Does your snake ever bite or strike?

[WhiteSoxPyro83]

Since I got on here and started looking around, I have seen many pictures and comments pertaining to ball pythons biting. I was just wondering how common this really is? My snake, a 9-year-old BP, has never once ever shown any sign of aggression. To the contrary, my snake is a big wussy. lol. He is very tame and timid. Very loving with a huge personality. How many people deal with an aggressive snake? I am really just curious.

[satomi325]

I've only had new hatchlings be kind of nippy. They all outgrew it. Ball pythons get their name from balling up. They would rather ball up than fight. So its not exactly the norm for BPs to be aggressive for reasons other than insecurity, hunger, or human error. There are exceptions of course, but in general not common with the species.

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[WhiteSoxPyro83]

that's what I thought, but I have seen a lot on here and other sites of it happening. I think human error might be the main culprit huh?

[Epic-Fang]

I've yet to be biten by any of my BPs, though my Mojave is very "vocal". Very rarely can I handle without getting hissed at. He never actually does anything about it, and is quick to calm down. That is until I put him back in his tub, where he will hiss again. Strangely he doesn't mind whenever my Girlfriend picks him up. Recently my little Pastel has started acting the same way, she however actually striked at my GF a couple times, but didn't connect. Other than those two, all our other BPs have been very calm and just pretty adverage in their temperment. Most of which actually enjoy being taken out to be handled. Haven't gotten the chance to see how well behaved my new female Spider is, since she's still in the "hands off phase."

But for the most part Ball Pythons are generally curious and shy, and are not prone to bite unless the keeper is careless during feedings.

[bfirecat]

I have a few ball pythons and most of them are nice.

I do have one who does seem to be more defensive and does often strike at me, although she has not bit me yet.

[WhiteSoxPyro83]

So...it might not just be human error? Some BP's might be naturally aggressive? My snake actually lets me touch his head and pet him under the chin lol. I only own one snake, and actually didn't raise it. I have only had him for a year and a half and he is nine years old. Never even showed aggression during the transition stage or move.

[Daybreaker]

Out of all of mine I've only had one ball python bite me, one corn snake, and my coastal carpet: all of which were my fault (smelling like a feeder and getting too close). Human error!

[bcr229]

I've had several BP's hiss but none has ever offered to take a swipe at me. OTOH my MBK is so food-driven I'm hook training her.

Tip: don't handle your king snakes after picking steamed crabs.

[KMG]

My ball? Never.

My tree pythons and baby bloods? Yes.

[Bellabob]

I've been bitten by 2 ball pythons, one being a large adult male. The adult male's bite HURT. He grabbed the top of my hand, latched on and coiled and stayed there for 20 minutes. I had to pry his mouth loose with a popsicle stick. I'm pretty sure I still had rat smell on my hand.