Quote Originally Posted by j_h_smith View Post
That's just cage agression or a feeding response. Many times if you just tap the snake with a probe or hook, the snake realizes it's not feeding time or things are going to be okay. Then you can usually grasp the snake gentle and remove the snake from the enclosure.

I always touch/rub the snake along it's back before I pick them up. It's just a thing I do to let them know something is about to happen.

If the snake is in the strike position when you open the enclosure, just gently tap them somewhere along the head/behind the head. This lets them know something is about to happen.

You will need to work with the snake and eventually, the snake should calm down and not be so agressive.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

ps Never give up on the snake, sometimes it will start to work when you think it's never going to change.
If he was cage aggressive, don't you think that EVERY time I tried to get him out he'd do like this? But if he's under his hide and I lift it off he doesn't go into strike mode. It's ONLY when he's roaming around his cage and I open it. I don't think it's a feeding response, either. I personally think he's just afraid! When I first got him he would strike the glass whenever I came close! For a while I had all 4 sides of his enclosure covered so he felt secure. Then when he had established a feeding routine I removed the cover on the front of the cage.