Aggressive Female

Well, after wanting a bp for a long time now, I finally got the set-up and the snake. Needless to say I am very excited. She is a little over 3 months old. I had her for about a week before I fed her, she ate well, no problems. I got anxious in the fist week so I picked her up one time.

The problem is, I went to pick her up a couple of days after she ate, and she hissed and struck at me. Ever since then, I stick my hand in there a couple of times a day, just so she might get used to me. I tried to pick her up again and the same thing. She has clearly digested and deficated the food, so I don't think it is that.

I just want to pick her up and let her get used to me. Any ideas why she would be like this. (10g tank, temp/humidity good)

There is a hide in the tank currently.http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/j...psSnake002.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/j...psSnake001.jpg

well concidering the fact that i see no hides at all she is probably stressed to high hell and is very irritated by having no place to retreat for security and comfort. you need ot pack that enclosure full of stuff for her to hide in.

Like the post says, there are currently hides in the tank. Those pics were within 5 min. of bringing her home.

She needs two identical hides. One for the hot side, and one for the cold side.

Fill up that tank with decoration and objects to make her feel secure.

Also, get some aquarium background and cork board and cover up the sides of the tank to add security. I've got a DIY somewhere on how to combine the two if you feel like searching for it or I can find you the link.

Young balls have a tendency to be nippy from time to time until they get used to handling. Don't hold back if she nips or hisses at you because she'll think it's okay to scare you off that way. If you just got her, give her a week to get accustomed to her new surroundings. She might just be stressed so do what you can do accommodate her needs and make her comfortable =]

I would leave her alone for another few feedings. Does she strike if you just go in there to change the water, etc.?

Once she has fed for you a few times, if she is still striking, I would use a snake hook to take her out of the enclosure and then try holding her with your hands. They are pretty good at coming around, but sometimes need to be given time to settle in & understand that you are not going to hurt them.

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Originally Posted by ca_101

Like the post says, there are currently hides in the tank. Those pics were within 5 min. of bringing her home.

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you need to post CURRENT pictures of your setup then so we can get a better look at the setup, because if she fees unsafe she will be nippy. you have to let her acclimate in a proper enclosure and she should warm up to handling in a few weeks.

Alright. I'll get some current pics.

The fist time I reached in to clean her droppings, she struck at me. Now I reach in and hold my hand near her, trying to show her I'm harmless. She will only strike now when I touch her.

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Originally Posted by ca_101

Alright. I'll get some current pics.

The fist time I reached in to clean her droppings, she struck at me. Now I reach in and hold my hand near her, trying to show her I'm harmless. She will only strike now when I touch her.

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im sure with the proper accommodations and some time she will snap out of it.

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Originally Posted by ca_101

Alright. I'll get some current pics.

The fist time I reached in to clean her droppings, she struck at me. Now I reach in and hold my hand near her, trying to show her I'm harmless. She will only strike now when I touch her.

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Keep in mind she senses the pulse and warmth in your hands when you just hold them out in front of her and you can confuse her and make her think you're live prey.
Try sanitizing your hands before handling her. Let it evaporate, and reach right in and pick her up. Any second of hesitation, and she'll sense it, thinking you fear her and making her think it's okay for her to strike at you to leave her alone. Keep handling her even if she strikes you. Chances are she'll only do it once if you show her you're not afraid. Don't over do it though. Too much handling will stress her out. Start once every other day for a few minutes and then eventually work to every day and she should get used to you and being handled in no time. Good luck

The fist couple of times I picked her up, I just reached in, because I never thought she would bite me. Now I'm hesitant, but I'll give it a try.

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Originally Posted by ca_101

The fist couple of times I picked her up, I just reached in, because I never thought she would bite me. Now I'm hesitant, but I'll give it a try.

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If the nipping really bothers you, you can pick up a pair of snake handling gloves or even use some clean gardening gloves that don't penetrate easily. Wear a long sleeved sweater and try to keep her away from your face. Out of curiosity, where did you pick her up?

I tried picking her up in different spots, middle up to behind her head.
Getting bit doesn't really bother me, I just want her to be comfortable.

I mean where did you get her from?
Breeder or pet store?

Oh, I got her at a small reptile shop near here.

My female Spider ball is very odd, she is really cage aggressive but once i get her out and onto my bed she get really curious and does not try to eat me! the trick is getting her out of the cage... but she is also about 1.5 years old and not a neonate... give your snake some time and make sure you make it feel safe. as some suggested try blocking off 3 sides of the enclosure so its more secure feeling.

hell maybe she thinks she is part retic!

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Originally Posted by ca_101

I tried picking her up in different spots, middle up to behind her head.
Getting bit doesn't really bother me, I just want her to be comfortable.

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going for the head usually gets a "ball up" or nippy reaction. they get a little scared is all :) try from the tail area then lift and place your empty hand under her for support as your lifting her out

also out of curiosity is her enclosure made from pine? the fumes that it can let off are toxic to reptiles. this could be part of the aggression maybe she isnt feeling to hot.

What is the best location in the tank for the thermo? I have a digital thermometer/hygrometer (no probes). I have it laying on the surface in the middle of the tank right now. Would it be a good idea to have one for each side? If I got the thermos with probes ( I hear there better), do the probes go into the substrate or up in the middle of the tank or something else??
This is my fist reptile. Just trying to give it the best home

you need a probe thermometer to measure temps of your hot side. The probe goes in the tank, under the substrate and right above the uth. If you aren't measuring the hot side with a probe or heat gun you don't know how hot it can get if your snake burrows into the substrate. You should also keep your uth on a thermostat or dimmer.

Just a quick question about that enclosure. It appears to me from those pictures to be tall rather than long so it has more height than floor space. If you wouldn't mind while you are posting new pictures of it, could you post the actual dimensions as well. Also what your current temps are both cool and warm side and ambient humidity.

This store you got this snake from, what info did they give you about it as far as age, whether it was captive born, it's feeding history, how long they'd had it and where they got it from. Remember this snake came out of a store environment which likely means it was either never handled much or handled incorrectly. It may also have been exposed to customers knocking on it's enclosure glass, making it nervous and stressed when approached.

More info on this snake, it's living arrangment and it's past will likely help us help you better. :)

The tank is a regular 10g tank, I just modified it a little.
I have the temp/hygro sitting on the substrate, in the middle of the tank, and it read 84 F / 60% this morning when I left for work.
Where are good places to mount the thermometers for hot/cold side and ambient (are they supposed to be down low next to the substrate or higher)?

I've been in the shop a number of times before I bought her. They pulled her and her two roommates right out with no problem for me to hold and choose which one I wanted. They never seemed stressed at all. They said that she was a good eater, and she ate perfectly a week after I brought her home.

I only had one hide (half log, which I now realize everyone hate on this site) on the hot side. So, last night I made a temporary hide on the cold side and will be replacing both of them asap, along with some other cover (fake plants).

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Originally Posted by Pandora

Keep in mind she senses the pulse and warmth in your hands when you just hold them out in front of her and you can confuse her and make her think you're live prey.
Try sanitizing your hands before handling her. Let it evaporate, and reach right in and pick her up. Any second of hesitation, and she'll sense it, thinking you fear her and making her think it's okay for her to strike at you to leave her alone. Keep handling her even if she strikes you. Chances are she'll only do it once if you show her you're not afraid. Don't over do it though. Too much handling will stress her out. Start once every other day for a few minutes and then eventually work to every day and she should get used to you and being handled in no time. Good luck

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Agree with that post to the letter. If she just do not smell prey (your hand are clear) she has only reason why. She is not stupid. If she bites you and you just leave her alone she will do that again and again (just to let you leave her alone)... When she find out there is no reason to bite you (because you will still handle her and no one will hurt her) she stop biting and you will be the winner ;).

Don't be to worried.She will chill out after a while. Just reach in and pick her up,once in your hands they will begin to relax.
A BP bite is no worse than a kitty scratch.
If she is hungry she may key in on you or your hand in a feeding response. Young snake's can be a little nippy. They are just scared.
Give it some time.