Introducing Choco!

[PythonBabes]

I've been wanting to get another BP for a while and I finally did today! It took a while because my local breeder doesn't really breed normals and I wasn't willing to get one shipped to me. And I had already told myself that if I was getting another BP 1. it was going to be a boy and 2. it was going to be a normal. So, by luck I guess he had a little male normal pop up AND he was a twin, so he's small. Of course, I did have to wait until he had a couple meals in him, but he's still soo small. Yes, I've seen many pictures of hatchling bp's, but its different in person and holding him.

Ok, I snapped a few pictures of him before he got put away:
https://i.imgsafe.org/8d18384edf.jpg
https://i.imgsafe.org/8d18943f62.jpg

He was a complete sweetheart(except for the peeing,liquid AND urates, on me part), but as soon as he got in his tub he was dead set on biting me. I opened his tub to look at his cute little snoot and he struck at me at least 4 times in 30 seconds, but he's tiny he'll grow out of it, I hope.

[cletus]

Congrats on your new little guy!

[Ashley96]

Aww babies are the cutest. Congrats!

[PythonBabes]

Thanks!

Tomorrow is his feeding day, should I try to feed him or just leave him alone?

[Neal]

I've been wanting to get another BP for a while and I finally did today! It took a while because my local breeder doesn't really breed normals and I wasn't willing to get one shipped to me. And I had already told myself that if I was getting another BP 1. it was going to be a boy and 2. it was going to be a normal. So, by luck I guess he had a little male normal pop up AND he was a twin, so he's small. Of course, I did have to wait until he had a couple meals in him, but he's still soo small. Yes, I've seen many pictures of hatchling bp's, but its different in person and holding him.

Ok, I snapped a few pictures of him before he got put away:
https://i.imgsafe.org/8d18384edf.jpg
https://i.imgsafe.org/8d18943f62.jpg

He was a complete sweetheart(except for the peeing,liquid AND urates, on me part), but as soon as he got in his tub he was dead set on biting me. I opened his tub to look at his cute little snoot and he struck at me at least 4 times in 30 seconds, but he's tiny he'll grow out of it, I hope.

Congrats, also try dealing with large 2000+ gram females. I was hanging with Sean the other day and helping him feed his, I had several come out launching for food. Good thing though I have good reflexes.

[PythonBabes]

Yeah, it did scare me a bit. Karma is so shy and sweet lol, it definitely is a change.

[Macropodus]

... if I was getting another BP 1. it was going to be a boy and 2. it was going to be a normal. So, by luck I guess he had a little male normal pop up AND he was a twin, so he's small... he struck at me at least 4 times in 30 seconds, but he's tiny he'll grow out of it, I hope.

You are every breeder's dream come true. A normal. A male. A runt. You took in what very few others would have, what many times wind up as culls. Kudos to you!

Can I ask what your responses are when he strikes at you? Remember your actions now are setting precedent for his future behavior.

[PythonBabes]

I mean...what am I supposed to do when he strikes at me? I've never really dealt with that behavior before so I just left him alone, but would that encourage the behavior?

[Macropodus]

He struck at you at least 4 times in 30 seconds right? You mean you just left him alone but he continued to strike at thin air in your general direction? That seems strange. As far as what is supposed to be done when he strikes - I can't answer that. I've been bitten so many times over the years that it doesn't phase me anymore (BP's are rather mild compared to Bloods, water snakes, etc), But the 1st dozen or so times resulted in me flinching and withdrawing my hand. Very wrong I have come to believe. There are lots of YouTube videos on the subject more helpful than me, but I would simply suggest not reinforcing behaviors which could become very troublesome later on when he is 4' long weighs 3 pounds. Part of that entails not leaving him alone because that does indeed encourage more of the same behavior. Cup him in your hands against your body. Biting, he should learn, is futile and a waste of energy. He wants to be returned to his hide, so permit that only after he has calmed down. Good Luck.

[DLena]

When my "smallest ever" BP arrived, she was fine out of the snake bag for checking and weighing, but immediately coiled and struck repeatedly when I put her in her bin. Any movement near her little bin, which was covered by a towel, elicited the same response...and all I was doing was checking temps and water bowls in my quarantine room. Next day, same thing, so I opened her bin to make sure she was okay... strike, strike, strike in the air. So I called her breeder for some advice (at that time I was used to corn snakes), and he said FEED HER. So I did. Two days later, quickly scooped her up with a hook, then put her in my hand, and did water bowl. Two more days, same handling. Next day, fed her again. This became our routine for a couple of months. She has become decent to handle between meals, but NEVER the day before or the day of a meal. And the only meal she has ever refused in over 5 months was offered immediately before a shed. Maybe you could try this?