Hi Everyone,

My name is Heather and I'm new here. We have one Het Pied BP, who is just over 1 and doing amazing. We also acquired a Pied BP about 2 months ago who is approx, 4 months old now. She is so so scared. She comes out of her hides and roams her cage in the evenings and has been ok when we check on her in hr hide, but we haven't brought her out much beyond that as she's so tense, and coiled, ready to strike. Then she flees and tries to get away. We have left her alone to let her get used to life in our home and she's done great until the last couple weeks. 2 weeks ago, we attempted to bring her out, and held her in the palm of my hand for about a minute, and then out her back. When I put her back she struck me for the first time. A week later, she struck the glass as I was looking at her. We've always been gentle and deliberate around her tank and she is out enough that we are not a surprise to her. She is just quite a bit more wild than our 1 year old Angus.

I'm looking for advice as to what we should do. I'm prepared to leave her be for as long as she needs it and if she's not going to be a snake we can hold, then so be it... I just worry about her 'fulfillment', for lack of a better word. When it's time we will move her to a larger tank, and can set up more stuff for her, but is she going to be happy in her terrarium all the time? Is there something we should be doing or continue to not do, lol? She eats like a champ, is a damn predator and husbandry is great.

Many thanks,
Heather