a very nippy ball python

[jodidelisio]

hey guys just wanted to ask a few things, so i own a ball python for about three months now she is in good shape and everything is good (never skips meal, poops on time, sheds on time, no stuck shed) but there is one problem she is very nippy once the head got close enough to my hand it will nip but she doesn't constrict whatsoever anyway not that i mind being nipped but i don't want to have a snake that will nip me everytime i take her out any opinions?

[tttaylorrr]

i'm assuming the snake is still young? i'd start here if you already haven't: JKR Pro Tips - Handling Aggressive Ball Python Hatchlings
justin is the maaaan, so this video should help you address your handling from now on. just patience + work, patience + work, patience + work.

[silverbill]

Just give it time. My snake was also very nippy but once he hit 500g he's never made an attempt to bite again. When they're small, they're more vulnerable so naturally they're very defensive. But after they've put on a good amount of weight, they'll mellow out a lot more.

[Lizardlicks]

My girl Bean started out VERY defensive when I got her. Soon as the tub opened she was puffing, hissing and attempting to strike. The key is going slow and being consistent. It's perfectly fine to let them tag you, defensive bites really don't hurt at all, and they'll start to learn biting doesn't make you go away. Move slowly and calmly, pick the animal up with confidence, handle it long enough that it starts to give up and accept it's fate, then put it back. You're teaching it that being calm and peaceful is what gets the result they want, ie. giant squishy tree puts me down and goes away.

[jodidelisio]

thank you all for the reply i really do hope she will mellow out (3 more years) when she reach adulthood but i have watched the video and all but it seems my snake react differently. She will nip even with the arm that handles her but i never hear her hiss or puff up its just a nip thats all. once she started licking and spinning around my arm (thought she relaxed a little) she nipped me again but sometimes she just falls asleep in my arm and constricting very loosely (dunno why) she even stick to my hand even when i put my hand in front of her hide and enclosure (yeah just stays there) even when the temps in her cage are much warmer than my cold hands. weird girl really

[Bmocken]

thank you all for the reply i really do hope she will mellow out (3 more years) when she reach adulthood but i have watched the video and all but it seems my snake react differently. She will nip even with the arm that handles her but i never hear her hiss or puff up its just a nip thats all. once she started licking and spinning around my arm (thought she relaxed a little) she nipped me again but sometimes she just falls asleep in my arm and constricting very loosely (dunno why) she even stick to my hand even when i put my hand in front of her hide and enclosure (yeah just stays there) even when the temps in her cage are much warmer than my cold hands. weird girl really

Do use hand sanitizer? Also there are two good videos on YouTube all about handling nippers. One is from hlh reptiles https://youtu.be/f-TjNKrsQEQand the other is from Olympus Reptiles https://youtu.be/MHFlgkM2tTU.

[jodidelisio]

i will check it out! any way thank you for your help !!