Angry Mojave is Angry

[PiercingPrincess]

I got my first ball python back in early august from a local pet store. he is a gorgeous mojave, probably early 2011, but I was warned when I got him that he was a little cage aggressive. I figured it wasn't a huge deal because it probably just wasn't handled a lot, small kids tapping on the glass, what have you. But its been a few months and I can barely walk into the room without the gaurd snake going off. Forget trying to handle him on a regular basis..Feeding time he rather go after me then the mouse. Im a little concerned he's going to smash his nose on the glass and hurt himself. I was trying to handle him every day for a few minutes (other then feeding day and a couple days after) But no progress. He just flails and hisses and attacks. It doesnt seen like he actually wants to bite, that its just defensive but holly jebus it is still a pain getting bitten.
The lady I got my spider off of said that ALL of her mojaves are that way too, super aggressive and just psming all the time..
Does anyone have any idea how i can try to get him a little better at least? or if its just a mojave thing.. No idea. Help please...D:

[Don]

Give him time. It is not a Mojave thing. I've got several of them and none are aggressive. It is a baby thing. They calm down as they get older. Until it calms down, make sure it has plenty of hides so it can feel secure.

[Annarose15]

Please describe your setup. Although some BPs just have attitude, it sounds like your cage is glass (making him feel insecure), and he might not have proper hides (since he sees you every time you enter the room). Is the room he's in high-traffic? What are you feeding him, how often, and what does he weigh? My mojo is a teddy bear.

[WmHrbst]

He is trying to show you how tough he is! Just give him time and like mentioned above. Ball pythons usually calm down as they get older. I had a few feisty guys back when they were little and they are very calm now.

[snakesRkewl]

I would look at the husbandry as the issue causing him to be stressed out like that.

Type of set up, temps on both ends and hot spot, hide?

[PiercingPrincess]

Please describe your setup. Although some BPs just have attitude, it sounds like your cage is glass (making him feel insecure), and he might not have proper hides (since he sees you every time you enter the room). Is the room he's in high-traffic? What are you feeding him, how often, and what does he weigh? My mojo is a teddy bear.

He's in a two foot by two foot enclosure, with a 1.5 foot plexiglass sliding front, the rest of the sides and top are solid (top is mesh). My fiance and I made the terrarium ourselves, and all of our other snakes are fine, no problems whats so ever. He has three hides, one under his heat lamp, one thats more of a climbing hide, and one at the cool end, lots of foliage and stuff to hide behind and climb on. Its not even a high traffic room! The snakes take over the second bedroom, and there is only the two of us who go in, usually only a couple of times a day to check on them and fill water etc. He's even on the end on the far side where the door isnt even visible.

[Annarose15]

He's in a two foot by two foot enclosure, with a 1.5 foot plexiglass sliding front, the rest of the sides and top are solid (top is mesh). My fiance and I made the terrarium ourselves, and all of our other snakes are fine, no problems whats so ever. He has three hides, one under his heat lamp, one thats more of a climbing hide, and one at the cool end, lots of foliage and stuff to hide behind and climb on. Its not even a high traffic room! The snakes take over the second bedroom, and there is only the two of us who go in, usually only a couple of times a day to check on them and fill water etc. He's even on the end on the far side where the door isnt even visible.

So far, so good. What are your temps and how are you measuring them?

[PiercingPrincess]

So far, so good. What are your temps and how are you measuring them?

I have a thing for humidity and one for heat, both are good, consistant with the rest of my animals. I donno. nothing seems off.. He's been in the space for about two-two and a half months? eating two f/t adult mice every week.

[Annarose15]

I have a thing for humidity and one for heat, both are good, consistant with the rest of my animals. I donno. nothing seems off.. He's been in the space for about two-two and a half months? eating two f/t adult mice every week.

What do you mean, "a thing for"? Are they analog stick-on dials, or digital thermometers with a probe to measure the surface of the hot spot? What are the actual temperatures?

[barbie.dragon]

Sounds weird but I would block out the front too. Just get construction paper (black) and leave it there for like two weeks. Then slowly reduce the amount of construction paper. "Desensitization" should work pretty well.