My baby girl struck at me today.

So, like the title says, my 8-10 month old ball python struck at me today. I was in the process of moving her to a larger enclosure, so I needed to put her in another container whilst I cleaned and sanitized the tank.
Her feeding tub was the only thing I had on hand, so I put her in there. Well after about 5-6 minutes of cleaning I looked dawn towards the tub and saw that she was getting pretty close to the top(its a fairly deep tub). I knelt down and kinda peeked over the edge to look at her and was all like, "Where do you think you're going, Gemma?", and she struck right at my face. Scared the crap outta me, but I think I may have scared her, too.
She has never done this yet in the month that I have had her. She still balls up a bit and flinches when I go to pick her up, but loosens up after a minute or two. I try to handle her at least 2-3 times throughout the week.
Is this something that I should be worried about, or did I just startle her by peeking over the edge of the tub? Cuz right after she did it she backed off, and I was able to pick her up just fine a few minutes later.

Just startled her. It's ok. Even the sweetest snakes get scared.

She was in her feeding tub...She was expecting food, so she stuck...

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Originally Posted by coldbloodaddict

She was in her feeding tub...She was expecting food, so she stuck...

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Will keep that in mind. I just didn't have another suitable container to put her in while I was occupied. I'm still kinda debating(with myself) the necessity of a feeding tub at all.
Is aggressiveness really an issue?

You just startled her and it was just a natural reflex for her to lunge forward. And, as far as your face it was what she saw first, not because she was trying to hit you.

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Originally Posted by MikeJuggles

Will keep that in mind. I just didn't have another suitable container to put her in while I was occupied. I'm still kinda debating(with myself) the necessity of a feeding tub at all.
Is aggressiveness really an issue?

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IMO not with a Ball...

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Originally Posted by MikeJuggles

Will keep that in mind. I just didn't have another suitable container to put her in while I was occupied. I'm still kinda debating(with myself) the necessity of a feeding tub at all.
Is aggressiveness really an issue?

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This is a highly debated topic. If you want to continue to feed her in a separate container, and she's eating regularly, go ahead. If not, feed her in her tank. I feed all mine in their tubs and have no problems with aggression.

I use to believe in taking my normals out of there tubs to feed in a seperate container. But, not no more and I don't have any problems in handling them or doing any maintenance with them in there tubs.

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Originally Posted by coldbloodaddict

She was in her feeding tub...She was expecting food, so she stuck...

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X2, I would chalk it up as a feeding response, she's just hungry ;)

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Originally Posted by MikeJuggles

Will keep that in mind. I just didn't have another suitable container to put her in while I was occupied. I'm still kinda debating(with myself) the necessity of a feeding tub at all.
Is aggressiveness really an issue?

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I used to believe this too but after reading alot on this site i dont anymore. Instead now i just feed them right in their tubs. I have seen zero difference. If you open up the tubs and they look pissy or like they wanna bite just put on a glove and get them out, as soon as theyre out theyll be ok.

I have one who will only eat in a seperate tub that is where she gets fed all my others I feed in thier enclosure. Absolutely no agression or mistaking my hands for food. The one exception was my fault I tried to move a peice of driftwood out of the enclosure to feed I already had the rodent warmed and sitting near the enclosure my hand was warm and smelled like a rat and well bam MY FAULT all the way so I would feed in the enslosure just make sure to keep your hands out of thier faces when they smell like a rat :)

Snakes bite once in a while, you'll have to get used to it eventually. It's not usually an aggressiveness thing (unless it's an overall aggressive snake, but it doesn't sound like the case here), they're just doing what snakes do for whatever reason instinct triggered. Could be anything from feeding to being startled to simply not being in the mood for interaction. Trust me, a bite from a baby ball python is a lot like being sneezed on by a kitten. Startling, but harmless (at least the bites I've gotten, and they weren't even painful)

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Originally Posted by coldbloodaddict

she was in her feeding tub...she was expecting food, so she stuck...

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x2