hissing :(

so...the other day i was gonna take my buddy out before i fed him and when i was trying to get him out of his hide he let out a little tiny hiss... almost like i was pushing on his lungs... then today i set him on the ground (well my carpet) and then went to pick him up a second later because he was moving suprisingly fast and he let out another little his but a little louder. so i went ahead and put him back and then when i set him down in his tank he was acting kinda defrensive. i've only had him like a week and a half and he's never been mean at all. i'm really dissapointed :(
do any of your snakes do this type of thing? or could i actually be pushing on his lungs?

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Originally Posted by bimmer

so...the other day i was gonna take my buddy out before i fed him and when i was trying to get him out of his hide he let out a little tiny hiss... almost like i was pushing on his lungs... then today i set him on the ground (well my carpet) and then went to pick him up a second later because he was moving suprisingly fast and he let out another little his but a little louder. so i went ahead and put him back and then when i set him down in his tank he was acting kinda defrensive. i've only had him like a week and a half and he's never been mean at all. i'm really dissapointed :(
do any of your snakes do this type of thing? or could i actually be pushing on his lungs?

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I've only had Salem since last Tuesday, and he's hissed at me once when I went to get him out of his leaves. My friend's ball python will hiss if you wake him up and nudge too much before picking him up. *shrug* thats all I know about it.

Don't worry about it. You said you got him only a week and a half ago. So number one, hopefully you let him be for about a week period to get acclimated to his new home. Number two, if your avatar pic is of the snake that you are talking about, that is a very young/small snake! Don't worry... He's just being defensive. In no time at all, you'll be able to handle him without him getting defensive! Just give him time and honestly don't handle him too much because he is so small.

I've noticed that it takes about 2 months for my BPs to become completely comfortable with me...

Hope this helps!
Mitch

Furio has hissed twice and I just lightly touched his head. Kinda let him know everythings alright and I'm not there to hurt him. He's still jumpy sometimes but I think it's just mostly because he's a big sissy pants. It'll be all good though, just give him some time with short handling sessions.

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Originally Posted by V1L3 DiaL3cT

Furio has hissed twice and I just lightly touched his head. Kinda let him know everythings alright and I'm not there to hurt him. He's still jumpy sometimes but I think it's just mostly because he's a big sissy pants. It'll be all good though, just give him some time with short handling sessions.

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Ball Pythons are usually head shy so touching his head would just freak him out even more. . .

most of all my hatchlings hiss when I first get them out....they will usually calm down with time and handling.

Nothing to worry about.... some balls just hiss when they are startled.

I'm a little confused why you're disappointed that he hissed? It's a snake - they hiss. They aren't dogs or cats that WANT to be with you, in fact, they'd rather be left alone. Handling them is a gift that they allow us. He's communicating with you in the only way he can - he can't do facial expressions, or put his tail between his legs, or even run from you. He can only hiss - or strike at you if you really scare him.

Be patient, respect that he's a snake, and not a kitten or a puppy, and take time to build trust with him. It doesn't happen overnight, it just takes time. You have 30+ years to build your relationship with him! :)

Dogs bark, cats meow ……… and snakes hiss :rofl:

Seriously that you are disappointed about your snake hissing confuses me :confuzd:

This is a snake that you just acquired, he is in a new environment, surrendered by people he sees as predators pulling him out of the comfort and security of his enclosure without warning, so how do you expect him to react?

Be patient, do not handle him constantly, know when to leave your animal alone and everything will be just fine.

I still have some of mine that hiss at me from time to time and in that case I just leave them alone no big deal.

Note: Getting a snake and expecting him not to hiss or strike is like getting a puppy and expecting him not to have an accident on the carpet…………….not realistic.

like the posters above... come on people they are snakes! you ripped him out of his hide! wouldnt you be a little angry if a huge hand came hovering over top of you and picked you out of your nice dark hide?

also touching a snakes head to try to clam it down will only make matters worse.

As others have said, baby snakes are naturally defensive. It is how they protect themselves in the wild, where they make tasty appetizers for bigger predators. It isn't anything personal. Most of them outgrow it in time, and with gentle handling they can come to even recognize you and not ball up at all.

It is generally advised that to limit the amount of stress of the snake, you leave it alone for a week or so prior to handling it. Also, limit your handling to 5 minutes (approx.) to start. You can slowly raise the amount of time you have the snake out over the next few months, up to a half hour or thereabouts. At least, I've found a half-hour to be plenty – more for him than me! :)

I have one who hisses from time to time. She also has an incredible feeding response!!! Seems like snakes with a bit of attitude are always hungry. Just my .02

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I'm a little confused why you're disappointed that he hissed? It's a snake - they hiss. They aren't dogs or cats that WANT to be with you, in fact, they'd rather be left alone. Handling them is a gift that they allow us. He's communicating with you in the only way he can - he can't do facial expressions, or put his tail between his legs, or even run from you. He can only hiss - or strike at you if you really scare him.

Be patient, respect that he's a snake, and not a kitten or a puppy, and take time to build trust with him. It doesn't happen overnight, it just takes time. You have 30+ years to build your relationship with him! :)

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TOOO FUNNY BUT OH SO TRUE!! :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:


but yeah just give him/her time.. eventually you'll build a bond.. its sorta like having a baby .. babys cry when they don't want to be picked up.. snakes hiss.. it's jsut the way they are lol don't take it personal.

Don't touch its head!! then a hiss could turn into your first nip! Kyros hisses at me when he is sleeping and I pick up his hide exposing him. Arn't their little hisses just adorable? I don't love them but when Kyros hisses its so cute cause he hides his head and hisses under one of his coils.

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Originally Posted by RoyalGuardian

Don't touch its head!! then a hiss could turn into your first nip! Kyros hisses at me when he is sleeping and I pick up his hide exposing him. Arn't their little hisses just adorable? I don't love them but when Kyros hisses its so cute cause he hides his head and hisses under one of his coils.

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I think the hisses are pretty cute too! They don't happen often so I think its kinda cool when my snake hisses!

I have 2 BP's, one so mellow I have to poke him sometimes to make sure he's breathing lol. my female hisses sometimes. first time it scared me, second time, I cracked up laughing, trying to resist the urge to poke it and make her hiss again (I didnt)

I also have a yearling leucistic texas rat snake who is my grumpy bear. sometimes he thinks he's a black mamba (with the opening of the mouth), sometimes he thiks he a rattlesnake (obviously rattling his tail), and sometimes he just hisses and bites me. thats why I call him my grumpy bear.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, just like all people are different, so are all snakes. some hiss, some dont...thats all part of the fun of owning them I think :)

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Originally Posted by scoobyark

I think the hisses are pretty cute too! They don't happen often so I think its kinda cool when my snake hisses!

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I know right?!:D

well i just didnt think it was normal for a docilesnake to hiss, and i have never had any of my corns ever hiss at me..it just kinda scared me. i guess im not really dissapointed i didnt use the right word... idk. i just want all my snakes to be very "nice" so thats what i meant by dissapointed.

oh... and he's not a baby (welnot really)... im not sure how old he is, but he is about 1'11'' when he is stretched out. and the thickest part of him is about 2fingers wide. maybe a little wider. i think he's about 6-7months old