please help rookie owner

[TwoPennies™]

I just got my ball python yesterday and he is super jumpy and looks as if he is going to strike me when me our my girl friend handles him he just ate he seems very nervous am I doing anything wrong he is six months old in 10 gallon tank I have heating pad and heat lamp and hide but he never leaves his hide..is this normal

[Daybreaker]

Can you explain your setup more? How are you measuring temps, what are the temps, is your UTH regulated with a thermostat, etc

It's not unusual for BPs to not leave their hide, that's what they do. If they're roaming that usually isn't a good thing: it means they're stressed or hungry. A hiding BP is (usually) a happy BP.

He's probably very defensive because you just got him and he needs to acclimate to all his new surroundings. Give him a week with no handling so he can de-stress.

How soon did you handle him after he ate and for how long?

[TwoPennies™]

My uth isn't regulated I have a starter tank from zilla I have a thermostat for humidity and temperature humidity is fifty percent temp is 80-85 I've handled him about five times since he ate about two days ago the pet store I got him at was real shady in a swap meet lol the first one I got had ticks so I sent him back for a wash and got anew tank for this one the first one was very calm this one is alot healthier but seemsto be on edge I won't handle him but I'm afraid he might strike me so I'm very cautious when handling him he makes me feel very nervous and my gf who was excitedat first is starting to have second thoughts I really like him but I'm worried about him striking her.

[jon7]

Give him/her a week minimum to adjust to the new place like Daybreaker said. After that, its just a matter of getting them used to you. But dont give up!! Keep handling him/her for an hour or 2 every couple days. he/she will get better with time. Of it helps any, the bites from little babies do not hurt at all.

[PorcelainxDoll]

So forst off you need to get a thermost to regulate your heat mat.
Also what kind of thermometers are you using? Dials or digital?
the dial ones are very inaccurate.

After feeding you should rwfrain from holding him for at leadt 48 hrs.
When getting a new bp give him at least a week with no handling to acclomate. Hes probably striking because hes stressed and after hes eaten a few meals for you then start handling for short 5-10 min sessions, and only once a day preferebly at night bps are nocturnal. But its very important ypu dont handle 48 grs after feeding because he could get so stressed that he regurgitates, which is really tough on a snake.

[TwoPennies™]

Okay see the only thing is he hasn't bitten me yet I think he is just very shy he seeMs to be more icomfortable with me then my girlfriend but she moves a lot I'm r
Tight on money so is the dial thermostat dangerous because if he is on his heating pad at night in the morning he is warm to the touch which worries me I hope he knows to move if he its too hot we don't want to hurt him.

[PorcelainxDoll]

A thermostat is a MUST! For a uth! They can get so hot that rhey will burn tthe snake.
dial thermometers are very inaccurate.
they can say that your temps 85 but it really be 95 or higher.
They have digital thermometers at walmart called accurite for like 12$.
best advice i can give is to get a thermostat get the digital thermometers, and stop hhandling your bp for about a week. Then try to feed him if he eats give him 2 more days no handling then start slowly handlong for 5.min each session once a day.

[TwoPennies™]

So shouldI turn heater of in meantime

[PorcelainxDoll]

I would say no because you dont want him to get to cold but i would monitor his temps religuously to make sure ge doesnt get burned.

I dont even use a uth for fear of it burning my bp. I use a 75 watt infared red night viewing light and an actual small heater on a very low setting about 1ft away from the cage to keep his hot side temps up. Its a little harded to keep the humidiry controlled but i dont worry about my snake getting byrned

[TwoPennies™]

I felt the hot side and its been on all night and it isn't very hot he is chilling in the light right now I just have a daylight bulb he seemed skittle more calm today he's had his head out of his hide morning but sucks his head in if we step towards the cage

sorry for typos I'm using smart phone