it. My husband never handles him so when he tries to do anything is the viv, nugget just goes into his get away position and hubby leaves him be. I guess my guy just loves the gals.