UGH! Agressiveness is still a porblem!

[First_time_herp]

Well after telling you people about Link and you guys gave me the advice to feed in his cage I did. And now He's striking at my hands outside the cage! I've had to wear mittens to handle him. UGH! I need some help.

[kavmon]

make sure his setup is clean and everything is right. (temps,humidity,hides)
keep handling him a few minutes at a time, you may have to take a bite or two. after a few weeks or maybe months he may or may not calm down. usually the little ones are more nippy than adults, some snakes will always be that way though.


vaughn

[HockeyFan2kx]

I agree with checking your humidity/temp levals. Sounds like you have a stressed out snake on your hands. Are you feeding enough? Not sure what you've been told in the past but the problem may be as simple as you trying to hold him too often too soon, after you check his environment I would leave him alone for 2 weeks, only going in to give fresh water), after 2 weeks take him out and feed him and then allow another week with out holding. After this give it a try.

[TekWarren]

frustration is not going to get you anywhere...this is an animal with its own mind and own agenda. Its not just going to curl up like a kitten when it sees you. You have WORK at gaining trust and making sure you have the environment setup properly. If you stop interactions now you will never change its attitude.

[rex322]

ive had this problem with my first snake, a male ball python. struck at everything, even if i was in my door which was half way across the room from his enclosure. here is what i did...

i tryed putting a tshirt that smelled like me in his enclosure. didnt work. i would wear gloves to get him out, moving away everytime he snapped. well one time, i just got sick of it, and picked him up with no gloves. yea, i got tagged. drew some blood. i just wiped it off and continued handling him. i just started doing that from now on. bites didnt hurt really, just like a bee sting. i just started letting myself get tagged, and kept holding him. he calmed down. i dont have him anymore, but last i heard hes pretty docile. the key is, dont give up. if you let him have his way and not handle him if he snaps then hes gonna get it that if he snaps, he wont be held, thus being aggressive its whole life.

i find its best for a beginner (at least for me) to start out with a smaller, nippy snake. part of owning these animals is getting bit, and no matter how tame and how long youve had the animal, it will bite you at one point. i think anyone here can tell you that. its good to get comfortable somewhat with being bit, especially if your looking to get into more snakes, and bigger ones.

[Emilio]

I guess I've been lucky guys, I have two bp's male and female I also have a dumeril boa never seen a slight hint of aggression. Is their a chance that your bp could be wild caught.

[First_time_herp]

Good, advice guys. I'm handling him on the same day every few weeks for a few minutes. After a while of this I'll increase the time of how long he's out and how much I handle him. Do you thin kthis would work? Temps look fine, 90 hot side and 82 cool side. I am getting some Flexwatt to make sure that the temps are right.

[First_time_herp]

I guess I've been lucky guys, I have two bp's male and female I also have a dumeril boa never seen a slight hint of aggression. Is their a chance that your bp could be wild caught.

It could be a chance. But he hasn't been this way all time. Just a little after the first year of having him he's been like this.

[tigerlily]

It may be possible, and those of you feel free to correct me, but if you snake is older then it's possible it has to do with the upcoming 'breeding season'. Even if he doesn't have a girlfriend, maybe he's trying to be dominant to be available for any that might come his way? I'm just throwing this out there, so I could be wrong. Did this begin shortly after the temps dropped?

[Lady Python]

Does he bite you and let go immediately? Or does he bite you and not let go?