Question on behavior

I recently got an albino bp about 4 weeks ago and tonight when I tried to handle her she wrapped her body around my hand and fingers, turned her head towards the tips of my fingers and begane to squeeze harder than I have ever experienced any bp ever squeeze before. Within moments I could feel the circulation in my fingers cease and thats when I realized she wasnt going to stop. I tried to put her back but she was still wasnt budging. With a bit of forced persuasion I got her off me. Does any one have any idea why she would be doing this? She gets fed once a week (not today). I didnt have any scent on me from rats or mice. Also ever since I got her every time ive tried to handle her she tries to strike. It was only this week that she stopped and I handled her just fine for about 30 minutes. That was yesterday. And now today it was almost as if she saw me as food. Will she eventually grow out of this stage? She was born July 27.

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She is probable still getting use to you. 4 weeks isn't that long. We're you standing up holding her or sitting down?

She's insecure. She's squeezing because she feels insecure that she will fall down. She's striking because she is most likely afraid or hungry. Its not uncommon for babies to strike out of fright. They usually will out grow it. Its a delicate and vulnerable time for them. They see a hand coming down upon them as a predator. So best try to scoop her up from under her or the side rather than from the top.

Can you describe your set up?

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Sitting down

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Its just a typical set up. Aspen substrate in a mesh top tank. Waterbowl in the middle with 2 hides. Heating is a under tank heating pad and I have a low watt light for the day time since the room doesnt get much natural light

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What size enclosure?

If it's too large, they tend to stress out the babies.
I suggest covering the two sides and back of the tank with a solid colored background. Black paper works really well.
Glass tanks tend to be too 'open' and make snakes insecure. The solid backgrounds will help with that insecurity. Maybe even add some extra clutter with balled up paper or fake plants.

Its a 15 gallon I think. 15 or 20. Cant remember but the sides arent blocked. Ill do that tomorrow morning and hope for the best I guess. Thanks :)

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My 3 month old Pastave showed similar behavior in regards to clamping on for dear life. Like someone already said here, it's definitely an insecurity issue.

Since she's a baby she's not used to being handled by humans but that will change with handling time. I wouldn't worry about it much. Just give her time, attention and care and I'm sure you'll have a happy snake.

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Being that its my first bp it just made/makes me very nervous to hold her. I dont want to get bit after all! :p

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by MrBattery

Heating is a under tank heating pad and I have a low watt light for the day time since the room doesnt get much natural light

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What is controlling your UTH and what is the surface temp of the tank where the UTH is mounted?

I dont have a thermostat so I dont know surface temp but its colder than the hide is under the light after a full day of the light being on. Its warmish, not hot. I know, I need a thermostat. Need to order one. Pet store here doesnt carry them

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You might need to see what "warm" can do..............

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ey-are-smarter


Get a no contact thermometer and a lamp dimmer now. Correct and perfect your husbandry and then go from there.

Oh my that makes me sad just looking at it! :( Ill be ordering them in today! What shoukd the uth be set at once I get a thermostat?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by MrBattery

Oh my that makes me sad just looking at it! :( Ill be ordering them in today! What shoukd the uth be set at once I get a thermostat?

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Set it so the temperature on top of the substrate is 90*F.

Right now the thermo strip thing that came with the tank stays at a steady 85 under the light

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Set it so the temperature on top of the substrate is 90*F.

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No. You set the t-stat to whatever gives you no hotter than 95 degrees on the surface the snake can touch. This means the glass under the substrate. You cannot tell people to temp on top. On top of paper towels or aspen or coco will all be different temps on the glass. Also the actual temp of the glass will be different than what your stat is set at most of the time.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Set it so the temperature on top of the substrate is 90*F.

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No. You set the t-stat to whatever gives you no hotter than 95 degrees on the surface the snake can touch. This means the glass under the substrate. You cannot tell people to temp on top. On top of paper towels or aspen or coco will all be different temps on the glass. Also the actual temp of the glass will be different than what your stat is set at most of the time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MrBattery

Right now the thermo strip thing that came with the tank stays at a steady 85 under the light

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Aquarium strips are NOT accurate, nor are dials. Digital all the way!!

You will need a digital thermometer probe for your thermostat, and a digital thermometer to put near the bottom of the tank on the cool side to measure that side's ambient air, or a temperature gun.

Warm side should be around 90F on the UTH (as someone already mentioned how to measure that properly) and 80F ambient air, no lower than 75F! If you have a hard time keeping up the ambient temps, swap out the day bulb for a 50-75w red or black bulb - NOT to be turned off at night; night drops are not necessary and can be harmful if they fall below 75F regularly. BPs do not see red or black light when not in full spectrum lighting, so having them on 24/7 is not irritating to them.

Do you have a way to measure humidity as well? That should be about 50-60%.

I also suggest cluttering up the cage a lot!! Fake plants, hides make from recyclables (all cleaned, of course), extra substrate, the works.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

No. You set the t-stat to whatever gives you no hotter than 95 degrees on the surface the snake can touch. This means the glass under the substrate. You cannot tell people to temp on top. On top of paper towels or aspen or coco will all be different temps on the glass. Also the actual temp of the glass will be different than what your stat is set at most of the time.

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Good catch, I typically have paper on top of my hot side since it's easier to get a standard temperature, and the cool side will have cypress in the winter (for humidity) or paper in summer. I've found that 90*F on paper gives about 92*F on the tub/glass so no worries about burning if the snake decides to redecorate the enclosure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MrBattery

Being that its my first bp it just made/makes me very nervous to hold her. I dont want to get bit after all! :p

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Don't worry, I was the exact same way when I got my first bp. You're going to get used to her and she's going to get used to you.

In regards to the heating, get a digital infrared thermometer so you can accurately measure temps. I personally use a ZooMed Reptitemp. Also, the link below will give you all the info about thermostats and thermometers. Definitely need a thermostat for your UTH.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=206130

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i would unplug your UTH until you get a Tstat. Not worth the risk.