New ball python hatchling just struck at me??!?!? Wtf????

So I got a new hatchling last week, he's 105 grams, tried feeding him once but he wouldn't eat.

I haven't been bothering him at all.

I just went to change his water, it woke him up, he came out of his hide and struck at me!!!

Wtf!!!!!

My biggest fear is getting a jerk snake.

It's an hatchling that should be expected to him you are a big predator this is a normal response that goes away has the animal grow and should be gone by the time the animal is 250/500 grams.

Getting an hatchling and not expecting it to strike is like getting a puppy and not expecting it to have an accident in the house, it happens. :gj:

Haha thank you. I guess I was spoiled with my first ball python who has never struck!

Deb, I couldn't have said it any better if I tried. :rofl:

I ended up with 2 baby BP's both were under 100 grams when I got them, One earned the name "Bitey" for just that purpose

it's a little over 30 days later, and she is way more calm now. I had one bite me on the webbing between my thumb and first finger

it surprised me, but didn't hurt or break skin, so they can't do much damage at that size.

Even the most tame and docile snake may strike at you if the situation is right. I have a very sweet yearling BP who has never shown defensiveness beyond hiding his head, but he bit me once because he thought I was bringing him a rat when in fact I was trying to clean his enclosure. Totally my fault, I should have seen the signs of him waiting at the entrance of his hide with his neck in an "S" shape and realized that I had done things that made it seem like I was going to feed him (like going down to the basement and coming back up, he can feel the vibrations), which is what I do when I am thawing his weekly rat).

The majority of BPs are very docile, and even the bitey ones aren't jerks, they are just scared and trying to defend themselves.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by siwueofk

...I just went to change his water, it woke him up, he came out of his hide and struck at me!!! Wtf!!!!! My biggest fear is getting a jerk snake.

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You didn't give him enough time or the right cues (HINT: your scent &/or touch) to recognize you. You invaded his home & scared him...you got what you deserved. ;)
Snakes cannot recognize us by vision alone, so remember how scary-BIG we are to them! :O Snakes (even captive-bred ones) are wild animals that rely on instincts
to stay alive, & IF they were capable of understanding that they have been "sold as pets" their biggest fear would be getting a jerk owner. :D Give the little guy a break!

I have a little guy that's only about 50 grams more than yours and he has struck at me twice. Both times my fault and it didn't even break the skin. Give him some time to get used to you.

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If King Kong reached into your house unexpectedly you'd bite him too! :rofl: