Aggressive Blue Eyed Leucisitic Ball Python

I just received my beautiful BEL on March 28th, I haven't handled her as I was letting her get use to her environment and she took her first feed Monday. She is about 7 months old and weighs around 200 grams, she is currently eating large mice and I am going to upgrade her to rat pups the next time she eats. She lives in a 36x18x12 tank, she has 2 hides one on the hot and one of the cold side. I also placed fake leaves around the cage and she sometimes hides in them, and she has aspen bedding for substrate. I use ceramic heat emitters for heat, and the hot side temperature registers around 90-95 and the cold side around 80-85 degrees, and the humidity is around 50-60%. I went into her cage to hold her for the first time, and she immediately curled up in a ball, I started to pet her to let her know I was there, then she turned around and snapped at me drawing blood. I then tried to handle her again, not backing down and she snapped again. I didn't want to stress her out anymore so I put the lid on the cage and left her to be since I wasn't making any progress. I decided to look in the cage and she isn't using her hides and is curled up in the corner of her cage in a striking position. I don't want to stress her out, I just want to handle her. Should I use a snake hook to get her out of the cage? What should I do to calm her down to be able to handle her?
Thank you for your time,
Billy

She just sounds fiesty :) I wouldn't be too worried.

Add- you may try going from behind her and slowly pick her up, my 8 month old I have to do this with. He's just a d*ck hahah

I tried to go from behind her, but she just starts to follow my every movement with her eyes daring me to touch her or handle her. She started to push herself to the corner of the cage when I tried to handle her from behind. Is she being cage aggressive? Is there anyway to get her out without taking bites? I'm not worried about getting bitten, I'm worried that her teeth might break or become damage from biting me so much.

I'd leave it to settle a bit longer, if you bought this from a breeder it was most likely kept in a shoe box sized tub for the past 6 months, a 3ft viv is a whole lot of space if your not used to it. try adding another hide or 2 in the middle and plenty of fake plants & branches.

also when you say a tank do you mean like a glass fish tank ? do you have it covered on 3 sides ?

i wouldn't worry too much it'll just take it a while to get used to it's new home and feel safe.

Can try any of these:
1. snake hook
2. small cloth to put in between your hand and his head so you can grab the body
3. tap the head to make it ball up and grab it (though it sounds like it might tag you if you try lol)

Once up it should be a little better, but yeah...my snake is right about the same as yours, just a month older and I've had him for a couple more weeks. About the same size and I made the transition to rat pups (from adult mice) on my 3rd feeding. Mine is more afraid than aggressive though, but reading the forums and researching you can try one of those 3 methods to pick them up.

Let us know how it went! :)

Alright, I will try that, and its a exo terra cage, it has front doors that open for handling, and a top part that comes off. Its not covered on 3 sides, should I try covering the cage on 3 sides? Should I attempt to handle her? Or wait another week to handle her?

Alright, I will also try those ideas! Thank you!

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Originally Posted by steepe99

Alright, I will try that, and its a exo terra cage, it has front doors that open for handling, and a top part that comes off. Its not covered on 3 sides, should I try covering the cage on 3 sides? Should I attempt to handle her? Or wait another week to handle her?

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Personally I'd try covering 3 sides to try and make her feel more secure. you can get the plastic backgrounds like you get for fish tanks in all sorts of designs but any paper and some tape would work.
To me she just sounds afraid and a bit defensive. sort the reason for being afraid and the defensiveness shouldn't be a problem.

I'd try not to handle her for another week, others will have different opinions on how to go about it but I think another week will help her settle.

What they said. She is probably just a bit scared, especially if she's a baby. She'll get tamer as she grows.

Just hold her gently for like 5 minues at a ime so she doesnt get too stressed out, but is getting used to handling.
Good luck with her, I bet she's stunning.


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one method that works well with small agressive snakes is to make a flat hand, come from above, and lower the flat hand slowly over the head of the snake. because they keep their head horizontal and dont tilt it sideways, its clode to impossible to bite that way. When your hand is gently covering the head, you take her halfway down the body, and one you are holding her and she is in crawling mode chances of a bite drop significantly. Then you can hold her until she calms down.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgCP6S5q554 unfortunately its in german, and he shows it with a baby retic because they are more agressive, but you can see it very well. after 0:45 in the video he shows how to do it correctly, after 2:45 he shows how not to do it and the mistake nervous people that are a bit scared of the snake tend to make, and gets tagged twice. Then he shows how to do it correctly a second time. Basically you use a flat hand at the right angle as a shield, and if she tries to strike she just bumps her nose against your flat hand and noone gets hurt.


EDIT: in response to the other post, im one of the guys that believes that you cannot get a ball python to really be more tame without handling it. Tame snakes are, in my mind, snakes that were handled correctly and often enough when they were young. a week of rest, making the enclosure so that the snake feels more secure, that can all help and assists in the process, but only handling the snake correctly and often enough seals the deal. Thats the core of it and everything else combined cannot be a substitute for it.

Yeahhhh. I'm definitely not going to tell you to tap her head lol. That'll get you tagged quick, snake hooks also do wonders. Once she's up she most likely won't strike. I haven't been struck at using a hook... Well. Ever.

My boy still has his tempermental moments at about 9 months of age. If gently stroking his back doesn't bring his guard down, I either use a hook or leave him alone, depending on how urgently I need him out. A little more chill-time wouldn't hurt her, plus blacking out three sides of her viv as mentioned above. Just sounds like a fiesty one to me, best of luck with her! :)

Only spot clean as needed, change water, and keep eye on temps and humidity for the next week with no other disturbance. Also id do my best to make that big enclosure as secure feeling for her as possible. Shes probably just really nervous from her move and also the considerably larger enclosure. She will be fine just let her get comfy in her new place.

A snake hook for a 200g ball python? come on guys, man up! Its just a ball python. The snake will not be seriously injured if it bites you, and you surely will not be injured either.

Be confident. If you need to move the snake gently let it know you are there and then scoop it up. Getting tagged is just startling. It doesn't hurt at all.

She will calm down over time. Its only been a week. Give it some time, some tight fitting hides, and nice sized meals.

Alright, thank you! I'm not worried of getting bit as skin does grow back. I already ordered new hides and will leave her alone for another week till she gets settled down!

Let your new baby settle in for a while longer, but I'd suggest just keep trying to handle it. Yes, you may get bit but eventually they will realize you're not worth their time to be grumpy with. My Mojo was the same.. I couldn't even talk into the room without getting hissed at, let alone try to take her out. After about 6 months of working with her she's gotten so much better. good luck and don't give up! they usually grow out of it too.

never been bitten by a hatchling. but after a few feedings, many will go thru this striking stage. if you do nothing at all, 99% of them will still out grow it. if you want to pickup your snake. you can gently tap it on the head with something. then pick it up. if it's still striking at you when your holding it. you will learn how to stop it by how you hold it. most will calm down enough to stop but you will still see the tension. I would also recommend an under tank heater for a hot spot ran thru a thermostat. those lights are humidity killers. one good thing is you already took a bite. the fear should be over. just remember this is a stage most will out grow, even on their own.

Why do people keep saying tap the head? It's not a puppy..

I'd never do that. Especially if it were something like a Retic that does not forget or forgive actions like that. Reptiles are not mammals and do not learn in the same way.

Use a small hand towel to quickly cover the snakes head completely. Then very quickly scoop up the snake from behind and underneath. Usually they are fine once they are picked up. If it remains in strike position, just keep your hands under it and gently try to run your hands along its body from underneath to in coil it. Handle it so that it is forced to move and crawl along. It quickly figures out that you are no threat.

I agree that it was likely kept in a small tub. It's overwhelmed by the huge environment, new scents, new sights, etc.. It's terrified and probably thinks you are a threat.

I always say to never reach in going towards the front of a snakes face. Never reach in smelling like food either. As far as getting tagged, I'd rather be bitten by a young BP any day than a rat or any other mammal.

I've had several like that as babies and they grow out of. I used to just wear plain leather gloves until they did.

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

Why do people keep saying tap the head? It's not a puppy..

I'd never do that. Especially if it were something like a Retic that does not forget or forgive actions like that. Reptiles are not mammals and do not learn in the same way.

Use a small hand towel to quickly cover the snakes head completely. Then very quickly scoop up the snake from behind and underneath. Usually they are fine once they are picked up. If it remains in strike position, just keep your hands under it and gently try to run your hands along its body from underneath to in coil it. Handle it so that it is forced to move and crawl along. It quickly figures out that you are no threat.

I agree that it was likely kept in a small tub. It's overwhelmed by the huge environment, new scents, new sights, etc.. It's terrified and probably thinks you are a threat.

I always say to never reach in going towards the front of a snakes face. Never reach in smelling like food either. As far as getting tagged, I'd rather be bitten by a young BP any day than a rat or any other mammal.

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my hatchling rack is 6 qt. with as many snakes as I have, I don't have time to try and reach under a snake in a 6 qt tub. it's not going to work with that much room. lightly tapping it or putting something in front of it to prevent a strike is fine. better than one striking and bouncing it's face off of the tub. and with someone new to balls, the normal reaction when a snake bites you is to pull your hand back. which can lead to a young snake getting their teeth pulled out! and yes I know it's not a puppy. a light tap is a lot different than patting your dog to get it out of a striking mode.

To the OP - Don't "pet" a freaked out snake, plain and simple. She knows you're there.The longer you hover over her and poke at her (petting doesn't soothe a BP), the more terrified you are making her. Think about it - what do predators do? They hover overhead and test the prey until they find a weakness, and then they eat baby BPs. Pick her up smoothly and with confidence, and she'll figure out that you aren't going to eat her.

Also, I think "tap" is even too strong of a word. If you just touch her head when you reach in, she will almost always retreat rather than continue to fixate on the perceived threat of your hand.

Lol, yeah, I laugh at the snake hook for 200 gram ball python...I've been bit by my yellow, I still dive right in to get her out ;). Just use the hand shield idea and pull her out!!! Most people say let your snake settle in for a week, I say 2-3 days is fine. I have done this with ALL of my snakes and they are all awesome and most even let me pet their heads!!!!!!!! If its been a couple days and she still doesn't go hide, she probably does not feel comfy with open space, clutter the crap out of the tank so she has places to hide when out, and 1 extra hide on the WARM side and the cool side for now.

Ball Pythons
0.3 Normals (Coilette, Athena and Mary Jane)
1.0 Spider Morph (Zeus)
1.0 Mojave (Prometheus)
1.0 Pastel (De Sol)

Boas
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Stella)
0.1 Hog Island BCI (Kiyoko)
0.1 Dumerils Boa (Gloria)
0.1 Yellow Anaconda (Serenity)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kurtilein

one method that works well with small agressive snakes is to make a flat hand, come from above, and lower the flat hand slowly over the head of the snake. because they keep their head horizontal and dont tilt it sideways, its clode to impossible to bite that way. When your hand is gently covering the head, you take her halfway down the body, and one you are holding her and she is in crawling mode chances of a bite drop significantly. Then you can hold her until she calms down.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgCP6S5q554 unfortunately its in german, and he shows it with a baby retic because they are more agressive, but you can see it very well. after 0:45 in the video he shows how to do it correctly, after 2:45 he shows how not to do it and the mistake nervous people that are a bit scared of the snake tend to make, and gets tagged twice. Then he shows how to do it correctly a second time. Basically you use a flat hand at the right angle as a shield, and if she tries to strike she just bumps her nose against your flat hand and noone gets hurt.


EDIT: in response to the other post, im one of the guys that believes that you cannot get a ball python to really be more tame without handling it. Tame snakes are, in my mind, snakes that were handled correctly and often enough when they were young. a week of rest, making the enclosure so that the snake feels more secure, that can all help and assists in the process, but only handling the snake correctly and often enough seals the deal. Thats the core of it and everything else combined cannot be a substitute for it.

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There is actually 5 different snakes here. The 2 that bit him was first a burm and second a ball. But, very good technique to learn!! Also, I dig that short tail python near the end :)

Ball Pythons
0.3 Normals (Coilette, Athena and Mary Jane)
1.0 Spider Morph (Zeus)
1.0 Mojave (Prometheus)
1.0 Pastel (De Sol)

Boas
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Stella)
0.1 Hog Island BCI (Kiyoko)
0.1 Dumerils Boa (Gloria)
0.1 Yellow Anaconda (Serenity)