Baby ball striking behavior

[gusanr14]

Hello,

I just got my third ball python(bumblebee) few days ago. She is almost 2 months old and weight at 107g. I got my first two when they were between hatchling and juvenile which were well started.
Curiosity came up when I got struck by my bumblebee ball python twice on different day. My other two never struck at me even if hands were in front of their face, guessing they were kind of tamed as hatchlings or just nice haha.
Anyways, this was my first time getting struck by ball and was a shock lol. Didn't hurt but felt like actually owning a snake. Ofc my hands were in the strike range but since I never experienced it, I wasn't really cautious about it.
I know babies can be nippy and could be fixed by constant handling. My question is that, do all ball pythons get tamed as they grow up? even if they are super nippy as baby? or are there some balls that will still strike as they grow even with constant handling?
What are reasons for striking? stress? scared? She was fed so it probably wasn't hunger, but it has only been about 4 days since I brought her to new environment. She is in a hatching size tub in a rack.

I just hope this girl would get tamed and not strike when she grows. I wanted to hear some stories or experience from people who has more experience with babies. I only have 6 months experience of keeping balls and first time getting actual baby I guess.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

They grow out of the nippy stage at around 250 grams granted they are provided with the right condition, stress free environment and are adequately fed.

How big is your enclosure?

[redshepherd]

My current female was nippy as a little hatchling and has struck at me more times than I can count, but most of it was feinting or hitting me with a slightly open mouth LOL. She's just a very nervous girl in personality. Now, she can still be very nervous depending on her mood, but the nipping/striking has stopped.

You just want to do short, calm handling sessions every other day and don't immediately put her back/back away if she strikes at you.

[gusanr14]

They grow out of the nippy stage at around 250 grams granted they are provided with the right condition, stress free environment and are adequately fed.

How big is your enclosure?

I have a V-70 rack and I know that was tooooooooooooo big for her so what I did was got this small tub and cut down the bottom so that she could get heat directly. Works great so far, good temperature gradient with 90 hot and 78-80 cool.

Should I handle her time to time so she gets tamed? or do they just grow out of that stage by themselves? How often should I feed her? she is at fuzzy rat right now, and seems to be controversial among the forum from 4~5 days to once a week routine for babies like this. She ate 2 days ago, and already pooped and peed today. Oh and also another question, should I provide a hide for her? I have small hide that fits her snuggly but can only fit one in there so I figured I shouldn’t so she chooses temp over security.


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[Stewart_Reptiles]

Handling or lack their off does not make a BP more or less tame, if it was me I would leave her alone and I would lower the temps a bit 86/88 at most.

[gusanr14]

My current female was nippy as a little hatchling and has struck at me more times than I can count, but most of it was feinting or hitting me with a slightly open mouth LOL. She's just a very nervous girl in personality. Now, she can still be very nervous depending on her mood, but the nipping/striking has stopped.

You just want to do short, calm handling sessions every other day and don't immediately put her back/back away if she strikes at you.

Oh yes definitely. Thanks for the advice


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[gusanr14]

Handling or lack their off does not make a BP more or less tame, if it was me I would leave her alone and I would lower the temps a bit 86/88 at most.

Is it better to have little lower hotspot?


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[Jakethesnake69]

My Banana Pinstripe was like this but he also went into shed right when he got here. Really mellowed out with his new skin and having settled in. He was about the same size as yours not that that means much .


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[Zincubus]

I have a V-70 rack and I know that was tooooooooooooo big for her so what I did was got this small tub and cut down the bottom so that she could get heat directly. Works great so far, good temperature gradient with 90 hot and 78-80 cool.

Should I handle her time to time so she gets tamed? or do they just grow out of that stage by themselves? How often should I feed her? she is at fuzzy rat right now, and seems to be controversial among the forum from 4~5 days to once a week routine for babies like this. She ate 2 days ago, and already pooped and peed today. Oh and also another question, should I provide a hide for her? I have small hide that fits her snuggly but can only fit one in there so I figured I shouldn’t so she chooses temp over security.


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It's great that she's fed already and that's very good news .

More than just about any other snake , Royals need and thrive in a 'stress free environment'.

I don't use rubs but it's generally that Royals prefer/need two snug fitting hides ( warm and cool) ...

So I'd get rid of that huge water dish as they rarely choose to soak ( unless they've got mites) .
I would actually suggest a much smaller glass / pot water dish then you can put two small hides in there .. they really don't like open spaces so some fake silk / plastic foliage would add some clutter and help it feel more secure . Add a couple of branches and it will think it's her birthday


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[Zincubus]

It's great that she's fed already and that's very good news .

More than just about any other snake , Royals need and thrive in a 'stress free environment'.

I don't use rubs but it's generally that Royals prefer/need two snug fitting hides ( warm and cool) ...

So I'd get rid of that huge water dish as they rarely choose to soak ( unless they've got mites) .
I would actually suggest a much smaller glass / pot water dish then you can put two small hides in there .. they really don't like open spaces so some fake silk / plastic foliage would add some clutter and help it feel more secure . Add a couple of branches and it will think it's her birthday


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Here are a few ideas ..

I'd use Orchid / Repti / Reptile bark as the substrate ( as shown on the first photo ) as it looks great and natural , holds humidity really well AND it's dark in colour so that will make your beautiful snake look even better ( if that's possible).




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