Mad Ball Python?

Hey Guys I was wondering, since I am pretty new with snakes, what to do if my ball python strikes me? Should I place him back in his cage or try and handle it even more? Anyone got any tips? He recently hissed at me and I am guessing that is because it looks like he is coming close to a shed.

If you get bitten i wouldn't handle him for a long time but i would NOT put him down when bitten because then he will get the idea that bitting means he will be put down. I would just hold on to him for another minute or two and then put him back in his cage. You just have to show your dominance over him and he will calm down some (while still being gentle, otherwise they will always be stressed around you). But yes shedding can make them a little more stressed than usual so that's probably all it is.

The hissing is normal. If I get struck I usually leave them out, if they want to be mean they don't get what they want (which is usually to be put back).

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Originally Posted by codymchenry

Hey Guys I was wondering, since I am pretty new with snakes, what to do if my ball python strikes me? Should I place him back in his cage or try and handle it even more? Anyone got any tips? He recently hissed at me and I am guessing that is because it looks like he is coming close to a shed.

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Define what kind of bite? Was it a "searching for food" which would be a bite and then a coil, or was it a bite and release, which would be defensive. More info of your set up would be help, like your caging, humidity, temperature, do you use a UTH, or use bulbs. What about hides and eternal bowl/bowls. They're are so many things that can make a BP feel insecure and in turn make it aggressive.

And I forgot, ball bites really don't hurt. :P they bleed a little and may sting but it's no big deal.

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Originally Posted by zeion97

Define what kind of bite? Was it a "searching for food" which would be a bite and then a coil, or was it a bite and release, which would be defensive. More info of your set up would be help, like your caging, humidity, temperature, do you use a UTH, or use bulbs. What about hides and eternal bowl/bowls. They're are so many things that can make a BP feel insecure and in turn make it aggressive.

And I forgot, ball bites really don't hurt. :P they bleed a little and may sting but it's no big deal.

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Thanks alot guys and a defensive bite. My cage is set up with fir bark as substrate, one hide, and a water bowl. I have moss in the hide. With heating i use two lights one being a red 60 watt light in which i keep on 24 hours and a 100 watt heat lamp in which i keep on during the day. During the day the humidity is around 30 % and heat is 95 and night the humidity is 50 % with a low of around 75 to 80. I also use a heat mat which is placed on the warm side of the tank. Any tips or anything i need?

The humidity needs to be around 50-70% and you need to have two identical hides, one on the hot side, and one on the cool side. Also most people try to keep hot side about 92 but 95 isn't terrible.

Edit: Also i don't know about the fir bark, somebody else can confirm that for you. If you can smell it, then it most likely isn't good for your BP.

Don't use any softwood bedding if you aren't sure is a good general rule as cedar can be fatal to BP. I use aquarium and aspen bedding I don't feel a hide on the cool side is necessary because my BP likes to soak I put a hide in the cool half and he'd rather chill in the waterbowl. Don't feed him in his aquarium use a separate container completely that takes the cage aggression out. If he still hisses or strikes my guess would be stress from insecurity make sure the aquarium and his hides aren't to big or open they like snug almost cramped hides to go in to feel secure and if he feels secure he won't strike defensively. And I strongly believe in holding the snake frequently. But truthfully its just about makin the snake happy because even he hisses since he's a BP hes likely stuffing hope this helps

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Cage aggression is more a myth than anything else. There is no need to remove your snake from his enclosure to feed, as moving them shortly after eating causes stress and possibility of regurgitation.

To the OP: bp bites really don't hurt, the tend to bleed more than what they should, if you ask me. Paper cuts hurt more :rolleyes:. You can continue to hold your snake so he learns you are not going to hurt him, but only for a few mins as handling them can add more stress. Usually when they are going into shed is when they're more pissy.

Dont know if this has been said yet, but if you just recently got your snake, I personally wouldnt hold him at all until you got him feeding once or twice. Once hes on a regular feeding schedule, if hes still striking defensively or being nippy, you should take him out daily for a few minutes at a time, except for the two days after feeding. The more you handle him, the better he will realize that although handling may not be pleasant, they always get to go back to their enclosures afterwards.

Good luck! Use gloves if youre scared the first time, Ive never been bit by a bp yet but only an adult BP bite would really scare me. Hatchlings are cute and cant really do much ;)

That's a good point that you brought up about not handling he snake if the OP recently got it, Matt :gj:

I wonder why I didn't say that in my first post :rolleye2:

Cage aggression is very much fact hardly possible for a ball python though that is what control studies say. My BP is very social I will get him out and he'll wrap around my neck for hours can pet him on the head he doesn't flinch but I hatched him and give much attention to my snakes, you can handle quite a bit just increase handling gradually and don't just yank them from their hide. When basking is best as they are likely awake aware and won't be surprised by your hand and one they feel your warmth and relay they will grow more and more trusting of you.

reptifnatic

I have two ball pythons that are in feed mode when I apporach their tubs on feeding day. I would not take them out to feed in a seperate container because I know I would be bitten in an attempt to do so. I feed my snakes in their tubs and I have zero issues with them being aggressive normally.

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Originally Posted by ballpythonluvr

I have two ball pythons that are in feed mode when I apporach their tubs on feeding day. I would not take them out to feed in a seperate container because I know I would be bitten in an attempt to do so. I feed my snakes in their tubs and I have zero issues with them being aggressive normally.

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"Cage Aggression" = a scared(defensive) snake or a hungry snake. The idea of snakes defending their "homes" makes me laugh. They have no attachment to them and most would escape in a second if given the chance. In their eyes you are either not a threat (so they tolerate handling), you are a predator(so they defensively strike), or you are food and they treat you as such. I guess if you break it down yes there can be aggression towards you from your snake that is in a cage. But to say that its aggression is occurring because of the cage is ridiculous.

my girl has usually only hissed at me when in shed & was getting grumpy with my frequent intrusions to spray her bedding. once she'd found a nice warm hiding spot under my daughter's shirt/sleeve & had curled up in her armpit & hissed in displeasure at my attempts to remove her, lol.
when she's in full feeding mode & is "hunting" for the rat she smells coming on feeding day, i can see she's very alert to every movement near her cage so i'm more careful to keep my hands out of that mess, lol.
only made that mistake once & almost got tagged, lesson learned.
also my girl started out with loads of attitude but with regular handling she calmed down & although sometimes she still likes to be a brat i just laugh at it.
i do watch her body language though & gauge my movements & activities accordingly. if she's in shed i know she's already stressed & pissy so i try to keep my intrusions minimal at best, non existant when she's in blue (at that point she cant see & i know i'm bound for a bite so i keep my distance).