Reasons for a ball to become aggressive?

I've had my het albino male for a while and he has been great, but over the past few weeks he has become overly aggressive. If he is in his hide, I can lift it off and pick him up, but within a couple minutes hes striking at my hand. Sometimes as soon as I start to pull his tub out, he comes out of his hide and starts crawling towards me ready to bite me...like he's saying "Come at me bro!" I cant even get close to him when he does that. He weighs 300 grams and my temps are: Hot Spot=91 Cool Side=79-81 Ambient temps of 79-80 and Humidity=55 no shed 70 in shed. I have two identical hides and a water bowl, which I change every other day. What are some reasons for this? And do you have any tips on how to handle him? I know not to set him down after he bites, because that will reinforce the idea that if he bites, he gets left alone....but is not handling him when he's coming at me doing the same thing?

How long is "for a while"?

What is his feeding schedule and prey size?

Ive had him 4 months, I feed him every 5-6 days and I feed between 10-15% of his body weight each week.

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Originally Posted by pigfat

Ive had him 4 months, I feed him every 5-6 days and I feed between 10-15% of his body weight each week.

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Sounds like he's definitely had time to settle in and is eating properly (had to ask :) ). On one hand, this could be his actually personality and he's finally relaxed enough to show it. I have a rescue that didn't start snapping until I had him for about 6 weeks. On the other hand, he could just be "moody" from seasonal changes or indigestion. One more possibility is that his tub is too big, making him feel threatened when you open it - add some hides, crumpled up paper, etc., to make sure there is very little open space.

I would invest in a small snake hook to help you get him out if you're concerned about him snapping. You don't really teach snakes "bad behavior" by "giving them their way" when they bite - they aren't like dogs. If it is stress, though, then reducing handling will help him feel more secure. When you do handle him, stay pretty much in one place, like sitting on the couch, without a lot of activity going on around you.

The only thing I could think of was he's hungry, but you are feeding him right. It's possible its just his personality. I have a few that are pissy.

Aggression = Fear

If he is well fed and still striking at you then he is afraid of you.

The best way I've found to show you are not a threat is consistant short handling sessions. Every couple days or so (unless sheding or if he just ate) just take him out for a little bit and then put him back. It will take time. It could be months, even years for some BP's, but eventually he will learn not to fear you.

Don't want to jinx you, but before I lost my collection, I had two (one Orange Ghost and one Cinny) that were just little punks. Especially the Orange Ghost, who spent his whole life thinking he was a blood python.

I may just let him bite me a couple times...get it over with since I havent been bitten yet.

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Originally Posted by pigfat

I may just let him bite me a couple times...get it over with since I havent been bitten yet.

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This is gonna' sound weird, but it's not getting bit that really bugs me. It's the getting struck at part that makes me a little wonky.

He could be going into shed maybe? Have you looked him over real good, to make sure no RI, or mites? Also could be his personality. Out of the 5 we have, 4 are teddy bears, but one female that usually is just grumpy. I saw a video on world of ball pythons, where a guy packed (not forcefully enough to hurt it, gently) his aggressive snake into a ball. Thus taking it out of "fight" mode, and putting it in "flight" mode. Said only to do with very aggressive hatchlings. We tried this with a few times with our grumpy girl. What a difference it made. Now we don't have to worry about her striking all the time, she really chills out when you do it. Kinda like telling her you are the boss. May be harder to do with a bigger snake though. You might search the video on world of bp.

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

I saw a video on world of ball pythons, where a guy packed (not forcefully enough to hurt it, gently) his aggressive snake into a ball. Thus taking it out of "fight" mode, and putting it in "flight" mode. .

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I saw this as well, Garreck DeMeyers was doing it if I remember correctly. I'll try that! And I'm positive there's no mites or RI.

And I know what you mean about getting struck at.

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Originally Posted by heathers*bps

The only thing I could think of was he's hungry, but you are feeding him right. It's possible its just his personality. I have a few that are pissy.

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My 100% het Clown male Mosby is a jerk.

Has been ever since he "got comfy".

When I open his tub to feed him, he goes into "Cobra mode".

Meh.

I have lots of nice snakes to snuggle.

The het Clown girls seem to like him okay so he can just be here for his genes....:D

One thing I learned along my journey is that during cooler weather you can walk out on the porch with a snappy BP for a minute or two and it'll calm them right down. Not a long term solution for behavior modification, but very helpful if you need to chill out a real nipper so you can weigh them and look them over carefully when required.

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Originally Posted by pigfat

I saw this as well, Garreck DeMeyers was doing it if I remember correctly. I'll try that! And I'm positive there's no mites or RI.

And I know what you mean about getting struck at.

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Couldve been Garreck, but Im pretty sure Justin Kobylka did one too. Heres the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7DQssbM0uk

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Originally Posted by mattchibi

Heres the video

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Those 4 in the tub were crazy jumpy! :rofl:

I wouldn't take him out of his hide. It defeats the purpose of a hide which is to hide in it. I never handle my snake when he's in his hide; I wait for him to come out.

Wow! That video was amazing. My Baloo has not been agressive at all but if she starts biting I'll know what to do.

I really like that video, those deserts were crazyyyyyy!

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Originally Posted by k8nkane

I wouldn't take him out of his hide. It defeats the purpose of a hide which is to hide in it. I never handle my snake when he's in his hide; I wait for him to come out.

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With a BP, that could be a long wait.

Bites aren't that bad, you'll be fine. If you don't think he's hungry he might just be a grouchy snake like someone mentioned. Some are just plain grouchy and like to show you whose boss, but they typically are fine once they are out of the enclosure and in your hands. I don't really believe that bps have the capability to learn that biting you means they are left alone, they are very primitive. I have biters that have bit me over and over and I don't put them down, they just keep biting me.

[QUOTE=mattchibi;1756631]Couldve been Garreck, but Im pretty sure Justin Kobylka did one too. Heres the video QUOTE]

You're right matt, I dunno why I was thinking Garrick? Oh well!