Bitey baby

[OuterScience]

I just got a new ball python today, hatched on August 3rd, and so far she's tried to bite a couple of times. I was just wondering if theres any way I can stop this? I figure she'll get used to the handling after a while, but other than not handling her, is there a way to avoid this, or do I just have to get used to it?

[nightwolfsnow]

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ghlight=taming

This helped me a lot. You also want to make sure to do minimal handling (pretty much just taking out of the tank and putting in a temp container for cleaning) until she has eaten at least three times for you. My snake is a lot less defensive now and I've only had him a little over a month.

[duckschainsaw]

Graphic content warning! Contains images of a vicious snake attack.

Biting happens. My usually tame yearling was moody today when I took him out to weigh him. This is the aftermath.



Don't be afraid of the bite. It will surprise you more than it actually hurts.

[OuterScience]

She actually bit my sister. My sister wanted to get bitten for some reason, and it happened while she was holding her. She said it didn't feel like much, but the baby hatched on August 3rd, so I'm assuming she can't do much damage. I'm more worried about being surprised by it and accidentally jerking my hand. I've got a 2-3 year old female, but she's never bitten, and is generally calm. I'm just concerned with getting the baby used to handling.

[nightwolfsnow]

She actually bit my sister. My sister wanted to get bitten for some reason, and it happened while she was holding her. She said it didn't feel like much, but the baby hatched on August 3rd, so I'm assuming she can't do much damage. I'm more worried about being surprised by it and accidentally jerking my hand. I've got a 2-3 year old female, but she's never bitten, and is generally calm. I'm just concerned with getting the baby used to handling.

It happens so fast you probably won't flinch until after she has already retreated from the strike. I've been bit twice and at first I wasn't sure he had actually bit me until I saw the pricks. Mine didn't even bleed. Their fangs don't ever get big enough to do any real damage. They pull back immediately from defensive strikes. If she tries to wrap your finger or hand that's food response. Babies are really defensive because they think everyone is trying to eat them. She'll grow out of it

[Aztec4mia]

it just comes with the territory, some babies are nippier then others, you are a big predator that is going to eat them until you gain their trust and prove otherwise. Most babies will calm down after a couple weeks, you can use a something to get them out of their defensive posture when you go to take them out; the cardboard roll from the center of paper towels works well. Keep the interactions short and positive and put them back in their enclosure once they have calmed down. Try to avoid putting them back if they bite you or seem defensive, it could reinforce the wrong behavior and take longer for them to calm down if they know that they can bite you and you will leave them alone. I would switch up the days you handle them so they don't get use to a set "schedule" and get used to whenever you decide you want handle them. Once they calm down they usually stay that way even when you don't handle them on a regular basis. I hatched out a couple really pissy babies the beginning of August and they have all calmed down to the point that I can have my 6 year old take them out of their tubs without getting bit(not that it hurts at all anyway, lol).

[Ax01]

u just got the baby BP today? stop playing with it, it's sounds stressed. let it adjust to it's new home for a few days, then maybe u can handle it for brief amounts of time.

[OuterScience]

Part of me feels like it would be better to just have her bite me. Just to see what it feels like. I'm less concerned with it hurting me. Just concerned I'll jerk and hurt her.

- - - Updated - - -

If I pick her up over the next couple of days, it'll probably just be to remove anything in the tank, I.E fecal matter.

[OuterScience]

Just woke up and checked on the baby. Still getting struck at every couple of second. Was going to try and do a daily handling but with that much striking, it seems almost impossible.

[GoingPostal]

As already covered a couple times, you need to let her settle in and get eating, get comfortable before starting handling. Baby snakes are scared and defensive, going into a new home is a big change. Not uncommon at all for a newly added snake to be striking and biting out of stress. Once she's gotten a few meals in start handling a couple times per week for short periods, you won't even hardly feel a bite so don't worry about it and she will calm down with time.