Is it Normal?

[WOCSNAKE]

Do ball pythons mellow out with consistent handling? She hisses sometimes and usually curls up

P.S. she is practically a baby

[BHReptiles]

she may be hissing because she's a baby or she stressed. limit her handling to small sessions every couple of days and see how she does over time.

[Daybreaker]

Yes, some will become more accustomed to being handled and will relax with frequent but short handling sessions.

Though I have some that still act up and get hissy pissy even with being handled more. Some snakes will just be that way.

[Quantum Constrictors]

Very very normal for small BPs to hiss.

Even my 1100g girl does it.

With babies they are not used to being picked up and see you as a threat. So right now you seem like a predator to them. Once they get bigger and realize you are not going to hurt them the mellow out.

With the bigger BPs when they hiss. It usually means they dont want to be bothered or you frightened them.

But yah. Prefectly normal for a little one to hiss at you.

[Vargronak]

My 300g female has never bitten or even hissed at me and I handle her regularly. And when I have her out handling her I read her body language. If shes' tasting the air and curling up on my shoulders or arm I know she's doing well, however if she starts to ball up then I will put her back because I know she's beginning to get a little stressed. So just spend time with you animal and you will get to know their individual personality/attitude.

[XoKarma]

Mine usually hangs out in my hand or on my arm, hes still little. I've never seen him ball up over anything, but when he starts to get agitated he does this weird neck kinking thing and bobs his head around. Hes never balled, hissed, or tried to bite. (I think he's just a species confused bp). But once she becomes accustom to the 'thing' picking her up and realizes she's not about to become lunch I'm sure she'll mellow out.

[volkswagen20v]

My girlfriends 300g pastel will sometime his in your hand when you take him out. My 130g pinstripe will come out of his tank directly into your hand almost every time. It depends on the snake. In time with regular handling he should calm down.

[jschwe]

It depends on the snake, some of mine have never hissed once. However, I have noticed a few that seemed to almost go through a "phase" when they were around 150-300 for a few months when they were really hissy and more likely to strike. This could've just been coincidence, though.

[DooLittle]

Just depends on the snake. While it is not uncommon for a baby to be defensive and hissy, some of them never grow out of it. I had a pastel that was just mean as all get out. She never hissed, just bit. You always had to be on your toes with her. When I got rid of her at 800 grams, she was still nasty as can be.

So, you do want to handle them, but if she's a baby start slow. 5 minutes here and there, gradually building up as she can tolerate it.

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