New BP owner worried

[guambomb832]

Hello fellow Mississippian,

Looks like you've gotten some great advice already from everyone that posted. The thing to remember is that as a baby it views you as a predator. So when you go taking its hide off and reaching for it you pretty much evoke the "HOLY CRAP A HUGE FREAKING PREDATOR" response once the animals learns your not going to eat it the nippy bit should die down.

So Mississippi is the place where there are no elves?

[tonkatoyman]

So Mississippi is the place where there are no elves?

It is also the place where we pipe in sunshine

[Freakie_frog]

So Mississippi is the place where there are no elves?

LOL yep no elves here.. yea have mosquitoes so big they can stand flat footed and breed a turkey but no elves..

[vangarret2000]

When Balls are young they can be nippy. THe key is to make sure you keep handling them. THey will settle down with age and it will take time but as long as you handle them they will get used to you. Right now they see you as a potential threat so if you handle them they will learn you aren't. When they are young their bites are barley anything, so don't even be afraid to get bitten. I know how much a bite will hurt depends on your own pain threshold, but on average most people think a baby bp's bite isn't bad at all. I ahve hear time and time again that people didn't even know they were bitten until they saw a little drop of blood.

Again make sure you keep handling him. If you stop handling him because he strikes, he can learn that striking will make you not want to touch him so he can keep doing it.

[jblaze]

LOL yep no elves here.. yea have mosquitoes so big they can stand flat footed and breed a turkey but no elves..

I would love to see some inter-specie breeding.

Do as the others have stated, it is just a matter of time before it comes around and takes you as friend rather than foe.

Good Luck Ashleigh!

[Patricia]

I just bought my BP yesterday.

Congrats, and welcome! I'm only a month ahead of you, and the hardest thing for me was that hands-off approach during the first week. With any new pet, especially one you've wanted for a long time, you just want to love it to death. Keep checking in on it, make sure all is well, not too hot or cold, etc., not to mention just gazing at its beauty...

With a new, baby don't-look-at-me BP just brought home, that's all a no-no. Once you get through that period, take it slowly and enjoy.

BTW, is that your new BP in your avatar picture? Cute!

[vangarret2000]

When Balls are young they can be nippy. THe key is to make sure you keep handling them. THey will settle down with age and it will take time but as long as you handle them they will get used to you. Right now they see you as a potential threat so if you handle them they will learn you aren't. When they are young their bites are barley anything, so don't even be afraid to get bitten. I know how much a bite will hurt depends on your own pain threshold, but on average most people think a baby bp's bite isn't bad at all. I ahve hear time and time again that people didn't even know they were bitten until they saw a little drop of blood.

Again make sure you keep handling him. If you stop handling him because he strikes, he can learn that striking will make you not want to touch him so he can keep doing it.

I didn't notice until now that you said you had bought it yesterday. If it's new you also HAVE to give it time to settle in. Don't handle it for a week. More is better too. Once that period is over then keep handling it like I said before. I know it will be hard to not handle it at first but it must be done.