New BP

[Chickyface]

Hi all. I have had bps for almost 3 years now. I understand that when getting a new one that they may be scared. I know to wait 1 to 2 weeks then try feeding and everything else that comes with getting one used to being handled. However I am running into trouble with a new one that I got 2 months ago. It continuously strikes. Suggestions??

[RetiredJedi]

JKR has a video that might help:

[Chickyface]

Okay. I will attempt that. Thank you =)

[C&H Exotic Morphs]

The first thing is how is your setup? What are your warm and cool side temps, humidity, and do you have hides on the warm and cool side for him?
Your husbandry can have a huge effect on your new guys stress level, so you want to make sure that is spot on before you worry about anything else.

And sometimes younger BP's can just be a bit snippy! They will usually outgrow it with time.

[Chickyface]

The first thing is how is your setup? What are your warm and cool side temps, humidity, and do you have hides on the warm and cool side for him?
Your husbandry can have a huge effect on your new guys stress level, so you want to make sure that is spot on before you worry about anything else.

And sometimes younger BP's can just be a bit snippy! They will usually outgrow it with time.

I would consider my set up to be very well. Since this new one a fairly small, I have it in 5.5gal to start off. coconut husk bedding, 70-75 on cool side and 80-85 on heated side. I keep the humidity level at about 50-60%. i have a small cave rock on the warm side and a small Pothos plant in the middle but closer to the heated side. This is how I have the set up for my other balls.

I tried to do as the video the another person posted. However, I am still having trouble. I am now attempting to do as I did for my female norm (Shivani) to try and get this one used to me. Which is holding it near its head so as to prevent striking, holding body down the length on my arm against my body so as to prevent constricting, softly blowing air towards its face to get my scent, and stroking the length of its body. When I started this, it would open and close its mouth as if trying to scare me aware. Now that reaction has lessened.

It was suggested that this is one way to 'tame' a snake, and that I will know progress when it starts showing belly. I am unsure about this though. When i go to put him back in tank he starts the striking again.

HELP!! I'm trying not to lose hope =( If necessary I will relinquish to a more experienced reptile owner, but I am hoping I won't have to do this.

[satomi325]

I would consider my set up to be very well. Since this new one a fairly small, I have it in 5.5gal to start off. coconut husk bedding, 70-75 on cool side and 80-85 on heated side. I keep the humidity level at about 50-60%. i have a small cave rock on the warm side and a small Pothos plant in the middle but closer to the heated side. This is how I have the set up for my other balls.

Your temps are much too low.
Hot side should be closer to 90 (88-91) and the cool side should be in the low 80(78-82). Your temps should never go below 75. Anything under 75 has the potential risk or respiratory infection.
Just bump up your temps a bit. Your humidity sounds good though!


As for aggression, try hook training your snakes. Use a paper towel roll or rolled up news paper to gently rub their head or neck to let them know you're there. Then gently scoop them up from the back or side. From my experience with snakes striking, its the fast movement of reaching for their heads that may trigger a strike.
And are you sure your snakes aren't defensive striking?
Do your snakes try to attack you when out of their enclosure when you're holding them? If not, then they're not aggressive, just acting defensively in their enclosures..

[Chickyface]

Your temps are much too low.
Hot side should be closer to 90 (88-91) and the cool side should be in the low 80(78-82). Your temps should never go below 75. Anything under 75 has the potential risk or respiratory infection.
Just bump up your temps a bit. Your humidity sounds good though!


As for aggression, try hook training your snakes. Use a paper towel roll or rolled up news paper to gently rub their head or neck to let them know you're there. Then gently scoop them up from the back or side. From my experience with snakes striking, its the fast movement of reaching for their heads that may trigger a strike.
And are you sure your snakes aren't defensive striking?
Do your snakes try to attack you when out of their enclosure when you're holding them? If not, then they're not aggressive, just acting defensively in their enclosures..

Currently only one of my tanks has the temp gauge as my other two broke during a move. I like to try and have two temp gauges in tanks if 20gal or bigger. In the one that does have it the temperature is right around that. The actual room that they are in is what I posted as my temps. The 5.5 gal is the only tank that doesn't have a heat pad under it as the other two do. You definitely make a good point. Thanks.

My other snakes do not try to strike ever. Shivani slithers right into my hand as she loves hanging out on my shoulders. The largest one I have (Pierce) doesn't strike at me either. Though he did strike at me two weeks ago when I tried feeding him f/t. Because of the the recent wild fire in CO I was not able to purchase live feed, and he is strictly a live feeder. (He gets moody about his food xD)

No. It is only this one that strikes at all. He starts the striking as soon as the tank lid is lifted as well as when being handled. =( I don't have a hook as I do not feed them in their tanks and this wasn't a problem until I got this snake. When I go to handle my snakes I always pick them up from the middle. I don't stroke them before I pick them up, I just put my hands on them and keep them there a few seconds before lifting. As for the rubbing up his neck, it is difficult to achieve this as, like I said, he just starts striking away. It feels necessary to hold him near the head, and I just do not like that.

I know it isn't a hunger strike either as I feed them weekly like clock work. I honestly am starting to feel very down about this. I used to have a Honduran milk snake that was nippy. But I did the same as I did for Shivani to get her used to me - holding near head, supporting body, stroking and lightly blowing towards face for scent. He was fine after two weeks.

I traded the milk snake for this BP that is ever so nippy. I don't know if perhaps that bit of information can partly explain my situation??

I have to wait until my next pay check before I can buy another temp gauge. Also. I only have a heat lamp on the 20gal. Is it worth it to have a heat lamp on a 10 gal or 5 gal? I feel like it would produce too much heat with the heat pads underneath in those smaller sized tanks....

- - - Updated - - -

I do not mean to be so confusing. The 20gal set up has everything - heat pad, heat lamp, both gauges, hide, plant. 10 gal is missing the lamp and temp gauge, though I assume the temps are well as Shivani will not eat unless her temps are on point. 5 gal is missing the lamp, pad, and temp gauge.

Now that I've clarified this I see that I should really pay attention to the set up of the 5gal, which is the tank the nippy snake is in.

[Chickyface]

Okay so I ran out to petco today and bought the temp gauge. Room is still fluctuating between 75-85 degrees. Checking the temp gauge multiple times today, it has fluctuated between 82-86 degrees. So I don't think the temp is the problem. What else could it be then?

[I-KandyReptiles]

Okay so I ran out to petco today and bought the temp gauge. Room is still fluctuating between 75-85 degrees. Checking the temp gauge multiple times today, it has fluctuated between 82-86 degrees. So I don't think the temp is the problem. What else could it be then?

What kind of gauge did you get? If it's analog, they're very unreliable. You need a digital one with a probe.

Also, is your UTH and lamp regulated with a thermostat?

[Chickyface]

What kind of gauge did you get? If it's analog, they're very unreliable. You need a digital one with a probe.

Also, is your UTH and lamp regulated with a thermostat?

Since he is in a 5.5gal currently there is no UTH or lamp. The gauge is the zoomed brand one that kind of look like a clock. It is the same kind that I have in my 20gal tank.