A question for everybody?

[aksledneck907]

Alright so i work at the local pet store and we have 3 bp's and i bought one from here not to long ago and the 2 new bp's are abnormally agressive. whenever customers and i walk past the glass they strike at the glass and me when i have to change there water. i was wondering what i should do for the snakes safety and mine what can i do to make them a little more friendly and to relax? i try and handle them as much as possible and im not making to many fast movements. what can i do?

[frankykeno]

It cannot be easy for any creature that is normally nocturnal and quite shy to be on display in a glass tank in a busy pet store. Customers constantly peering in, some perhaps even tapping on the glass, probably a lack of hides and communal living for a species that does not normally live communally would all contribute I would think to defensive striking.

[aksledneck907]

before i worked there they did not have a hide for them so i put one in there. i mentioned that they should seperate them and i try to keep the tapping on the glass to a min. and me handleing them is that going to help at all? trying to make them a lil more sociable(sp)

[frankykeno]

Gentle, consistent handling should help but it's not going to do much if they are stressed in other ways. It's very hard in a typical pet store environment to do right by these snakes. It sounds like you are trying your best for these snakes and help the store's owners understand their needs. Is there a sign clearly posted for customers to see that says no tapping on glass tanks?

[aksledneck907]

I told the owners to post a sign and i usually keep a good eye on their tanks. i told them what is a must have in the tank.

[West Coast Jungle]

Unfortunately in a pet store, animals need to be on display. BP's don't like being on display or around bright lighting. I have a black pastel and when he was in quarrantine(after he first arrived) he was in a clear tub in my office. Well every time I had to check on him he went nuts, bit me and ran like the ****ens. I thought this guy is gonna be a handful. After quarrantine he went in a AP rack and calmed down immediately. Privacy is a ball pythons best friend.

[aksledneck907]

alright so i sold one of them today and gave the guy some tips like gental handleing and a good hide and temps and humidity and to not put more bp's in his tank. then i took one of the bp's and handled him for about 20 min and he calmed down and then i put him back and he stuck right at me. like that cage is pissin him off?

[littleindiangirl]

When they move around in your hands constantly and are trying to get away from you is flight, or they curl up in a ball, they are just trying to stay protected.

Once he's back in his cage, he's going to put on a show to make sure you don't pick him up again. Fight response....

He sure sounds like a stressed little snake...