New BP owner worried

I just bought my BP yesterday. I've always really wanted one but my parents were terrified of them so when I moved out I got one :D. I'm kind of worried though... ever since I brought it ( not sure of the sex yet and the nearest vet for reptiles is an hour away.) home and put it in it's home it's stayed in the hide rock. Is this normal? I held it all the way home and it seemed extremely happy, but now it's very aggresive if I move the hide rock or anything. Is this just it's way of adjusting to the new enviroment? I want it to be happy just not sure what's got it unhappy.:( Any advice or wisdom would be extremely wonderful.

It will take some time for it to get aclimated to its new environment.

But, like the saying goes... a hiding ball is a happy ball

BP's are ambush predators so if your BP is hiding then hes being a BP. If he (or she) starts doing the opposite and constantly moving around and not settling then you know he is unhappy and needs a change. But seeing as how he is hiding then it sounds like you have a happy bp so don't worry. Also In my experiance its not that uncommon for young bp's to be kinda aggressive and that in time that will pass and you bp will settle in.

So congrats on getting your 1st BP :banana:

When you get a new BP you need to make sure all your temps, humidity, general husbantry are all correct. The leave the snake alone for at least a week. Feed the snake, wait 2 days, then you can start handling a couple times a week until he starts to calm down more and more. It will take time to settle in properly. The best thing you can do to speed that up is to leave it alone and let it get settled and to make sure everything is spot on.

If you haven't dealt with BPs before you can read the FAQs and caresheets on this site for all the info you need. Ask questions for anything else.

Your snake will be fine. Baby ball pythons can be nippy.
Good advice would be not to handle for the first week.
Make sure your set up and temperatures are right.
I agree that a hiding snake is a happy/secure one.

Maybe after a week or so take the snake out for short sessions so it can get used to being handled. Maybe place a small towel on it so it doesn't strike or bite your hands. Usually they get used to being handled pretty quickly.

Give it a few days to settle in. It's just striking because it's scared right now, and stressed. Let it adjust to it's new environment for a few days, and I'm sure it will be just fine. My newest BP started out that way, and now he's fine.

When a BP is hiding, it feels secure and is happy. They are nocturnal, so they will mainly come out at night. You won't ever really see them roaming around during the day time.

:DThanks everyone... it's nice to have some reassurance.

Welcome,

I am new to the site as well, I just acquired a new baby BP. I'm glad I read this thread because I was going to ask the exact same thing about it striking out. I now know that they can be stressed from the change in environment, and my poking around in the enclosure every few hours to check the temps did not help out either! From what others had to say, it should be a great snake as it learns that I'm not a threat. Thanks for the post.

Good luck

I have had my ball python since Jan. and he loves to bite me, but I don't care it doesn't hurt! Shoot, even my brothers 1500 gram female bit me!I guess ball pythons like the taste of my blood:)

Hello fellow Mississippian,

Looks like you've gotten some great advice already from everyone that posted. The thing to remember is that as a baby it views you as a predator. So when you go taking its hide off and reaching for it you pretty much evoke the "HOLY CRAP A HUGE FREAKING PREDATOR" response once the animals learns your not going to eat it the nippy bit should die down.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Hello fellow Mississippian,

Looks like you've gotten some great advice already from everyone that posted. The thing to remember is that as a baby it views you as a predator. So when you go taking its hide off and reaching for it you pretty much evoke the "HOLY CRAP A HUGE FREAKING PREDATOR" response once the animals learns your not going to eat it the nippy bit should die down.

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So Mississippi is the place where there are no elves?:)

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Originally Posted by guambomb832

So Mississippi is the place where there are no elves?:)

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It is also the place where we pipe in sunshine:rofl::rofl:

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Originally Posted by guambomb832

So Mississippi is the place where there are no elves?:)

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LOL yep no elves here.. yea have mosquitoes so big they can stand flat footed and breed a turkey but no elves.. :D

When Balls are young they can be nippy. THe key is to make sure you keep handling them. THey will settle down with age and it will take time but as long as you handle them they will get used to you. Right now they see you as a potential threat so if you handle them they will learn you aren't. When they are young their bites are barley anything, so don't even be afraid to get bitten. I know how much a bite will hurt depends on your own pain threshold, but on average most people think a baby bp's bite isn't bad at all. I ahve hear time and time again that people didn't even know they were bitten until they saw a little drop of blood.

Again make sure you keep handling him. If you stop handling him because he strikes, he can learn that striking will make you not want to touch him so he can keep doing it.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

LOL yep no elves here.. yea have mosquitoes so big they can stand flat footed and breed a turkey but no elves.. :D

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I would love to see some inter-specie breeding.:banana::banana::banana:

Do as the others have stated, it is just a matter of time before it comes around and takes you as friend rather than foe.

Good Luck Ashleigh!

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Originally Posted by ashleigh92088

I just bought my BP yesterday.

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Congrats, and welcome! I'm only a month ahead of you, and the hardest thing for me was that hands-off approach during the first week. With any new pet, especially one you've wanted for a long time, you just want to love it to death. Keep checking in on it, make sure all is well, not too hot or cold, etc., not to mention just gazing at its beauty...

With a new, baby don't-look-at-me BP just brought home, that's all a no-no. Once you get through that period, take it slowly and enjoy. :)

BTW, is that your new BP in your avatar picture? Cute!

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Originally Posted by van_garret2000

When Balls are young they can be nippy. THe key is to make sure you keep handling them. THey will settle down with age and it will take time but as long as you handle them they will get used to you. Right now they see you as a potential threat so if you handle them they will learn you aren't. When they are young their bites are barley anything, so don't even be afraid to get bitten. I know how much a bite will hurt depends on your own pain threshold, but on average most people think a baby bp's bite isn't bad at all. I ahve hear time and time again that people didn't even know they were bitten until they saw a little drop of blood.

Again make sure you keep handling him. If you stop handling him because he strikes, he can learn that striking will make you not want to touch him so he can keep doing it.

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I didn't notice until now that you said you had bought it yesterday. If it's new you also HAVE to give it time to settle in. Don't handle it for a week. More is better too. Once that period is over then keep handling it like I said before. I know it will be hard to not handle it at first but it must be done.