things that make you go hmmmm

I was up last night with yet another evening with insomnia, so i took Nagaina out of her bin. I have the water bowl on the back side center of the bin and she was all stretched out along the back wall squeezed between the tank wall and water bowl.

I, as always, when I go to take her out, I removed the hide she is under. I gently touch the back end of her body so as not to startle her (she's still getting used to people but she is doing great!) and then I pick her up back end first.

well, for whatever reason it sounded like she hissed at me. I thought it was one of my cats at first, but none to be seen. can BP's hiss, and if yes, why?

it was funny...I jumped about 3 feet and got my adrenaline pumping lol

thanks in advance

Yes, ball pythons can hiss. why? Because they are just like any other snake. Also it's a defense mechanism. My ball python has only hissed at me one time and that was when I first got him and he was still getting used to the new enviroment.

that makes sense. guess I just never thought much about a BP hissing. I've heard other snakes hiss, but never a BP. thats kind of cool though, even though it was meant to ward me off, it was a cool sound. dont want to make her do it again though. that was the first time she hissed at me though, so hopefully it was just a cranky day for her and nothing major.
what do I do if it continues to happen? should that indicate a trip to the vet?

OHHHH yea they can hiss and some do it all the time.. LOL

IMO, touching it's back before picking it up... or poking it... or stroking it... or what ever it is that people do before that pick them up it kind of dumb. Some animals kind of play with there food before eating it. Such as cats that will bat around a mouse and play with it before they kill it. Poking/touching/petting the snake suggest (to me) that you want to eat him and your just testing him.... causing him to hiss! If you want to hold your BP without it getting defensive just raise the hide and pick him up instantly.

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Originally Posted by Kilo

Some animals kind of play with there food before eating it. Such as cats that will bat around a mouse and play with it before they kill it. Poking/touching/petting the snake suggest (to me) that you want to eat him and your just testing him.... causing him to hiss! If you want to hold your BP without it getting defensive just raise the hide and pick him up instantly.

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Nice Advice.... My Bp hisses almost every time I pick her up. I've learn in this two years I've own my BP that picking her up fast is the best thing.

Another thing, if your snake hisses more than twice in the same attempt, leave her alone. Two much hissing means you are getting a strike to your hand without a doubt. :colbert:

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Originally Posted by Kilo

IMO, touching it's back before picking it up... or poking it... or stroking it... or what ever it is that people do before that pick them up it kind of dumb. Some animals kind of play with there food before eating it. Such as cats that will bat around a mouse and play with it before they kill it. Poking/touching/petting the snake suggest (to me) that you want to eat him and your just testing him.... causing him to hiss! If you want to hold your BP without it getting defensive just raise the hide and pick him up instantly.

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I always touch them before picking up as well. How would you like to be sound asleep and get woken up by being instantly picked up?

It's all about routines, touching on the back each time equates being picked up.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

How would you like to be sound asleep and get woken up by being instantly picked up?

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It's not like your going to sneak at you snake to pick her up in the shadow of the night. Of course you need to let your snake know you are going to pick her up. But is not a good thing flickering your fingers on the snake's back (petting) as she/he is hissing to warn you. :snake:

I always talk to mine before picking her up - before I touch her (their sight isn't good) - she hears the glass door sliding then I say a few random things so she knows its me.

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Originally Posted by Razaiel

I always talk to mine before picking her up - before I touch her (their sight isn't good) - she hears the glass door sliding then I say a few random things so she knows its me.

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Umm... I was under the immpression that snakes can hear nothing at all... due to the fact they have no ears... and that that can feel vibrations and use that.