Very nippy ball python tips

Hey everyone my new ball python I got is rather mean, I know shes stressed from the move and STARVING as the last guy didn't feed her anything but 2 mice in the last almost month so I know shes hungry.... She bit me immediatley after coming home and i fed her that night (usually i let them settle but she was just at front of tank trying to get out so i decided to give her one) she ate so fast and still is looking for me today lol I plan to hold her today as she has had 48 hours to digest, Just wondering if anyone has some tips to limit the amount of bites i get or how to tame her a bit? Please let me know thank you!!!!! :snake:

Patience, for sure. It's unusual for BPs to be nippy, but some are- and like you said, it's combined with hunger too.

For snakes that are literally afraid of us, it can help to cover them with a small towel while you hold them for at least 30 minutes- giving them time to get used to your scent & touch, while being unable to see you or bite you for being "scary" to them. In time, if you do this, most snakes learn to feel safe (hiding under a towel) while learning to recognize us by our scent & touch, so that when you finally start letting them peek out, they aren't so apt to bite you.

You'll still want to keep your movements slow & your hands UNDER her as much as possible, while she get used to the idea of you being so close & yet not being a threat to her. I'd say it's very possible that her previous owner wasn't all that nice to her either- pity snakes can't talk- she may have been teased or handled roughly- assume she has reasons for her opinion of you so far & try to forgive her & help her get beyond her past. I think she will, in time. I hope so.

Whatever you do, remember she's not "mean" or "aggressive" but just defending herself. ;) It's up to you to show her she's finally safe with you.

Personally, I wouldn't be in any hurry to handle her. She's clearly not ready. Get her feeding regularly first. That's the most important thing. In the meantime, rather than handling her, I would just sit by her open enclosure. Let her get used to your presence, your scent. Repeated exposure will teach her that you're neither a threat nor food. When she comes to you to check you out, then she's ready to be handled. Start with brief handling. Work up from there.

When I said mean I just meant she bites alot, I don't think its a mean snake... Like i said in my post.. I understand she's stressed and hungry, so thats probably why. My only goal is to make her feel safe and taken care of as I realize she's probably not had the easiest life. Try to forgive her? I don't hold a grudge for her doing whats natural to her.... I was more worried about her teeth and her than her biting me... thank you for your post :)

She keeps coming to the front to check me out whenever I'm near.... but yeah I will wait a couple weeks and let her settle and eat, I'm going to feed her every 5-6 days. Thank you so much for your post!

She so deserves a good, considerate owner like you. :gj: And you'll get there, I predict. She'll calm down.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

She so deserves a good, considerate owner like you. :gj: And you'll get there, I predict. She'll calm down.

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Awww thank you!! I really hope she does!

I had a nippy female snake. I wore gloves at first and handled her a lot. Every day actually, for about an hour or two at a time. I'd watch her behavior to avoid stressing her. Essentially just let her control the situation. Let her stay balled up or roam etc. Obviously, I would skip the 2 days after her initial feeding. But then went right back to handling her. Took about 2 weeks. But she has snapped at since those first few days.
I used a snake stick to remove her from her enclosure and made every interaction positive and calm. I even held her the entire time I prepared dinner, she didn't seem to mind, actually shows signs of being curious.
Patience seems to pay off in this scenario.
Hang in there.