Mean snake!!! Is it likely they grow out of it with handeling?

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Originally Posted by MarkS

This is what is known as anthropomorphism. You are trying to apply human attributes to an animal.

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I always called it "apples to oranges." :P
Learn something new every day.

However, great post. Don't worry, we all do it from time to time.

Yeah, I had a nipper just a few months ago. Get some nice solid gloves and hold him (?) for about ten to fifteen minutes. Gently rub him and what not. Hopefully over time it will get better. As for you girl who won't eat, read around the forums for great feeding techniques.

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Originally Posted by Joe Cope

Yeah, I had a nipper just a few months ago. Get some nice solid gloves and hold him (?) for about ten to fifteen minutes. Gently rub him and what not. Hopefully over time it will get better. As for you girl who won't eat, read around the forums for great feeding techniques.

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I really wouldn't waste the money on the gloves, a baby snake doesn't hurt. I would just work with her, and over time she should calm down.

OK... I have had her about a week now. She has bit me and I feed every 7 days she is probably the most aggressive eater I have I have only fed her once but it was a few miss strike's but there was no hesitation or wait as soon as the drop the mouse in she took to it... Maybe I should increase to every 5 days???

As far as me calling her mean, I guess thats kinda right I was pretty much comparing he temperment to the other ball that I have... When I actually handle her I touch her from behind which is kinda hard because she is so small or I leave her head covered a little, But sometimes once i have her she will strike at anything close... Thought it was cute but I have a neice an nephew who likes to hold and handle my snakes I have explained to them not to touch unless I am here and because kids are kids everyone makes sure they dont come in my room without me being here...

She is in a rack AP economy rack maybe i'll remover her tub cover it and use a hermit crab uth I have. I use one hide as i seen is used by bigger breeders and is said to be fine but imma add a second.

My purpose for this was that I told my friend she would grow out of it, I kinda just wanted reasurance that it's possible... Although I picked the snake I wanted based off pattern if it was something that cant be broken I'd keep her myself but I'll have her atleast another month, So I'll try to get her to cam down using things suggested and trail and error...

I'll start with not disturbing her for some time unless needed...

I think i answered everything... Sorry so long, But thanks for the help!

I'll just comment what everyone else has. To me, she doesn't look like she's mean, and I don't consider the snakes to be mean. She looks frightened to me.

At her size, I'd offer her food every 5 days rather than every 7. When she starts to consistently refuse at every 5 days, move her back to every 7.

When you go to take her out to handle her, if she's in that strike position, gently touch the top of her head with a paper towel roll or water bottle to get her to duck her head, and then confidently pick her up.

She may be very tense in your hands if she's frightened. The MOMENT that she relaxes, put her back up. Keep the handling sessions brief and positive.

By putting her back up the moment that she relaxes, you are rewarding her with something that she wants, being able to retreat to the safety of her hide. With some conditioning, she'll start to realize that relaxed behavior will get her, her reward. You can then start to slowly extend the handling of her while she's relaxed and then putting her back up first after a minute of relaxed behavior, then after 5, and so on.

Good luck with her, don't give up on her. She's just a tiny baby, and you are a big predator in her eyes, she doesn't understand your intentions are not to eat her.

When I first got my guy he was very scared and a striker like her. As stated in my other thread leave her alone for at least week (I gave my 2 weeks). Besides cleaning, checking humidty and chaning water completly ignore her. If she strikes at you when you're in the her habitat cleaning just act like nothing is wrong. The strikes don't hurt at all. After a few weeks start holding her 10-15mins every other day until she gets used to you. The key is not to stress her out. If she's hiding all the time she's happy. Give her time and remember be slow and no sudden movements. If she strikes well then just take it and keep trying.

As for feeding I took a few tips from the forums and came up with a process it takes about an hour but it will let her know when it's feeding time. It should hopefully also keep her from striking when you're in her habitat cleaning or picking her up. Also after feeding leave her alone for 24-48 hours and try to not to handle her on feeding day unless you're feeding in a separate tub.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...4&postcount=20

She is just a scared little one. Give her some space. I would stop all handling (except for cleaning) for 2 weeks. Obviously keep feeding her. After the two weeks are up, see how she is. I am sure she will relax by then. Remember, this is a baby snake, everything around it is a potential predator. She is just trying to protect her tiny self!