SUPER AGGRESSIVE BP....how do you deal with it?

There's a thread in general or somewhere on how to get certified. You basically mail them a demo package, minus snake, then wait for approval.

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Originally Posted by rj1204

I have 3 dogs and they are not allowed in the snake room. I don't know what else could trigger her to be like that. Like I said, I love that she is a great eater (so far) and a huge part of me would take a MEAN good eating breeder anyday over a calm picky eater. Maybe she will settle down, maybe not. I could understand settling down if she only struck when I went into the tub, but she comes from the back to the front the second I come in and gets into strike position.....then strikes of course.

As far as shipping, I will figure it out. I will have to do some research on how to get certified someday anyways. I know I can probably send it Delta or even have a local breeder ship if I pay them a fee.

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So, she's a good eater, and hopefully, a good looking snake. You want to send her back because she's aggressive? Is this the only reason? I would say, give it a few months. She could calm down. If not, just deal with the aggression. If she's going to be a breeder, maybe she'll quiet down after she's bred.

Cool her down to 88 degrees and see if she calms down a llittle bit. She could have been kept at a lot cooler temp and she's not used to the temps you now have her at.

Maybe ask the breeder what substrate she was kept on and change to that substrate.

It's up to you if you want to return the snake, but i would try to work it out first.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

I actually read that sticky on becoming Fed Ex certified just a little bit ago and will probably get that done for future shipments anyways.

So, I have been thinking about my 2 normal girls (one semi-aggressive and the other really aggressive) all day. Obviously BP's can be picky eaters and that seems to be the most common problem amongst owners. My fiesty girls seem to be great eaters and if they do stay on the aggressive side, I don't think I will have to worry too much about them not eating! Also, the breeder I bought them from doesn't seem 100% reputable and I'm not sure I trust making another transaction of any sort with him. I got them to get a good start on breeding and I think they will be good for just that.

I made a hook using my King Cobra five wood golf club and screwed a rubber coated hook on the end......wrapping it in electrical tape where the hook meets the club. So, long story short, I am going to just work with them (the one female mainly). Hopefully she calms down once she sees that she is getting food consistently and has a nice home. I will check on her two times a week......Tuesday is feeding day and Saturday/Sunday is cleaning day. I am just going to use the extra tubs/rack I have and just move her into a clean tub. All my racks are within a degree of each other. Thanks for all the advice. It is good to hear that I am not the only one with a possible mean girl and that there is hope she could settle down and become handlable!

Lol, ghetto hook.

She seems really nasty, but she could just be mad about something or other. I'd give her a chance too. Keep a pair of thick gloves around, especially for your wife.

I've had a few snakes that were just like that. I agree that you have to get them out of the aggressive mode. If i opened up the tub, and just slowly reached in, then they would strike. You almost have to intimidate them, as stated earlier, by getting them to snap their heads back. I do this by fearlessly reaching in, grabbing, and pulling them all of a sudden right out of the tub. Doesn't hurt the snake (just their pride), and seems to work well for me.

Since I posted this thread, I put newspaper over her cage so she could have some privacy and calm down. A few days later, I checked on her and she was in the back of the tub on the heat. I fed her on Tuesday and when I opened the tub, she stayed in the back for about 5 seconds and slowly came towards the front (she could smell the rat). She fed just fine and went back to the heat, where she has been for the last 2 days. Hopefully she is settling in.

When I clean her tub out this weekend, I will probably pull it out, pick her up in the front with my hook, and pick her up in the middle with my hand. I also may just pull her tub all the way out, put a towel over her head, and just pick her up. I don't care about getting bit but prefer not too!

One other thing for the OP to think about since you think the breeder is kind of shady -- you might want to sex the snakes yourself or get it done by a reputable breeder/vet. If everything else about the breeder has been questionable, I probably wouldn't trust their sexing either!

Just my $.02