Striking BP!!!

Well Tuesday my new 100% Het Albino male arrived (no pics yet sorry). So I had his tub set up and ready to go waiting for him. Well yesterday (2 day into his arrival) I purchased him a bigger water bowl. Well I opened him tub up and began to shift his cold hide around to fit his new water bowl. Well I'll be damned if that little bugger didn't come out of his warm hide and strike at me. I thought I just startled him so I reached down as is I were going to pet him (to let him know he is ok) and SNAP and strikes again. Now I know he just arrived and he is still adjusting but why would he do this? Does he think I'm food? Is he scared and striking defensively? Is he always going to want to bite me? I'm afraid of him now lol... advice, insight?

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Originally Posted by Kilo

Well Tuesday my new 100% Het Albino male arrived (no pics yet sorry). So I had his tub set up and ready to go waiting for him. Well yesterday (2 day into his arrival) I purchased him a bigger water bowl. Well I opened him tub up and began to shift his cold hide around to fit his new water bowl. Well I'll be damned if that little bugger didn't come out of his warm hide and strike at me. I thought I just startled him so I reached down as is I were going to pet him (to let him know he is ok) and SNAP and strikes again. Now I know he just arrived and he is still adjusting but why would he do this? Does he think I'm food? Is he scared and striking defensively? Is he always going to want to bite me? I'm afraid of him now lol... advice, insight?

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How old is the snake? Im sure it is just striking defensively. If you had a stay in a dark box for a day and a half wouldn't you be kind of aggressive? Also, did you handle any other animals or things that animals may have rubbed on. The only time my BP ever struck at me was after I went to petco and was holding cats.

Kyle,
My first answer to that question is it's a Het. Albino. I know that all of my Het. Albinos are snappy. They do tend to grow out of it. All of his brothers do the same thing. Plenty of handling and a little time, and he should be fine.

Well he just arrived Tuesday and it's now Friday. I'd say he's still trying to settle in and those were just defensive strikes.
No need to be afraid of him. I don't know where you purchased him from but a lot of the bigger breeders don't have the time to personally hand tame each of their hatchlings so there is also a good possibility that he' simply not been handled before. All it takes is some time and gentle handling, bites don't hurt from 'wee ones', it's just more of a suprise. So give him another week to settle then see how he is.
Also, snakes don't respond to 'petting' the same way dogs and cats do so it's no good in trying to settle them down, they aren't companion animals and petting doesn't=pleasure for them.

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Originally Posted by Kilo

Well Tuesday my new 100% Het Albino male arrived (no pics yet sorry). So I had his tub set up and ready to go waiting for him. Well yesterday (2 day into his arrival) I purchased him a bigger water bowl. Well I opened him tub up and began to shift his cold hide around to fit his new water bowl. Well I'll be damned if that little bugger didn't come out of his warm hide and strike at me. I thought I just startled him so I reached down as is I were going to pet him (to let him know he is ok) and SNAP and strikes again. Now I know he just arrived and he is still adjusting but why would he do this? Does he think I'm food? Is he scared and striking defensively? Is he always going to want to bite me? I'm afraid of him now lol... advice, insight?

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If i was bounced around as most boxes are during shipping i think i would snap at the first person also :P .Give him awhile to settle in and see if he acts better then.If not then get a pair of gloves until he trusts you;) .

And if I were a little baby snake, and a big predator was in my turf, I'd be pretty snappy too.


Remember, no matter how much you love them, to them, we are predators and as little babies, they are even more vulnerable and more defensive.

No need to be afraid of the little guy, just respect his boundaries right now. And the fear of a bite is worse than the bite itself! Good luck!

tmlowe he is about 3 months old.

muddoc why is it that the HETS are snappy lol? Kinda odd?

I bought him from Bailey and Bailey's Reptiles.. which went real smooth and I would recommend to others! All in all I guess I just need to give him his week alone and then proceed to set up a handling schedule so I can break him in :P.

Thanks to all who replied... it is much appreciated.

EDIT: I don't suppose I should let him strike me.. to show him I'm not food and that I won't go away when he does???

sounds to me like you just triggered the "holy crap its a hunge freaking predator" responce from your little guy. Like they said just give him time ad lots of handleing and you'll have a settled down little guy.

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Originally Posted by Kilo

muddoc why is it that the HETS are snappy lol? Kinda odd?

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Maybe it's just me, but in my limited experience with albino and hets, they typically tend to be a lot more snappy than other BP's.

I know that my het is real hissy sometimes. But he has never struck or bitten. He puffs up and hisses and then when you pick him up he is real active.