Just got tagged, but why?

[Badgemash]

I have a new male (pastel het axanthic, arrived last Tuesday), have only handled him a few times when absolutely necessary. He always seemed super shy, curled right up into a tight ball, never the slightest hint of aggression. Just now I go to reposition the thermometer (AcuRite one) since he decided to move it around his house. I was surprised to see him out of his hide, and when I reached past him for the unit he nailed me on the thumb. I jumped back and yelped, hubby came running in to see what was up, and the second I moved (about 1 1/2 feet from the tub now) he struck again in my direction. So I very carefully and slowly slid the drawer shut and I could still see him through the plastic with some very angry body language. He was acting like a female on eggs. What I'm wondering is why? Temps are good, humidity is good, he has hides, he was in a tub/rack system on aspen at his old house and I've kept that the same. Could he be hungry? Also is anyone interested in a male pastel het axanthic with a slight attitude problem?

[RobNJ]

Sometimes they just bite...I have one that goes after me every time I pull her tub out. They're snakes, and it happens...

[Kodieh]

I'd go for hungry first, and then next I'd say he just pulled his pissy pants on. My baby pastel was like that, the second day I had her I opened the tub cause she peed and she decided that if I moved she would strike. She did this about five times, two more while in my hand, and three more times as her water bowl, hide, and a tub lid went back on. Mines grown out of it a little bit, she's not as jumpy. But, if she's cruising I know she's hungry haha.

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[snakesRkewl]

Hunger or just protecting itself, it's what they do sometimes

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

First rule to owning a snake is you never reach in right in front of their face.. That's the first and most obvious rule. Never reach in to pick them up by going in toward the front of their head. Always come from behind. Never reach past them within their reach.

It's a snake.. They operate on instinct. It isn't aggression. That sounds like either a fear/defensive strike, or it saw the heat signature of your hand and thought "food".

You need to always remember that it's not a dog, cat, bird, etc.. It's a wild animal. They can become familiar with people and scents, have different personalities and moods etc.. But they will always be snakes.

[DooLittle]

Sounds defensive to me. You probably startled him.

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[Badgemash]

Thanks for the replies everyone, we're going to test out the hunger theory in an hour or so when my rat supplier opens, if not that then I'll assume I need to take things a little slower with this guy.