My Ball Python's Attitude

[Miles]

Alright, so my snake had his first shed with me, all one piece, and now I'm back to the issue of his aggression. Currently what I've been attempting is handling him when i can to get him used to it and being touched, but he just keeps on striking.

I feel helpless, I love the little guy but its a little hard to ignore him bitin mrle. I never put him back if he bites without first waiting a few minute because i dont want him to think thats all it takes.

I realize its a long shot to ask but can some one help me out?

[WingedWolfPsion]

If this is a very young snake, my advice is actually to just leave him alone. Make certain he has a good single entrance hide that's small (preferably 2 of them), and that temperatures are correct.

Wait until he's more like 4 months old, and THEN start short, gentle handling sessions.

Nippy babies often simply grow out of it on their own. The more secure and confident they feel, the less wired they are, and the less likely to get worked up into a biting mood. Your snake doesn't need to practice getting upset--practice makes perfect, right? So, keep him from getting upset in the first place, and he'll be used to being calm, not getting worked up and biting when disturbed.

Ball pythons don't learn things like 'if I bite this guy, and get put back, that means biting gets me put back'. Their intelligence is not sophisticated enough for that. The reward is too nebulous for them to understand. What your guy needs to learn is that he will not be physically OR emotionally upset by you. Stop short of upsetting him to the point where he bites, and you'll have more luck.

I've had good luck with 'surprise' pick ups. Remove hide, immediately pick up snake. Not snatching them up, but moving with assurance, and not giving them a chance to register what just happened, and what they should do about it. Always scoop them up from the side their head is pointed away from, and never grab from straight above. They virtually never bite a hand they're sitting on, unless they're being restrained.

[Miles]

I'm not sure how old he is, but I do move calmly and steady, not jerky or what not when I pick him up. As soon as the hide is up, however, he already looks rearing to have a go at me, and when I do try to move to 'scoop' him up by the sides, he just tracks my hand movement. I can understand him needing to be left alone I suppose, maybe I'm just being a 'fussy owner' and want to make sure I'm doing everything right. I guess I'll try leaving him alone for a month.

[Miles]

Well, I've been leaving my BP alone for the most part and now I've started handling him for a couple minutes a day and it seems like he's calming down some, i don't put em in situations where he can strike at anything and I have been doing my best to approach from the side. I'm very hopeful for him and as always I love just watchin my Uro. Here's hoping he'll keep improving!

[brobertson]

My first BP was the same, nippy and quick to strike. When I first got him, he would strike at the glass every time I walked by. All that I did was feed and water without messing with him for a few weeks, and he mellowed out perfectly. Now, I never worry about getting bit!

[Riv]

I think I was fortunate with my girls. Both of my female normals were very aggresive at the pet store I got them from They were a little feisty at first, but with short but frequent handlings in low stress situations they calmed down fast. They may have struck a lot but ive only been bit by the older one once, and the younger one just caught me with a tooth while I was assist feeding once. Nothing like they were that first month at all.

[OmNomNom]

I only pick up my guy when he's out and wandering about in the evenings, I try not to go into his hide or disturb him if he's in there. He's also only ever snapped at me once, after I'd moved him into a new tank and he didn't want to leave his old hide for the warm spot and was a little cranky. I was well out of striking distance, but I've been leaving him alone until he feels nice and settled in to his new place. Does your guy come out and cruise around and explore in the evenings or bask?

[Miles]

He stays in his hide 95% of the time, I wake myself up in teh middle of the night some times to see if he's out but he only sticks his head out a few inches. I've only seen him come out of his hide on his own maybe 3 times since I've had em and its been about 3 months. Now that he's getting bigger I'm hoping he's going to mellow out a lot more but who knows for sure.

[Kaorte]

He stays in his hide 95% of the time, I wake myself up in teh middle of the night some times to see if he's out but he only sticks his head out a few inches. I've only seen him come out of his hide on his own maybe 3 times since I've had em and its been about 3 months. Now that he's getting bigger I'm hoping he's going to mellow out a lot more but who knows for sure.

Sounds like a normal ball python to me! They sure do like to hide. I only see my snakes cruising the day or two leading up to feeding day.

[Miles]

Well I just took him out and handled him for about 10 minutes, and any kind of movement he just strikes at, not matter what it is. I guess he's just really defensive, and I can understand being scared and such but he doesn't really calm down until he's looking to get down from where he is, and even then he'll get back into that striking mode if he notices movement.