Need help with handling our new BP.

[Mognar]

Hi all,

Okay, quick scenario... We got our first BP a week and a half ago. He was very bitey... Last time I took him out of the case, which was last Wednesday I believe, he bit me 4 times between taking him out of his tank and walking 4 feet over to the couch and sitting down...

His husbandry is good... 92 on the high, 80 on the low, 50 % humidity.

The PS said he didn't eat for 3 weeks prior to us taking him. I fed him a pinky the first night home and he took it right away. Waited 5 days and feed him an adult mouse which he ate.

So now, It's been 3 days since he ate, just about a week since I handled him and tonight I took him out, using a glove... and he just balled up, neck in an S as if he was ready to strike. I sat down holding him with the gloved hand for 3 or 4 minutes, then ended up putting him back in the tank.

So I need some help from you guys... What should I do now to get him more comfortable when I hold him?

When he's balled up, can I unball him?

Should I hold him in the palm of my hand or should I hold his body?

Just need some help on proper handling and especially with a new BP.

Thanks, I really appreciate it!

[alan12013]

Sounds like you are doing good. I have a very fiesty female that I just take out and put in my hand while she is balled up and let her crawl back into her cage. Did that a few times like you did a couple days after feeding and now she is very easy to handle. I wouldn't mess with her while she is balled up, some people do it but he will trust you more I think if you let him come out on his own. Now I do 3-4 times a week 5-15 minutes each time and I let them rest 2 days after eating.

[briguy]

I wouldn't unball him. If you want him to be more comfortable with handling then forcing him to do something won't solve the problem. Let him come out on his own and get more used to handling.

Good luck!

[AlexisFitzy]

Well your new bp is still very new to his new home and to you the new owner so he just needs more time to settle in, the good thing is that he's eating which is great! The feisty ones are usually the best eaters but anyway, your snake sounds just like one of mine. When I first got him he gave me first bites and was absolutely crazy I actually made a thread about it on here because I was so worried. But now that he's grown up he's a big ole sweetheart. So just let your snake settle in a bit more and let him take in some more meals, and when you handle him don't be nervous just put him in the palm of your hand and let him sit there, he should eventually relax and start to explore. This is what I did with my boy Bubo. I hope this info is helpful keep us updated on your feisty boy lol!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mognar]

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it!

I guess since he was handled quite a bit at the LPS, we held him as well before bringing him home, I thought he would be a little more used to it. He was find when we handled him at the LPS and he didn't strike or bite there... just after we got him home.

Our new BP is actually my 5 year old daughter's pet She loves him to death, but... the day we brought him home, she was holding him while I was finishing setting up the cage (him balled up in her hands) and he bit her... drawing blood. She wasn't too happy about that. So I'm trying to find out as much as I can, so we both handle him right and if there is anything we can do to help him acclimate, to do so. I guess it's just going to take time for him to adjust and grow up a little.

I thought about taking him back for a different BP, we still have until Sunday... but I like the fact that he's eating well as I know that can be a problem.

Now before anyone starts with a 5 year old is not old enough, etc... He's "our" pet... I'll be doing 99.9% of the care and work until she gets older.

[bcr229]

I guess since he was handled quite a bit at the LPS, we held him as well before bringing him home, I thought he would be a little more used to it. He was find when we handled him at the LPS and he didn't strike or bite there... just after we got him home.

I've gotten a few snakes from stores & expos, and others shipped in. I think all of them were so freaked by the experience that they were easily handled (if that makes sense). It wasn't until they'd been in their new home for a few days, where they were warm, fed, and feeling secure, that they would hiss or nip when I would have to handle them to spot clean or change water. It does take a bit more time but most will eventually settle down.

Our new BP is actually my 5 year old daughter's pet She loves him to death, but... the day we brought him home, she was holding him while I was finishing setting up the cage (him balled up in her hands) and he bit her... drawing blood. She wasn't too happy about that. So I'm trying to find out as much as I can, so we both handle him right and if there is anything we can do to help him acclimate, to do so. I guess it's just going to take time for him to adjust and grow up a little.

Perhaps she would be content to pet him on his back for a bit, while you hold him.

[Mognar]

An update and another question... I took our BP out tonight. I rubbed my finger along her body as I always do before taking her out. She balled up and when I sat down on the couch, she struck my other hand... didn't draw blood like the last few times

So as we sat on the couch, after a few minutes, she moved around my hand so her head was past my thumb and she just sat there and stared at me... I moved her slightly to the left or right and she kept her eyes peeled on me She looked like she wanted to strike, but not knowing snakes too well, I wanted to ask her, what it meant by her staring at me. It was funny how she wouldn't stop looking at me, but a little unsettling too! lol I was picturing her lurching and grabbing onto my nose

So what was she doing/trying to tell me? Just trying to learn my snake a little better.

Thanks!

[CORBIN911]

An update and another question... I took our BP out tonight. I rubbed my finger along her body as I always do before taking her out. She balled up and when I sat down on the couch, she struck my other hand... didn't draw blood like the last few times

So as we sat on the couch, after a few minutes, she moved around my hand so her head was past my thumb and she just sat there and stared at me... I moved her slightly to the left or right and she kept her eyes peeled on me She looked like she wanted to strike, but not knowing snakes too well, I wanted to ask her, what it meant by her staring at me. It was funny how she wouldn't stop looking at me, but a little unsettling too! lol I was picturing her lurching and grabbing onto my nose

So what was she doing/trying to tell me? Just trying to learn my snake a little better.

Thanks!

How old is she... Most till do that my hatchlings will "Strike" at my hand while in my other hand, most time they just nose bump you and wont use teeth, IF your nervous she will sense it.. Just relax old her and let her do what she wants, Treat them like those weird dollar store slippery ballon toys! When you squeeze/or try to hold onto them they go flying, When you play with it its easy to control...

These things http://www.bethebadger.com/wp-conten...rWiggler_1.jpg