Striking position all the time?

Hey guys I recently bought my BP (actually yesterday). When I was in the store, dont worry it wasnt pet-smart, it was a local reptile store who gets his snakes from local breeders. When I was holding him in the store his body was in the striking position but if I faced him away he wouldnt turn his head to me so I knew he wasnt going to strike. Now he is in the enclosure, underneath his hut when I peak in he is always in the positon. He will stick his head out stare at me, then go back in. When hes coiled up, he also consumes the striking positon but his head is never in my direction. Should I be worried when I handle him? (not that bites hurt, I just dont wanna rip his teeth out or hurt him)

give me a week or more to let him get usto his new place

Yeah when you hold defensive snakes away from your face, they usually don't strike, so that sounds normal.

I also suggest letting him settle in, then go ahead and hold him as much as possible to get him out of that mind frame.

Don't handle or feed you little guy for a week or so. He is in a new environment with new sights and smells and needs time to adjust to it all. Just make sure he has clean water and that his temperatures and humidity are correct. Here are a few links to help you out:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...Husbandry-FAQs

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ll-Python-FAQs

:welcome: to BP.net

thanks all that replied, yeah I guess i'm just to ambitious into thinking he will be a "vicious" snake.

Funny you post this topic I got mine on friday night and im actually going threw the same thing so dont worry we are both in the same boat but I would love to hear what you have to say as time progress's and I will be sure to tell you how Im doing with the snake .....From what you described my snake is the exact same way

The little guy is just scared of the big monster coming to eat him! LOL! I would not bother him until he eats a couple times for you! I know its hard but he needs that settle in time to get comfortable with his new surroundings! Once he has eaten a couple times then start handling him once a week and slowly handle more! You just have to be slow and patient! Congrats on your new pet and welcome to the addiction!!!

I just got my guy a couple of days ago, haven't handled him at all as I'm letting him settle in. He stays in his hide on the warm side and I just lift it up to make sure he's ok. He was in strike mode the first day but I don't blame him as he just got here :)

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How big is he?

Let him settle for a week, handle briefly every other day or so after that, wear gloves if he really is striking. And FEED him! Young snakes are usually hungry hungry all the time. (But don't feed in his tank, because he really will start to think of your hand coming in as food. Get him a shoebox or cardboard box or something.)

Some young bps are nervous and defensive for a good 6 months to a year before they really calm down. If he turns out to be one, stick with him--males almost always chill out once they hit breeding age.

I feed all mine in their tubs in the rack all the time. No issues... in fact I was in the never been bit club for far too long.

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Originally Posted by corgigirl9

I feed all mine in their tubs in the rack all the time. No issues... in fact I was in the never been bit club for far too long.

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Be careful of what you ask for.

Every snake is different. Some will feed in a seperate container without any issues and others will be too stressed to eat when moved. I have a normal that strikes at me every chance it gets. If I were to attempt to feed this snake in a seperate contianer, I would surely get bitten. I feed both of my snakes in their enclosures and do not have any issues.

They always look like that "S" position when you first get them. Nervous and curious like others have mentioned. When I approach my snakes for handling I will first mist up in the air and let it rain down on them sorta and that imediately takes them out of any "possible strike" frame of mind:gj:

Thanks all! Very helpful, yes he's about hmm, I wanna say 15 inches or so? He's a baby :rolleye2: but he's very curious about me and he does wonder outside his hut, I checked temps, everything looks good. 90-92 on warm, 80ish on the other side. Changed his water this morning and checked him out. I will post pictures, he is very beautiful!

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Originally Posted by adio369

Thanks all! Very helpful, yes he's about hmm, I wanna say 15 inches or so? He's a baby :rolleye2: but he's very curious about me and he does wonder outside his hut, I checked temps, everything looks good. 90-92 on warm, 80ish on the other side. Changed his water this morning and checked him out. I will post pictures, he is very beautiful!

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Just though I would check up on this post and see how your doing with your snake as my snake is like stuck in the "S" position so I just though I would ask how your doing ? and how your progress of making him feel comfy is going .. Would like to hear if its good or bad lol Because mine is bad been tagged about !0 times in the last 2 days :(