A friend of ours got a BP for his son about 1 week ago. It's about 18 inches long and 66 grams. He shed within days of getting into his new home.

We were told he's been striking like crazy, which disappointed us considering we told them numerous times to just leave the BP alone for the first week.

We went over Friday and took a live fuzzy mouse for him. The BP wouldn't eat and seemed scared of it. He struck at it 3 times, but never bit into it or coiled. We stunned the mouse, but it was still a no-go. Told our friend to freeze the mouse and try again in 3-4 days. They tried the very next day (again, to our disappointment). Supposedly the snake bit the mouse, but still wouldn't attempt to swallow it. The mouse fuzzy is small for this snake.

Now, our friend wants to get rid of the snake. He's terrified of snakes, and his son (10 yo) is losing interest fast.

I think the snake is striking because it's young, it had just gotten moved to a new home, it shed, etc. They are not leaving it alone and giving it time to adjust at all.

I want to bring this snake to our house and give it want it needs, but my hubby isn't going for it.

We have no clue if this snake has ever taken a meal or what it could be used to. I don't know how big BPs are as hatchlings either??

How long does it take hatchlings to outgrow the striking at everything phase?

What do you think we should do? Should I push the issue of taking on this snake ourselves? (If I do, it would be the second snake we've had to "rescue" from friends of ours.)

How long should they wait until they try feeding it again? Should they try a pinkie instead of a fuzzy?

They got the snake at an expo and it was in a tank full of BPs, all very young, all in full shed. They were given no info on it whatsoever from the man who sold it to them.