male vs. female Bp temperaments

A very interesting point was brought up in one of the posts under Bp Husbandry; a few people were saying that their female Bps seemed a tad more aggressive than their males. I have noticed this too! The original female Bp I had years ago (who sadly got outta her cage and froze in our basement)... she had an EVIL temperament. I had actually got her as a freebie from a friend who worked in Petco; this snake had been returned twice to the store for biting the people who bought her!
She would sit outside of her hide, in striking position, and strike at the glass if you walked by. I solved this by covering her cage with a towel, but she was still a little ripper if you tried to handle her. Never refused a meal either.
The current female of mine, Bela, is not as nasty, but she is really skittish.
But my males, one subadult and one adult, are as mellow as the day is long. So in my limited experience, I'd say that female Bps seem more testy!
Your thoughts?

In my experience (sample size of 5.3.2), females are less likely to strike and to resist being picked up and handled. I've never had a bp that I'd call "aggressive" though, and only Bo Peep has really been inclined to strike defensively.

Maybe it is complately random then. :)

well, i think we all know about rex. lol hes a male and snappy as hell. but im glad, taught me more respect, and i still love him :)

My experience has been the same as Marlas Males being a little more shy and defensive out of 5.21

My BP, who is male, was really aggressive when I got him. Striking at the glass and everything. But one day, he just settled down. It was really weird. Although...He's really headshy. And doesn't like men. o_o

I've only ever owned one bp..my current female. In the 3 weeks I've had her, I've noticed that she's pretty shy when she's in her enclosure...always in her hide, and never really exploring at night since her first night in the new home. Also when I go to pick her up, she'll hiss, but that's all. Just a hiss, then when I pick her up, she's very laid back and sweet. Once in your hands for a while, she'll get curious and more outgoing and explore for a while. She is pretty skittish though...but she's only 3 months old and still getting used to me I'd suppose. The slightest fast movement, she'll dart her head back. Not headshy though...she lets me pet her head already.

I'm sure it's all random though. Some males will be shy and laid back, others will be aggressive and outgoing...vice-versa with the females.

Mine does that. Any fast movements, and he jerks his head back and gets all grumpy. Today at the vet, she was trying to grab his head to take a look at his nostrils, and he kept jerking back and forth. It was funny..

Hmmm...
Well, Apok my big male BP has always been rather on the nasty side. He has nailed me good a couple of times and he is very head shy. He also hates to be approached from the front...he dont like it at all. But for the most part he will tolerate handling very well as long as I dont get too comfy cozy with him or put hime too close to my face. He is a big beautiful boy though...he is about four feet long now and very thick. He is actually my prize BP....he is a beautiful display Ball Python. So I tolerate his bad moods ....like I have said...a snake is a snake.....They really arent the most cuddly critters but neither am I so it dont bother me...I respect them for that...
EyeLashViper

Have to concur from a sample pool of 3.4 - our females seem more mellow, less shy.

I love my little male he is as sweet as pie.. I have never had a problem with him at all

It really is random. It's always good to look through all snakes available when you're at the store to find the least temperamental one. Though, for breeding, I try to find the most aggressive because they're the best feeders.
But male or female, it doesn't matter.

Agreed.
I've only owned females, but I feel more comfortable working around them, and I think that has something to do with their temperament towards me. At the New England Aquarium we had a female anaconda that could be a beast to most staff, but she and I were always cool.

Ive only had one male, for 1 week and a half but he has never struck, or been defensive whatsoever....cute little baby too!

BTW thats my baby bp in my avatar

i have 2 bps one of each and my female is just like cody's my little male he gets a little defensive at times but for the most part he is pretty calm

I have only had this current female and she is the sweetest thing i have ever seen. When i first got her fast movments scared her but now you could sit there and wave your hands in her face and she wold still just chill there(not to say i sit there and do this lol). She was never really headshy but she lets me touch her head at any time. She loves to be either in the hood of my hooded sweatshirts, on my neck or on my wrist(makes a nice bracelet) and she comes everywher with me in the house. When its summer sometimes i take her with me and walk in the mountains by my home, but i don't let her in the grass too afraid of pickin something up. But i love my girl and in my 8 months of owning her she has never hissed or even snapped at me or anything (but a mouse :))

wow, i didn't know they bite!!!! I have a python now she is 4.5 feet long and don't show any signs of wanting to bite so i put her around my neck with no problem and she kisses me and rest her mouth on mine. now that i read this ummm yikessssssss

Anything with a mouth can bite.

i hear ya!! The guy that sold it to me just handed it over to my four year old son like it wouldn't harm him. i was freaking at first because i never owned a snake before. and the snake just hung in there. but i have to say she don't have a temper like i been reading here, and she is shedding. But i will leave her alone for awhile, i just bought her a humidity regulator, and a hide away rock, and she took her first swim today in a cassarole dish it was so neat to watch, it was like she was showing off. Thanks so much for this site it is helpping a lot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by athena_knight2002

But i will leave her alone for awhile, i just bought her a humidity regulator,.

---

I have been looking for something like this, does it kick on when the humidity is too low and shut off when it gets to the number you enter in. If you could tell me where you bought this and what kind it is that would really help me a lot.
Thanks

~Andrew

i don't know if this is a regulator wow, but the one i have is a tropicaire reptile humidifier and air exchanger. if this isn't right please let me know. This one seems to run all the time. I bought it at a reptile store here in fl.

Ya i am looking to get that exact one actually, but i don't think it comes with a regulater but still a nice one to get.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DrEwTiMe

Ya i am looking to get that exact one actually, but i don't think it comes with a regulater but still a nice one to get.

---

Do you leave this humidifier running all the time?

I personally don't tihnk i will, because i have the top of the cage covered now and that keeps in a lot of humidity. If i kept the humidifier the whole time it woud be too humid in there and cause bacteria to grow. Thats why i wish there was something to keep track of the humidity for me so i don't have to bother turning it on and off all the time.

yeah don't!!! the humidity rose to 90% and i had a hard time getting it back down it is now down to 70% so i think that is fine phew i almost made a boo boo. Water was just running down the sides and i knew something was wrong. Living in Fl i think it is fine not to have a humidifier for ball python. I am learning though thank god for this website.

i asked him about the regulators to keep track and they don't sell them but said there is some out there but $150.00

Wow nevermind then LOL, i definitly don't have that kind of money to blow on a regulator.

How about $7 for a lamp timer from Lowe's or WalMart? Just run it as much as you need, maybe 1-2 hours a day.