my bp is aggressive all of a sudden.

[NickP]

All of a sudden my bp is acting very aggressive, hissing and is rather jumpy everytime I try to pick him up. I haven't really changed anything in his tank. Yesterday I easily picked him up and he was just fine, then I believe I was a bit rough on him (i was a bit drunk - bad idea) and he was being very jumpy so I put him back.

Today, he moved form the cool side to the warm side about few hours ago and just now I tried picking him up but he is jumpy and aggressive. Hasn't hissed yet really but I feel like it's coming. Wondering why this may be. He is due to shed but his belly hasn't started turning pink and his eyes are very clear.

Setup: 20g long tank. I've got two hides, water bowl and a climbing tree. One side is 83F and the other 90.1 as of right now. Humidity is 45%. The tank has a background image and the other two shorter sides are covered with foam board. The top is also covered with the foam board.

[Reediculous]

sounds normal..........Bp's are shy, hissing's not aggressive. striking maybe, but not hissing........

[rabernet]

You have good days and bad days, days where you don't want to be bothered. Why wouldn't he?

[Sparky1]

I have to agree if he is not striking it is not agression, hissing is pretty common if they dont want you to mess with them. Just because you can not see the signs of him being in shed it does not mean that it has not started and he is feeling all tight and uncomfortable.

[NickP]

Well I'm pretty sure he would've struck if I continued bothering him.

[frankykeno]

And you stopped bothering him and he didn't strike...cause and effect. This is a snake, simple basic instinctive brained snake. It's going to act like a snake.

Handling it will under the influence isn't a great idea for you or for your snake.

[scoobyark]

Handling it while under the influence isn't a great idea for you or for your snake.

I have to agree with that!

[NickP]

I know and I understand that. What I don't understand is how he can go from being the friendliest snake (that would slither ONTO my hand if i put it infront of his head) in the world to being aggressive like this. He was hissing today as well when I was changing his water. I'm not really fussing about this that much. Just wondering why he might be acting like this. He should start shedding any day so I hope that's the reason. Well, one way or another I'm gonna have to take him out and clean up the tank and change the substrate before he starts shedding.

[rabernet]

Hissing is NOT aggression. He simply doesn't want to be bothered - can you respect that in your relationship with him? He's telling you to Hiss off and leave him alone.

[JoshJP7]

I wouldnt be too worried... if hes in shed thats most likely why hes hissing... I dont mess with mine until they shed... Unless theres like crap everywhere and the tank NEEDS to be cleaned I wouldnt mess with him at all... Some of my snakes hiss but its just a front so dont think theyre turning mean or anything... im sure after his shed hell be back to normal again.