BP aggressive display?

[Crosstongue]

Hi guys, I'm new to this forum as well as new to owning a BP.
In the past I had a 40gallon breeder with a community of 6 garter snakes, two 30 Gals one with a corn and one with a king and presently own a corn snake named Zoro.

I was at PetCo looking through all the summer sales in the reptile area, hoping to find some really nice river wood or something fancy on sale to spruce up my tank and I noticed that Ball Pythons were on sale for 32 vs the 120 they normaly cost. Apparently ball python sales went way up or something. Anyway I did some research and my friend Joe owns a pretty large ball python so I talked to him about it and then bought one just yesterday.

I'm not totally sure what morph he is, he looked like a jungle or a normal to me only with a much brighter pigment then the other snakes in teh cage displayed. He's a bit skittish and headshy but my friend told me that's normal for baby bp's.

So I named him Noir, and am planning on trying to feed him his first fuzzy tomorrow and I wanted to know. Are there any tell tale signs that a BP is going to strike?

Like with kings and corns they like to puff up and beat their tails around and garters spread the forks of their tongue into a T and rear back. Do Balls have any signs of attack to watch out for? Even though I've had a good 6 years handling snakes, I'm used to leaner more vivacious snakes so I find myself a bit nervous when I hold him.

[kilabyte]

The only thing I am aware of that a bp may do to warn you he is going to strike is to get into the "S" shape. With that being said I have 2 bp's and have not even been hissed at. bp's are not known to be aggressive and normally will hide their heads into their coils rather than strike. If your snake is head shy and you are going to handle him hold him at first in the middle of his coils. Give your snake at least 1 week of not being bothered at all so he can get used to his new home. You should read like mad on this site as to what is best for your bp. You'll may be surprised what is best for them. Welcome & good luck.

[Crosstongue]

Thanks. Alright I wont handle him at all for a week. Does this mean no feeding this week either though?

And yeah, I've been reading alot after I posted this. Like I found out I am supposed to feed BP's in their home tank. o.o

[Kaorte]

I would wait to feed him until he has settled in for a week. Waiting a week has multiple benefits. It gives the snake time to adjust to its new home and it ensures that the snake is hungry.

I would feed in the home enclosure. Moving the snakes just adds more stress. Ball pythons do not have "cage aggression" like some other larger snakes sometimes have.