=(

So on feeding day I begin the normal routine. I pick up her hide, wait a couple of minutes and go to pick her up to take her to another location. Everything is is normal up until the point I have a hold of her. She clings to my hand with all her strength and strikes at my palm!

She didn't draw blood or even pierce the skin but I'm still sad. This is the 1st time she's struck at me. I have handled her once since the incident but I hope this won't happen again... or often.

Why do you wait a couple minutes to transfer her to her feeding tub? Personally, I'd recommend just feeding in her enclosure. It's easier on her and you.

Thats what happens when you remove snakes from their enclosures to be fed. They know whats up the second you walk in the room - feed inside the cage, leave the hide where it is, and let her feed from the hide. Some people think feeding in the cage causes aggression, which is nonsense.

Yea, when their hungry they strike at just about anything. I feed in their enclosure and have absolutely no problems with it.

I think if you want to continue feeding in a seperate tub then perhaps a small snake hook will help you. The snake is in feeding mode by feeding day, you may smell of the prey item, you are a big heat signature and it's instinct to feed is in overdrive. Quite natural really that it would go for you. A strong feeding response is a great thing. Your snake also may be recognizing your feeding routine and just got a tad over excited. A snake hook or a glove and a quick transfer to the feeding tub, if you wish to use one, is probably better and safer all the way around (or just feed in it's home enclosure and avoid the whole issue).

The substrate. It's aspen and I don't want to change it.

Do you think things will get worse the older she gets? Or will she become more accustomed and comfortable with me in as time goes on?

Sometimes I feel like bp.net is more like MythBusters for ball pythons...

Their systems can handle a small piece of aspen here and there, accidentally ingested during feeding. No need to change it out.

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Originally Posted by Dreamer

Do you think things will get worse the older she gets? Or will she become more accustomed and comfortable with me in as time goes on?

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She will become more conditioned to when its feeding time and when its not feeding time. I've found that all of my adults are completely laid back during handling, but are merciless with the rats on feeding day.

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Originally Posted by Dreamer

Do you think things will get worse the older she gets? Or will she become more accustomed and comfortable with me in as time goes on?

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Only time will tell.