Are some balls just meant to be biters?

Just curious... I know that some balls are snippier then others..... but do any of you have experience with a ball that just strikes every time you hold it? Setup is perfect, and it is eating just fine.

Are some balls just programmed in their head to strike their entire lives???? If so, would this trait be a problem when introducing a mate to breed????


Mike

Snakes have their own personalities and so it goes that some are just not into humans handling them. I don't believe that this would cross over into their instinctual drive to pass on their genetics ;)

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Originally Posted by mcavana

Just curious... I know that some balls are snippier then others..... but do any of you have experience with a ball that just strikes every time you hold it? Setup is perfect, and it is eating just fine.

Are some balls just programmed in their head to strike their entire lives???? If so, would this trait be a problem when introducing a mate to breed????


Mike

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I have a het clown that I've had for two years now, he's a biter. He feeds wonderfully, he's in the same setup as my other non-aggressive snakes, and has a hide so it shouldn't be insecurity issues.

He's simply just aggressive, I try to handle him just as much as my other snake, but he doesn't calm down like they do.

i think so... i got a spider ball 2 weeks ago... He's very jumpy and always in strike mode. Not exactly what I wanted... but oh well... maybe he iwll tame down some when i start handling him more...

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Originally Posted by JasonG

i think so... i got a spider ball 2 weeks ago... He's very jumpy and always in strike mode. Not exactly what I wanted... but oh well... maybe he iwll tame down some when i start handling him more...

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He's going to take longer than 2 weeks to acclimate...I'm sure he'll calm down. ;)

Granite. I believe that agressiveness is inherent with this morph.

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Originally Posted by jknudson

He's going to take longer than 2 weeks to acclimate...I'm sure he'll calm down. ;)

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is this just a spider thing or? btw nice avatar... very pretty snakes...

dont know but i got a spider coming on the 24th. i got a female that is hissy all the time. LOL

From what I recall from reading an old post, Adam of 8ball has an albino female that "hates" him. Strikes...etc. Adam actually hatched the female, has raised her to breeding level, has bred her, etc.. Vaughn has cared for her at times and never had a problem.

yes some are biters

Haha Charlie, you hit the nail on the head! I have 4 of the little snots, my adult female and her 3 female granite offspring. Friend's of mine have a fourth female sibling(granite also) and she is EVIL. My adult female isn't bad at all unless it's feeding day, then she's halfway out of the tub coming for whatever warm body part is available(she's never bitten me, but her kids sure have).

Wonder what her babies will be like this year.. Bred her to my hissy pissy Het Ivory male :rolleyes:

Also have an 08 CH baby who is around 100g now, who doesn't act aggressive at all, but will just reach around and bite for no reason. Been tagged by her 2-3 times.

But hey, they make good eaters :D

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Originally Posted by JasonG

is this just a spider thing or? btw nice avatar... very pretty snakes...

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I really don't think it's a spider thing. My male is laid back as my female I've had for three years, and I've only had him oh going on four months. He's a VERY aggressive feeder, which I've read/heard is a spider thing...but on non-feeding days mine is very mellow.

Just from my personal experience... I have been able to calm down my few hissers and biters by not handling them. Just letting them acclimate to me. I do not pull them out to hold them. Just to get weights, change enclosures, a thorough every two week exam just to make sure they are doing good.

But that being said, I have a snake I rescued last year, who has just started feeding consistently for me, and has gone from 1450g to 2050g... still a skinny boy. This snake was meant to be a very big boy!

He has just started hissing at me, and to be honest, I am loving it. He was disengaged for so long, he hasn't tagged me yet, but I do sense it is coming.

I have plans of a granite this year... information I did not know before reading this thread (regarding their aggression)... so we'll see if I am enjoying the snakes with attitude after I get one.

bruce

One of my babies, Veneno, strikes and hisses EVERY time I go to hold him!
He's getting much better though over time... So I believe they can eventually calm down, but every snake is different. Some may just be a bit more hissy/nippy than others :)

He's a darling though... I love him :P

I have 6 ball pythons and I have one yearling female that gets her rocks off biting me after she is out of her cage. She plays it all nice tell your about 5 feet away from the tub then goes for the eyes. She misses her 16 quart tub is all I can think of.