What is the best and most efficient way to tame an aggressive BP?

[skatefastdieyoung]

Not that i have the problem, i just think that this thread has potential to help ALOT of people.

[KMG]

Shock Collar




Aggressive BP, more like angry Velcro. Get bit by a snake with some real teeth and you will see what I mean. An angry BP is cute.

[DVirginiana]

They usually grow out of serious aggression problems. Babies are a lot more high strung. Semi-regular handling should be enough to get even a nervous or nippy snake used to being held.

[anicatgirl]

Shock Collar




Aggressive BP, more like angry Velcro. Get bit by a snake with some real teeth and you will see what I mean. An angry BP is cute.

Ah KMG you made me laugh... angry Velcro

[BCS]

Velcro or cat scratch? Velcro maybe if you have a hatchling... cat scratch if you have an adullt.

[tbowman]

Defensive*

[C2tcardin]

This video by Justin Kobylka is great for how to handle snippy hatchlings. I agree with DVirginiana, they usually are only aggressive when young and usually chill out with time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7DQssbM0uk

[alucard0822]

Never had an aggressive BP, had a couple hide, coil or strike if surprised or fearful though, have had a couple other species of Lizards and snakes that were a bit more apt to bite. With most any reptile I check and recheck husbandry and location of the enclosure to make sure that isn't stressing them. Handle briefly every day or two, too often will stress them, I open the cage to feed, water clean, and general leave them alone if they are calm. If I open the cage intending to handle them, or if I am doing something else and they act pissy, you have to see it through and handle them, with gloves if needed, letting them get away with coiling, hiising, striking or so on will teach them it works to scare you away.

[bcr229]

Some never tame down all the way, they just barely tolerate handling. I have a female pewter like this, she was very snappy and defensive from the first day we brought her home. Consistent, gentle, infrequent, and short handling sessions where she wasn't put away unless/until she wasn't snapping helped a lot, though when in-hand she never relaxes and her body is always very stiff, and she has improved to the point where you don't end up bleeding while cleaning out her tub.

That said, she just dropped good four eggs last Friday night/Saturday morning - her first clutch ever - and she started hissing as soon as the lights went on in the snake room and she really cut loose once her tub was opened up. Removing her from her eggs was an exercise in letting her wear herself out on a roll of paper towels while sneaking my hand around behind her to pick her up.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

The problem here is that you ask a one fit all solution for a problem that may be the result of several things

First it will depends if we are talking about an hatchling or an adult, cb or wild caught, what is perceived as aggressive behavior is in the majority of cases just a defensive behavior often due to stress.


What is important is to

Provide optimal husbandry in which the animal will feel secure.

Feed the animal an appropriate size food once a week.

and avoid new owner mistakes such as handling too often, bathing the animal etc.