Hissing

[Gene Collins]

I have been trying to handle my BPs daily if possible even if it's not actually picking them up. Every night when I get home from school/work I pop open their tubs and say hi. Give them a little petting just to get them used to seeing me and my scent. My new pastel, Craig, hisses once in a while. When trying to handle them is it best to just leave them alone at that point? Will any further handling just aggravate them more?

[Flikky]

It's just a defense thing. As soon as I get my normal out after him hissing, he's fine. I still handle him. I personally don't think it's anything to worry about.

[DooLittle]

If they are new, and trying to settle in, I wouldn't bother them every day. Hissing though, can just be a big bluff. My butter likes to hiss, and when she does, I take her out. She usually calms down, and that's the end of it. But she sure likes to think she's tough. Imo, if you are gonna get bit, there isn't going to be a hiss warning, just a tag. My pastel will tag without warning, my butter hisses, but rarely strikes.

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[Gene Collins]

It's just a defense thing. As soon as I get my normal out after him hissing, he's fine. I still handle him. I personally don't think it's anything to worry about.

Cool thanks for the quick answer. I just don't want to cause more stress so I figured hissing= leave me the f* alone lol

[1nstinct]

stick your hand in a pick him up he might calm down he might not. my black pastel does not hiss at all, to open is tub stand up because he tries to bite soon as the tubs open, take him out he tries to bite one more time, then he is fine. My pin female, will bite and hiss in or out of the tub, doesnt bother me shes only 250 grams, but every time i hold her im just hoping she grows out of it because i dont want her attitude when she is an adult.
get bit it will make you realize it is more of a shock that you got bit, because a paper cut hurts more than a ball python bite.

[moonlightgdess]

Hissing makes me giggle, that's how scary it is. Well at least from a bp...a Burmese might make me think twice lol. It's just a noise, I usually pick them up anyway.

[CaGirl5]

My pastel hisses at people that arent me. After she is picked up though she is perfectly normal. She's never tried to bite or anything.

[CDs Ball Pythons]

It's a defense mechanism, but in my experience the hissers aren't the ones to worry about biting. Usually strikers will strike without warning.

[Fidget]

My mojo hisses about 60% of the time that I touch her. I pick her up anyway and she shuts right up. I was so surprised when I got a few more and none of them hiss!

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[Sand]

I bought a pair from someone and put them in quarantine in the same enclosure they came with. After the Q period was over I separated them and put them into their own separate tubs.. Now the smaller of the two always hisses and puffs up. At first I was a little leary of the attitude change and continued to pat and pet him only to get the same response.. picked him up and instantly went to puppy dog tame. I have a Spider on the other hand who has never hissed at me.. and from the day I got her.. seems to enjoy the game of "Tag"...