my bp is really starting to terrify me

[word]

honestly, i took about 2 weeks in between feedings and handling this last time(on sunday). it was pretty hot and she was hungry. she's struck at me before, but jsut a warning strike. this time, she latched on and tried to constrict my wrist! i peeled her off and grabbed her neck by the back of her head and then she let go. i fed her shortly afterwards, which i think was a mistake, because i tried handling her again today. she was pretty chill and i halfway picked her up (you know how when you pick them up, they start holding onto something inside the enclosure). she was pretty gentle as she explored my hand, but then she wrapped around and tried to constrict it! i grabbed her behind her head again, peeled her off and set her down in her enclosure. i was thinking that she felt my pulse, which was really fast because i was excited from playing a video game and because i was nervous that she would bite me again...

she is really starting to terrify me... i get nervous every time i open her enclosure... how can i keep her from trying to attack/eat me?

[Generationshell]

Getting bit by a ball python just comes with the territory of owning snakes. It happens. As far as why she is doing it. She could have still been in feeding mode. It is recommended that you dont handle a snake some time after they have eaten. Also make sure everything in your tank is set up right. Such as your husbandry.
Your snake may just be feisty. Some are. But eventually she will realize you are not food and wont benefit her in anyway. The only way to fix he inclination to bite you is to handle her more frequently so she can get used to it. Dont be afraid of her. The worst is already over. You did get bit two times already and survived. Treat her as if she had never even bitten you before.

[Lolo76]

What are you feeding her, and generally how often? Could be she's constantly hungry (due to not being fed enough), or she could just be a crank... it's rare with ball pythons, but sometimes you can get a mean one! I have one nicknamed "Miss Hissy Pants" for her attitude, but luckily she's not a striker - just a hisser & puffer. I also have a mean little Miami corn snake, who I mostly just leave alone to her cranky self.

If this is your only snake I assume you want to handle frequently, so this might not be the right personality match for you. But most snakes (especially BPs) do settle down with time & patience, so maybe you should keep at it a bit longer... try handling every day for 5-10 minutes TOPS, with the exception of 48 hours after a feeding & when in deep shed. She should eventually learn you're not a threat, and become the lap-snake you're looking for. Good luck!

[punyhuman07]

All ball pythons will wrap around you mine do it all the time they don't feel the pulse or any crazy thing like that. Do you feed the python in the enclosure you keep it in if so they will sometimes think when you reach your hand in there it is feeding time. I would get a tub and start feeding him in that for safty reasons. Also stop grabing her from behind the neck that is the worst place to grab them you can actualy break there necks if your not careful. get use to your snake wrapping around you mine are always around my neck or arm....

[Carlene16]

My boyfriend got his first ball python about a year and a half ago now. I was TERRIFIED of the thing, I would not touch it! I wouldn't even want to be close to him when he held it. I was convinced that it looked scary and was going to bite me. So I ended up getting a wee little corn snake that wasn't scary to me.

Long story short it was my fear of snakes that made me terrified of the ball python (something about the head shape freaked me out) I now have many snakes, mainly ball pythons. I even have a 3 1/2 foot boa constrictor and she is my little angel. My first snake, the "wee little corn snake" turned out to be the devil. I use a snake stick to take him out.

If it's a hatchling they can tend to be a little more aggressive, "strikey" but if you handle her she will get used to being handled. If she is "constricting" your wrist then she is just hanging on for dear life, it doesn't mean she is going to eat you

Goodluck Any questions just ask.

[SpartaDog]

I don't have any tips for calming her that haven't already been mentioned, but I can help with the fear. Try wearing thick gloves (leather or rubber, preferably) so that if she does bite you, it will limit/eliminate the damage to your skin. Make sure they smell like you though, so when you are comfortable enough to handle her without them, she isn't thrown off by the scent. It worked with my rat snake.

[anatess]

They will wrap around your wrist/arm/leg... Especially if you're standing up. They like to make sure they won't fall. Nothing wrong with it. To unwrap him, unwrap from the tail first. Their tail is the weakest part.

There are 2 kinds of strike. The defensive strike - strike and retreat - or the hunting strike - strike and wrap. If he's doing the wrap, then yeah, you might check your feeding schedule to make sure he is getting enough food.

It might help if you describe your complete set-up or rake photos so we can give you more tips.

[Lolo76]

If he's doing the wrap, then yeah, you might check your feeding schedule to make sure he is getting enough food.

That's why my first question was about her feedings, since the OP specifically mentioned striking AND coiling at the same time... to me that screams "hungry snake," rather than defensive striking or coiling to hang on.

[SpartaDog]

2 weeks between feedings seems a little lengthy to me, depending on what you're feeding. My juvie is on small mice every Saturday, and he only ever turns it down for wintering. I'd say in addition to the gloves, either bump up the prey size or feed more often.

[AkHerps]

Now wait OP, the first time you said bite and constrict, the second time you just said she started to constrict. Did she bite you the 2nd time?

Even young ball pythons can squeeze you very hard if they feel insecure. If I'm holding mine wrong he wraps his whole body around my arm or whatever he can grab and squeezes me until I take him off and support his whole body.

You have to remember, these are terrestrial snakes so they like to be supported and feel safe, and as babies they are even more afraid and clingy.

If the snake is a hatchling, be feeding every 5-7 days, I prefer 5 for very young, 6 for my 5 month old, and 7 for almost adults to adults.

I would suggest one small adult mouse every 5 days if it is a small hatchling.

If not a hatchling one or two mice, or a small-medium rat every 7 days if you are talking about a larger snake.