Help! Why does my BP keep trying to bite me?

We have a screen top on our enclosure, and when I put my hand on it she tries to strike me... I dont get it :confused: shes really sweet and this just doesnt make sense, could her enclosure be too small? what else could be stressing her out? its starting to make me sad :tears:

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Originally Posted by JamieH

We have a screen top on our enclosure, and when I put my hand on it she tries to strike me... I dont get it :confused: shes really sweet and this just doesnt make sense, could her enclosure be too small? what else could be stressing her out? its starting to make me sad :tears:

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More likely the enclosure is too big, or she does not feel secure. Can you give details about your setup?

A little more info would be appreciated. How big is her enclosure? How long have you had her? How old is she? Have you changed anything? How many hides do you have for her? It is hard to give an opinion with so little information....

If she is striking its because she is afraid.

Does she have at least 2 fully enclosed hides in her enclosure? Is she out of the hides when you put your hand on it?

shes about 6 months old, but weve only had her for about a month and a half, shes in a ten gallon aquaruim with her waterdish on the cool side which actually might be a little to big, there is only one hide, which is totally my fault (the waterdish is to big..) I know it doesnt seem good considering all of the information ive found, but she was fine until recently. everything has been the same since we brought her home.

Do you feed her in that same tank? You really need to get her husbandry correct. Not only is she stressed but she could be mistaking you for food.

we feed her in a seperate thing, its like a tupperware tote. because I dont want her to miss and get the substrate stuck in her throat

She is probably just stressed. Put a smaller water dish in her enclosure, along with another hide. I would also consider covering all the open sides but the back to give her a little more security. Try to leave her alone for a few days and see if she starts to settle in. I have a little albino that just loves to try and get me. She is always on the look out to get a hold of me..lol I doubt that yours is this way if she was sweet at first though. It really sounds like stress....

You really need 2 identical hides, one on the warm side and one on the cool side, it is very important for the comfort and well being of your BP.

Also what are you feeding her and how often?

we feed her hoppers(?) there pretty small, we feed her every saturday..even around the same time

Hopper Rats, or mice. If it is mice that seems a little to small to me.....

My suggestions is to get her another hide and cover up 3 sides of her tank with black paper in order to give her a better feeling of security if it is stress. If not it still couldn't hurt anything.

It could also be because she is still hungry after her weekly feedings. Hopper mice are called so because they are weaned and hop around, does that sound like the prey you are using?
Anyway I would recommend either increasing the size of her prey (not bigger than slightly bigger than her biggest girth) or offering her another after her first mouse on feeding days.

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Originally Posted by dragonboy4578

Hopper Rats, or mice. If it is mice that seems a little to small to me.....

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I don't think there are such a thing as hopper rats, that would be awesome though, and now I have the image of a weaned rat hopping around stuck in my head:rofl:

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we feed her hoppers(?)

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But yeah just be sure you mean mice not rats right?

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Originally Posted by Agent73

But yeah just be sure you mean mice not rats right?

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right.

My advice?























































Stop putting your hand on the screen top.


dr del

I think if your gonna be a snake keeper you have to learn to deal with a possible bite and if so just take it. You have to re-train your mind that its no big deal. When you reach your hand in to pick up your snake, go in with your back of the hand first in a fist position. That way you dont get tagged on your fingers. Then just scoop him up. He will either strike and release or do the typical head shy, turn into a ball thing. Either way dont be scared and show em who is king;)