Extremely irritated BP

Here is the back story: I work at a pet store, and recently a customer decided to force a BP to unball and by the time I took it from him the BP had decided that it was going to strike at everything. I left it alone for about a week or so before handling them again. It has now been about two weeks and he is still getting very stressed whenever the cages get pulled out(whether we are opening their cage or not).

What would you recommend besides just regular handling to get him out of this funk?

My first question is does this BP have proper cageing/husbandry (temperatures/humidity/hides)

If the cage has a thermal gradient of 90 degrees on the hot side and 80 degrees on the cool side. Humidity levels between 40% & 60% ( and these temperatures/humidity are being measured with a reliable instrument(s)) as well as proper hides (fit snugly and only have one enterence/exit) then there isn't much that you can do.

Give this a read: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

The only thing missing is the one entrance hide(unfortunately they wont let me put anything that isn't a half log in there as I prefer the little small animal castles over everything because they fit a BP perfectly).

If everything is right husbandry wise (I forgot to mention not dropping the temperature at night and not using a bright white heat lamp 24/7 (an infrared would be much better))

Than simply leaving him alone as much as possible is the only advice I can give you.

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Originally Posted by RColemanVT

they wont let me put anything that isn't a half log in there.

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Next time anyone out there thinks the big chain pet stores have the animals best intrest at heart, read the above statement very closely. They do not care about the animal's security or well being, they only care that little Richard and little Jane can see the snake through the log hide. Also, notice the log hides are never butted up against one of the cage walls. No, they're always situated so you can look right in side. That's not an accident.

RColeman, I understand you're in a bad spot, knowing the right thing to do, but not being allowed to do it by corporate. Good luck with this little guy.

Try dominateing him while your holding him next time. Might help the nipping and striking everywhere.

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Originally Posted by viper8940

Try dominateing him while your holding him next time. Might help the nipping and striking everywhere.

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x2 Firmly but gently. Dont hurt him but let him know youre not afraid of his act and he'll go into defensie mode and calm down. See if u can get your manager to let you put more fake plants in the tank to at least make him feel a little more secure...

J. Kobylka has a video on this that might help:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7DQs...ure=plpp_video

Actually if he doesnt have anywhere to hide in the tank then hes streesed bc of that. So pulling him out and dominating him really isnt fair. If your boss wont let you put in better hides then i would just minimalize handling him. This is a lose/lose situation either way...

What's the name of the pet store you work at and where? Just curious. I would put the correct hide in there anyway regardless of what a manager says. Put it in and if they take it out, put it in again. They can't let you go for that because they know they're wrong... Trust me!

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Originally Posted by Spyderco1116

What's the name of the pet store you work at and where? Just curious. I would put the correct hide in there anyway regardless of what a manager says. Put it in and if they take it out, put it in again. They can't let you go for that because they know they're wrong... Trust me!

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X2 I would set it up perfect so the little guy feels safe. In your manager has a problem with it make him change it. And when he does I would call corp. let them know how the animals are being treated. They most likely won't care but will have to address the situation. In doing so they will hopefully do what's right for the animal.

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Originally Posted by Rob

X2 I would set it up perfect so the little guy feels safe. In your manager has a problem with it make him change it. And when he does I would call corp. let them know how the animals are being treated. They most likely won't care but will have to address the situation. In doing so they will hopefully do what's right for the animal.

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Great minds must think alike!!! :) Glad you agree with me. THANKS!!

Thank for the tips, I have moved the half log into a corner so that they can hide in the corner somewhat covered(gotta work with what you have). But I will definitely talk to a manager about it, they do listen to me at times because I got our beardie off of sand substrate by telling them the dangers of having the little ones on it.

My guess is that he's stressed out because he doesn't feel secure. Being in a pet store is hard for a bp as I'm sure you are well aware of.