Aggressive BP handling

I bought my first BP on July 16th and after holding him for a little bit that day I put him inside his terrarium and left him alone. I bought the wrong hide (large half log) and changed them out the next day. When do so he became really aggressive and began striking at me repeatedly I had to throw a small hand towel over him so I could finish changing out his hides. A few days after that when I was checking his temps I was at eye level with the opening of his hide my face hitting the glass. I think this may have been because he was hungry. When I bought him that was his feeding day and I waited until last Friday to feed him and gobble the fuzzy down. I've left him alone since then. He's a very shy but aggressive BP he hardly ever comes out of his hide. So when handling what's the best way to approach him. Slow and easy I'm sure and if he strikes just keep trying? I'm not afraid of getting bit I already have been and it startles you more than it hurts. Any tips are appreciated!

Start fresh and leave him alone. Feed him, then wait a week or 2 to start taking him out again. Don't disturb him other than to change his water or spot clean. Make sure your husbantry is spot on and he'll get some time to calm down.

When you start handling him just reach in normally, don't be slow and don't be really fast. Just make sure he can see your hand when you reach in. I put my hand in and move across the side to reach around and grab mine from behind. Usually once you have ahold of them they will calm down. Try that and hold him for about 15 minutes 2-3 times a week til he consistantly doesn't strike anymore.

Then you should be able to start handling more. Just make sure the room is quiet with no movement on the tv or no fast moving girlfriend walking around for him to strike at. He should calm right down, just make sure his time out of his cage with you is peaceful.

Good luck, both of mine were pretty snappy. My first one calmed right down and my second one is starting to, but I just got her and last night was the first handling. The first one calmed down so much I can even reach in her feeding tub 20 minutes after she ate to put her back in her tank. I still reach around from behind her though, going past her side so she can see me.

Thanks for the tips... what about disturbing them in their hide to handle them? Besides the first 2 days he never comes out anymore. At night he'll poke his nose at sometimes but he never seems to venture out ever.

They normally never leave their hides. I just pull of the hide and scoop em up.

There's nothing wrong with lifting the hides off them when you're ready to handle them. Most of the time, that's the only way to get them out.

Try to consider things from the snake's perspective. As babies, they are just about at the bottom of the food chain. In their world, everything bigger than them is a threat. It won't see you as the benevolent keeper providing it all the food and shelter and security it needs....all it sees is a HUGE predator. The striking behavior isn't aggressiveness...it's just scared and is doing its best to try and scare the big bad predator away.

As was already mentioned, give it a little more time to feel secure and safe in its new home. Then, when you're ready to handle, simply reach in (lifting the hide away if necessary) and gently lift him up. Prepare yourself for the potential strike and try not to let it startle you. Keep the handling sessions very brief at first...returning the snake to its home when it calms down and relaxes. In time, it will learn that you aren't a threat and it will relax and tolerate handling. (Whether or not it will ever ENJOY being handled is anyone's guess)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DustinB

Just make sure he can see your hand when you reach in.

---

I do the exact opposite by NOT letting Patriot see my hand. It flinches so easily, so my hand comes around behind its head and gently picks up the body. Sometimes it hisses when it feels that initial touch, but I see that as a comical little critter trying to inhale extra air to be a slightly bigger critter, LOL!

Is it better to let BPs see our hands coming at them?

I feel like if there's going to be a strike, THAT'S when it would happen. Once I'm holding him, he's OK, although he seems to be trying to flee rather than simply exploring. (We've had him almost 4 weeks.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Patricia

I do the exact opposite by NOT letting Patriot see my hand. It flinches so easily, so my hand comes around behind its head and gently picks up the body. Sometimes it hisses when it feels that initial touch, but I see that as a comical little critter trying to inhale extra air to be a slightly bigger critter, LOL!

Is it better to let BPs see our hands coming at them?

I feel like if there's going to be a strike, THAT'S when it would happen. Once I'm holding him, he's OK, although he seems to be trying to flee rather than simply exploring. (We've had him almost 4 weeks.)

---

Personally, I think startling your snake from behind is more likely to cause a strike than for it to know your coming.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by knott00

Personally, I think startling your snake from behind is more likely to cause a strike than for it to know your coming.

---

Oh, it knows I'm there because I've lifted its hide away first. And before I do that, I give it a little tap so it knows something is there. When the hide comes off, I can see that increased breathing and sometimes it hisses, but it's more like a hiding hiss than an aggressive one. That's when I pick it up behind its head, wherever its head is pointing. I hope that's OK.

remember to a young bp you are some big heat source that out to eat them. it took my 08 almost 6 months to calm down enough to not strike out at every thing that released heat and was bigger than them. They do calm down with more handling and once they know thatyour scent is no real threat they calm down a lot. my one still strikes at the space heater when it been on long enough to be a big heat source since i use it to help keep the room above the minuim of 80 degrees ( i n trailer with the ac running)..

I don't think any bp's like their heads being touched - so I would pick him up from around the mid-section. Mine are both head shy but don't mind me picking them up - just stay away from their heads.

If the BP all of the sudden feels something behind it, it's likely going to startle it. I go beside it so it can see me, I don't think I have much of a chance of getting struck as long as I pay attention. If I see the head coiled and starting to face me then I'll move my hand. If I go straight in from the front all it has to do is strike, if I go from the side it has to turn it's head and then strike.

I know this is not a common topic in regards to ball pythons but it will work. Most large snake keepers hook train there snake. What this means is that they develope a repeated pattern of behavior as the keeper which in turns developes a repeated pattern of behavior in your snake. When dealing with large snakes it is important because of the potential danger involved but it will work the same with any snake. First thing is anytime you open its cage and perform any type of maintenance (spot cleaning, water change, or handling) you first touch the snake on the snide of its body and/or genlty stroke it. What this does is lets the snake know you are there. You do not use this techniwue when you are feeding the snake. The snake will soon learn to associate the touch of a hook with being handled or whatnot and not that it is going to get fed. Give it a try and see if you notice a difference in its behavior in a month or so. I bet if you consistently do it you will see a huge difference. Todd

^^^^^ I do this with my BCI and even though its only a year and a half and only a lil over three feet (if he hit, it wouldnt be bad), he seems to know the difference between feeding time and handling time. I come in the same way every single time and have had no issues even though the local pet shop I got him from swore he was nippy.

Hi folks, I've made note of all your input. Very helpful, thanks!

Thanks for all the info everyone! I'm going to leave him alone for another week. Feed him on Thursday again and then I'm going out of town Fri-Sun so he should have nice quiet dark alone time to himself ;)