Getting bitten

Got a new BP monday, a baby girl hatched on August 3rd, and she's been biting at everything. We haven't been able to handle me. Since my older bp is too calm and docile to bother biting anything, I was wondering if it would be best to just let the baby bite me and get over my fear. She has to get used to being handled, and I don't see that happening without a couple of bites, so should I just get it over with and work on getting her tamed enough to handle?

A babys bite is nothing and wont even draw blood.. if it acts defensive and you leave it alone it reinforces that behavior....aggressive babys usually are the best eaters.

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My sister let her bite her hand 3 times today and said it didn't feel like much, it just drew a little bit of blood, so I'm beginning to think it's best to just get it over with. The issue I have is that she's tried biting at our faces, not that we put her close to them.

How soon did you try to handle her? They should have at the very least a week of being undisturbed so they can get used to their new environment. It sounds like you have a very stressed and terrified baby. I'd say give her more time, put her in her enclosure and do not attempt to touch her or hold her for at least a week or two. My little guy was very nippy even after this waiting period but with consistent handling and putting on weight he has really mellowed. You could say that trying to bite me was his favorite pass time for a while. So yes, you may have to just go for it at some point but for now leave her be and so she can adjust. They calm down naturally over time as they get bigger as well it seems.

We've been trying to handle/pet her to see if we can get her used to us, the people we got her from didn't handle her much so they wouldn't get attached, because they knew they'd have to sell her. We've been bothering her less and less and she seems to be getting used to her tub by now.

Lightly tap or flick yourself on one hand with the opposite hand. That's pretty much what a bite from a hatchling feels like, only difference is a minuscule amount of blood. If you aren't looking you probably won't even believe you got bit.

Mine was totally a face biter... but I agree with the above comment. You don't even feel it. It took me quite a while and I was pretty nervous when he took an interest in exploring up my arm to my shoulders. After so many strikes to the face he had 0 trust points. Lol I don't mind my hands but not the face! Eventually I gave in especially since he's mellowed out so much and his favorite position is over one shoulder and using my ear as a headrest. Though he's getting kind of big for that now. Give her time and don't back down to her bites. Otherwise she will learn biting = being put away, so bite more!

I agree with Tash. Give her a while to get used to her new environment before handling. I try not to handle new arrivals until they've eaten for me at least twice. Hatchlings can be a little nippy but as the others have said it doesn't really hurt. I say put on a glove and let her know that defensive biting isn't going to chase you away or stop you from handling her. She should calm down pretty quickly.

I'm more worried about her biting at my face at this point. If I had some gloves I'd put 'em on, but unfortunately, I don't.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...598-Bitey-baby

This was a whopping three days ago, when you got the snake and were advised multiple times to leave it alone and let it settle in. All you are doing is stressing this poor hatchling out. Why ask if you are going to ignore the advice? Also curious why you claim that your older bp is extremely docile when your only other threads on this forum are about him striking and biting, only a few months ago?

I read the post wrong if you just got her leave it alone for at least 2 week and feed a few times...

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Originally Posted by OuterScience

I'm more worried about her biting at my face at this point. If I had some gloves I'd put 'em on, but unfortunately, I don't.

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It's easy to not get bitten in the face. Don't let the snake get that close to your face. :)

We had to move her today to clean out her tub, nothing more, she just tried biting at us when we tried putting her back. My older bp ended up being fine after a bit, and after we left him alone.

This thread is less about me asking how I can calm her down, and more about me asking if it's best to just let myself get bitten the next time we decide to handle her, probably after a couple more days. We took her out today to clean out her feces from when she ate.

I wouldn't worry about her making contact on your face just don't make a habit of putting her in front of it. Baby's have such a small strike range. She may try but as long as you're not try to kiss her she shouldn't tap you as much as she may try. Right now she just needs time. Patience will be key in this even though it's super exciting to get a new snake and you don't want to leave it alone. I agree with giving her a few meals first.

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Originally Posted by OuterScience

This thread is less about me asking how I can calm her down, and more about me asking if it's best to just let myself get bitten the next time we decide to handle her, probably after a couple more days. We took her out today to clean out her feces from when she ate.

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Also to answer your question then, obviously try your best NOT to let it bite you if you can help it but if she does, she does, and continue to hold her.

It was difficult to even pick her up and move her without getting bitten at.

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Originally Posted by OuterScience

It was difficult to even pick her up and move her without getting bitten at.

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Then wear gloves if you're scared, but it might be good to take a bite just so you know instead of being so worried about it. Cleaning out the mess is one thing but try not to move her if you don't have to. Not yet anyways. If you've ever been bitten by any other animal ever, just know this will be ten times better. The only exception might be a pet fish. Lol You shouldn't feel a thing.

I didn't really plan on messing with her unless I had to. She got messed with today so I could clean out her tub.

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Originally Posted by OuterScience

I'm more worried about her biting at my face at this point. If I had some gloves I'd put 'em on, but unfortunately, I don't.

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A snake should not be near your face to start with, your head is the hottest part of your body and letting a snake near your face is just asking for trouble.

Young snakes are defensive which is why I recommend minimum handling until they reach 200/250 grams.

Learn your snake body language, learn to make it snap out of it when it is coiled and ready to strike (tap on the top of the head etc), and expect to be bitten and if you do it's not the end of the world it just feel like a paper cut.

I don't put my snakes near my face. No reason to. She just seems to try and strike up towards it.

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Originally Posted by OuterScience

I don't put my snakes near my face. No reason to. She just seems to try and strike up towards it.

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Then there should be no reason to be worried? But as Deborah said, your head is the hottest part so naturally their attention would be drawn there. I can only assume that's why she is striking up.

With as many times as my baby struck up at my face in the beginning I'm pretty confident that yours will also not be able to reach. And if your not shoving your face in hers, your fear is misplaced.