I've posted a few threads in the past couple days about husbandry, but now I need to ask about the actual snake!

I brought home my new 1 year old male BP that I named Jules yesterday. The original owner claimed that he was her number 1 most docile snake, and also the best eater. I handled him momentarily when I went to pick him up, but he did seem a bit skittish, and then I handled him for about 5 minutes when I got home. He was fine to hang on my hand, but he was a bit jumpy indeed.

I put him in his tub, and he has been a bit shy. I haven't attempted to hold him again, but I've been in and around the tub looking at him and checking on the temp/humidity gauges.


The previous owner said it had been a week since he's eaten, so I decided to feed him today. I let the mice unthaw next to his tub, and when they were ready... I opened the tub, and he got defensive and struck at me! He didn't get me, but he gave me a real scare. I threw a mouse in and he INSTANTLY devoured it, and devoured the next 2 just as fast.


I'm not too worried, I assume he struck just because he was hungry and he knew the mice were coming.

I guess my question is, I'm gonna wait the 48 hours and begin to try and hold him. I want to bond with this snake. I'm 100% new to reptiles and I'm just overall nervous about how I'm going to bond with him and to avoid getting bitten!

Does anyone just have some general handling advice?