Is your ball a striker?

[Anonymous]

Hey, I was wondering if your ball pythons bite you, because today I bought a female ball about two months old, that was a bit nippy.
Wondering if you guys ever had a nippy ball.

[EyeLashViper]

Ah...yes, my big male Apok is indeed striky. All my other BPs are very mellow but Apok is a little hot tempered and has struck and nailed me three times since I got him. He definitely does not like being approached from the front near his head. He will also let out a nasty hiss when he does not want to be bothered. He is one of those BPs that has a temper I guess....99% of the time though he is cool and doesnt mind being handled - as long as I leave his head alone...

EyeLashViper

[kontron]

our balls are more mellow. there are times when they get a bit jumpy, mostly after just waking up or being taken out of the cage, until they get used to their surroundings, but they have yet to strike at either of us. my g/f had her ball for about 1 year and a half, and she has never had a problem with being struck at.

[Brandon.O]

Ive run into a few of those at the store. There is this one ball who whenever you stick your hand in the cage he looks at you either very confused or like he wants to tear your hand off, but lately i have been handling him and he is calming down alot more, once i get the money i think i will get him ive grown pretty attached to him, he is a great eater very nice (now) and is very thick and healthy.

[sophie42204]

Ours have never hissed or struck at us. However, when I was choosing my first (which ended up being Sophie), there was one that was very nippy, didn't bring him home b/c of it. We've been lucky so far.

[Ironhead]

I have one that will strike every chance he gets. He usually will ball up first, but if you continue to be around him he will poke his head out and try to nail ya but has never conected....yet!

My other ball has only struck once when my daughter put her warm hand in his cage and startled him. He tagged her and drew a little blood but nothing she couldnt handle. He does hiss once in a while when you wake him up.

[Anonymous]

I think its wonderful how ball pythons have differen't personalities.

[kitty000]

I've had cujo for three weeks now, and he's so easy going. He is four months old, he has never niped me and he has ate three times( I broke the handling rule :ashamed ) He's head shy still but better then he was when I first got him.

[rding]

So far, in the 13 months that we have had Sixx, I haven't heard him hiss and he hasn't struck at anyone but his lunch. I try to handle him often because of the kids. He is a sweet pea!!!

[led4urhead]

None of my three ball pythons are strikers. I've seen some that were tho, mostly at shows and those were not in the most ideal of situations. I'd be a bit upset too if i was cramed into a cage with 50 of my brothers and sisters