Im pretty sure that my python is going to bite me

[motormike40]

Hello again, Ive been letting my snake chill for 5 days now, and everytime I reach my hand in the tank, it coils up in a offensive position, and it follows my hands everywhere. Im pretty sure if I put my hand closer to her it will bite me. Why does this snake hate me so bad???

[JLC]

She doesn't hate you...she's scared of you. First off...give her more time to settle in. A week is usually an accepted minimum...some nervous snakes need more time than that.


Second off...what kinds of hides does she have available to her? Of course you'll have to reach into the tank periodically to change/provide water for her, and clean out any feces or urates she may leave....but she should be completely tucked away in her hides at this time. She shouldn't be seeing you reach in at all.

You'll have to resist the urge to lift her hides to peek at her...and resist the urge to mess around in her enclosure at all if she's out and about.

You might seriously consider the "newspaper trick" to help calm her down and get her used to her new home. Basically, you crumple up sheets of newspaper (not wadded into tight balls, but crumpled into big ones) and completely fill her enclosure with them. Leave them in there with her until she is feeding regularly...then gradually reduce the number of papers in there until eventually they are all gone. (This can take weeks to do properly.) And again, you don't mess around in her home at all, except to water and spot clean.

[motormike40]

I have one large half log that shes in most of the time, which is in the cooler side. Ill give her some more time to settle in, then Ill give the newspaper trick a try. Ill be sure to change the water when she is hiding. Ill give this a try then ill post back to y'all thanks alot, I really wasnt looking foward to getting bitten by her.

[tigerlily]

If you only have the one half log hide, then insecurity may be an issue. You want two identical, small, dark, hides. I don't like those half logs as a hide. I had 2 of them when I started off, but tossed them to the side pretty quickly. Best of luck not getting bitten.

[motormike40]

Cool, what are you using? I really dont think that I can afford the space, Its a 43 gal tank, with a pretty big half log, and a large water dish. How small of a hide can a 4 1/2 snake fit into?

[daniel1983]

Is your snake an WC adult?

[tigerlily]

What about shoebox size rubbermaid?

I'm using a 9 x 13 gladware thing. It's black and only 2" high. So far, she loves it. I'll see if I can snap a pic.

[tigerlily]

Here ya go.

[Beauty the BP]

The best hides i have found for all snakes depending on size are the dishes they sell for putting under your potted plants. Just get 2 the same size that will allow your snake to have a snug curlup in. As they get older and bigger and they out grow those kind of hides, I use cheap plastic small cat litter trays. These hides will cost you any where from 20 cents each to 2 dollars.

I have found that whether you use a tank or a tub that the K.I.S.S. principle works. (KISS= Keep It Simple Stupid) You dont need all the fancy things, all your snake wants is a warm place he or she feels safe in and an equal cool place, water to drink or soak at its leisure, and food.

As to being bit, I will say to you the same thing I told my 7 yrold son this last week. It doesnt matter how careful you are ( though it does help) If your snake feels at all the need to it will bite you. And as far as im concerned if it bites it bites and i get on with it. A BP bite isnt that bad even when older. A young bite might not even draw blood but be more of a suprise. An older snake will in fact draw blood but the pain from the bite is no worse than a bad paper cut and is forgotten in a couple of days and doesnt leave a trace.

I run my own rescue and am bitten by upset snakes and lizards on a daily basis im my routine maintance of them. It is a fact or life when owning or caring for these lovely creatures You can provide to its every need and will still get bit sometime in your life.

Hope this helped,
Beauty the BP

[frankykeno]

It's a 4 1/2 foot BP? So an adult obviously. Where did you get the snake and what do you know of it's life before you bought it?