Hi everyone! This is my first post and am excited to be a part of this community. I just wish my first post was a different topic My 6 year old daughter has been asking for a pet snake for a long time. We originally thought a corn snake would be a good choice but changed our minds to a ball python after a number of recommendations from people who said they were a better choice for a 6 year old because they were so docile and laid back.

I wanted the best first snake experience for my daughter so we chose the ball python because of their supposed calm nature. I wanted her to have as little fear, hopefully no fear around the snake.We researched and got everything ready for it to come home. We finally went to pick the snake up yesterday night and placed it into its new home. As soon as we did it quickly found a hiding spot between one of the 2 hides and the glass wall of the 20 gallon long tank. She stayed there and hasn't moved since.

Today my daughter was dying to hold her new baby, so tonight after leaving the snake for 24 hrs to get used to its new home, we decided to take it out for a quick introduction to start getting it used to us. The second I opened the tank it "ran" away from us into a hide. I gently lifted the hide and slowly moved my hand to pick her up around the middle of her body away from her head. She striked out at me immediately. This made my daughter jump back afraid. I tried to play it off as it was nothing and picked the snake up out of the tank. I sat down with it and as I crossed my leg she striked out at it while I was holding it in my hands.

This made my daughter not want to hold it at all. I could feel the snake tense up any time I moved my hand even a slight bit under it or touched it anywhere. My daughter stroked it gently and it tensed right up into an 'S' shape. It was obvious the snake was very scared and defensive. I was very very suprised at this behaviour, and my poor daughter was afraid.

I really hoping for some advice and reassurance from all of you amazing ball python veterans here. I'm feeling a bit upset that maybe we chose the wrong snake for my daughter. Everything I've read so far stated that ball pythons were calm docile snakes. Ours seems terrified and defensive. I know it's only been a day since it's been home with us but I didn't think it would be trying to bite us at all. Maybe she needs more time alone before we try again?

Here's a few things I'm wondering about now:
- Will this striking subside over time with handling?
- Did we handle the snake too soon after taking it home?
- She has 2 hides in a 20 gallon tank. Should I give it more?
- If it strikes should we leave it alone or take it out right after to show it that striking won't make us go away?
- Why does our baby strike at us when almost every other post on here and everyone we've talked to said bp's rarely or never try to bite you?

I would really appreciate any other advise you could give us to make our snake feel safe around us and not want to bite us. I've tried searching on this forum but I can't find much on this topic. I know all snakes have their own personalities but I honestly thought striking bp's were very far and few between.

I would really like it if anyone who has been in this situation could comment. I'm feeling a bit deflated at the moment. I just want to know if there is hope for a happy docile ball python for myself and my 6 year old daughter.

Thanks so much everyone!