First post...have a question

[shecallsmebuddha]

First off I have been on this site alot and have to say I love all the advise. Everyone on here has great advice and with my first snake it was very useful to come on here and see things I may have done wrong from inexperience.

[Skittles1101]

Welcome to the forum! I don't see a question though lol. I found this site to be really helpful, and a majority of the people are quite pleasant

[shecallsmebuddha]

sorry wasnt done accidently hit the wrong button. I was recently given a 8 year old BP from a friend who was not able to take care of her anymore and she is beautiful. The problem is that my friend never had a hide and never did anything for heating and humidity. I am now trying to setup the tank to fix those issues. I put in a hide and am in the process of mounting a heating lamp to replace the heating rock my friend was using. When I was changing things in the tank she was iffy about me being in there and after I took my hand out she struck the tank trying to get me. I want to be able to handle this snake. Am I going to have issues with trying to handle her or when I get things the way they need to be and she gets accustomed to it will she kind of chill out a little. She is much bigger than my other snake so I am a lil timid but I want to make sure I give her the best that I can. Any advice would be awesome. Thanks for looking

[Skittles1101]

Make sure you check out the caresheet, http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

I'm sure once you get her husbandry corrected and give her some time to adjust to her new surroundings that she'll be just fine to handle.

[The Serpent Merchant]

I'll add this thread as well:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers

[Kaorte]

Its very normal for a new snake to be a little defensive when you are making changes to their habitat. It is entirely possible that the snake has always had a bad attitude due to not being cared for properly. Most ball pythons, when cared for correctly, are very calm and docile snakes. All 10 of mine are easy to handle, but will give me the occasional strike if they are mad or hungry.

Don't let it bother you too much. Just like how us humans have mood swings, snakes do too sometimes. Just because the snake snapped at you once doesn't mean it will always be like that

If my snakes look like they might bite me, and I need to pick them up for whatever reason, I just go in there and try to cover their head while I pick them up as to not give them the opportunity to strike. Most of them ball up when I touch their faces. Don't show any fear! Ball pythons are not very scary. Even their bites are a common joke on the forum (because it is barely a bite).

[shecallsmebuddha]

Thanks everyone...Makes me feel much better