new ball python is hissing any help or tips please

In my case, I recently bought a 3 month old ball python. I let him settle in his new enclosure for 4 days also. It was my first ball ever so at that time, I decided to man up and handle him. He started hissing ( maybe because he was sleeping/disturbed ) so I gave him another day. The next day, I opened his enclosure. The enclosure was in good size for him (small enclo for a small snake). He started to go out of his enclosure so I handled him that time. I let him explore my hand until he gets used to it. Its been 6 months, I can safely pick him up except when he is sleeping, that's just rude! xD

Happy Keeping!

Well guys and girls we have just fed raptor his second feed and another success I also managed to pick him up before feeding to put some news paper down over his substtate without him hissing he was holding in his striking position but never struck out wich is a good sign so there is improvement with him only problem in my concern is that he let go of the meal for a bit then ate it bum first which was a bit of a struggle for him then head first but I couldn't really get him to let go I know this can be a problem with adult rats as the claws can cause problems if eaten bum first but he seems fine think I'm gonna have to give him a bath after he's digested because when he was squeezing some of its inside came out onto top of his head do you lot think he should be cleaned straight away incase of bacteria or anything like that Start to grow ?

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I would leave him unless you can wipe off his head without actually picking him up. If you pick him up he might barf and that can be deadly.

Ok thanks I will leave him for half hour or so as he has just eaten in last 10 mins them I will try wipe him down with a warm damp cloth thanks for your advice

My little guy never hissed but he did strike at me once a few weeks after I got him. I moved him from a 20 gallon tank to a 15qt tub. He calmed down a lot, and now is totally fine and calm when I handle him.

I should probably note that I also now very rarely pick him up if he's in one of his hides. I open the tub and only take him out if he starts climbing out on his own. He normally comes out of his hide on his own after I take his lid off. If he doesn't, I leave him alone, check his environment stats, adjust if necessary, and leave him alone. He seems a lot more comfortable with this combination of changes.


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Originally Posted by bumblebella

My little guy never hissed but he did strike at me once a few weeks after I got him. I moved him from a 20 gallon tank to a 15qt tub. He calmed down a lot, and now is totally fine and calm when I handle him.

I should probably note that I also now very rarely pick him up if he's in one of his hides. I open the tub and only take him out if he starts climbing out on his own. He normally comes out of his hide on his own after I take his lid off. If he doesn't, I leave him alone, check his environment stats, adjust if necessary, and leave him alone. He seems a lot more comfortable with this combination of changes.


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Thanks for your advice he has stopped hissing at me now but still goes in his striking position I've been leaving him alone when he's in his hides and when he's out i've been keeping my hands in his set up for 5 to 10 mins for him to get used to my sent then also now and again not picking him up fully but just been resting my hand on him or underneath him to get him used to been touched he does seem to be calming down slowly I'm sure he will be fine soon after repeating this method he's bit me once when I first got him but he's stopped hissing and striking out now but still holds his striking position.

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