Wild Child Ball Python

[JodanOrNoDan]

Out of my 17 snakes in my collection I have one really mean ball python, not sure why she is so mean, she is a bumblebee which is pastel spider possibly het pied possible yellow belly. She is still pretty young but growing fast, always strikes at me most times I open up her tub, just a snappy little thing. I'm thinking she was taunted when she was younger by a previous breeder? She won't eat dead mice, only live ones, she wants to hunt! I'm not really interested in handling her though, just using her as a breeder so it really doesn't matter to me. I usually use a paper towel roll and let her bite that, then grab her from behind and move her to another tub, I haven't got bit yet.

For awhile I though I was the only person experiencing this and it was localized to my collection. I have 2 single gene pastels and 3 combos in my collection. The best that can be said for them is that they are flighty. I have two that are down right pain in the butts. In my case I know it is not a husbandry issue. None of my other animals act like them. I have one adult female that I picked up awhile back that is just evil. She acts like the retics I have seen that have attitude problems. It isn't a question of if she is going to have a go at me it is a question of when. Before I got her I would have swore that there are not any ball pythons that act like that. I have a sub-adult killer bee female that I bought at 600 grams. She is beautiful but nuts. I am thinking the double dose of pastel plus the wonkiness of the spider gene is pushing her attitude over the top. This one calms down a little once she is out but I still will not let either of these animals anywhere near my kids. If anyone has pastels, especially bee combos can refute this please let me know.