New BP mean as heck

JJshiv · #1 (**permalink**) 11-07-2002, 07:25 AM

I got this new BP a couple weeks ago and he was a nice little guy. He was kinda jumpy but other than that he was a good little snake. Now I cant go near the cage if hes out or move his hide to take him out without him striking at me at least 4 times. I think hes responding to movement but I am feeding him well. Whats up with this? I thought BP's were some of the calmer snakes. I cant even spot clean or refill his water bowl without him snapping. Do you guys think I am doing something wrong or is he just that kind of snake?

najaboy · #2 (**permalink**) 11-07-2002, 07:45 AM

All snakes are individuals, and I would never count on a ball being tame, despite the fact that many are.

Several years ago, Brian Barczyk took a bite on the face from an adult female as he was inspecting a shipment that came into the store he worked at. He was more surprised than anything.
[addsig]

Dr.Oviparous · #3 (**permalink**) 11-07-2002, 08:54 AM

I agree, all snakes have their own personality. A lot of BPs will go through their whole life without ever striking, or being defensive. However there will always be those BPs that are naturally more aggresive/defensive. Just like with humans.... most people are not serial killers.

When you first take home a snake you can't always tell that their temperment is like. Especially at reptile shows where snakes are kept a lower temperatures, and less likely to bite because of it. The snake could have been kept at a low temp, you got him and put him in the correct temps, and he's back to normal.

What is his set up like? Plenty of hides? If a snake does not have any cover it could become more defensive. But I'm assuming he does have places to hide, and betting his attidute is just that way. -Juggalo
[addsig]

LdyDrgn · #4 (**permalink**) 11-07-2002, 09:50 AM

Plenty of gentle handling should help..

Good luck with it!
[addsig]

JJshiv · #5 (**permalink**) 11-07-2002, 06:40 PM

Hey JUGGALOFWB, he must be one of those serial killer snakes. lol

I do think its just him, he has plenty of hides and the temps are good. I am just gonna try to handle him everyday and see how he does. I dont mind him being a striker but I was surprised when he changed from really nice and handleable to trying to kill anything near him.
[addsig]

pjmartin · #6 (**permalink**) 11-11-2002, 06:13 AM

My ball python did almost the exact same thing when I first got him...he was calm for about a week, and then after that, he would stike at me any time I opened his cage. For about two or three weeks, I would wear a clean pair of work gloves, and a sweatshirt, so when he did tag me, it didn't hurt. After a while, he got the idea that he couldn't hurt me, and more importantly, I would not hurt him. He's still a little fiesty -- he hisses every time I mist his cage -- but he hasn't tried to strike at me in about a year and a half. Hope this helps...
[addsig]

JuliusSqueezer · #7 (**permalink**) 11-11-2002, 06:47 AM

Is this a baby? If so....he will likely grow out of it...little ones are often defensive...they have to be to avoid predation best they can. He should grow out of it before he gets big enough to actually make ya bleed.....even then...it really doesn't hurt. Try this...when ya open the cage and he is coiled and ready to strike.....just go right in his face with a flat palm and cover his head up for a second...and then pick him up....he won't bite ya if ya dont hesitate.
[addsig]

JJshiv · #8 (**permalink**) 11-12-2002, 06:56 AM

Today I actually got him out of the cage without a strike and he didnt bite me when he was out. It was like he was back to his old self. Hopefully, he was just going through a short phase. We will see about that though tomorrow.

Julius, I will try that. He is a baby and I did let him bite me one time and I didnt pull back or anything and he just kept on nailing me. I didnt do it with my palm though, I will try that if he acts up again. For some reason or other he did feel threatened the last week. I guess hes just a paranoid little snake.
[addsig]

sartori · #9 (**permalink**) 11-15-2002, 05:49 AM

ive heard the old saying "they'll grow outta it".. however its not always the case..

i had a female.. got her when she was 5-6 months old.. she was calm as could be.. then one day.. she turned on me.. she was satan snake from that day on.. mean as you could imagine..

hissing.. snapping.. striking.. she'd draw a pint of blood a day if id let her..

she never did grow out of it.. finally had to sell her.. i dont like mean snakes..

get a nice thick glove.. lots of TLC.. and see how she/he does.. she should calm down especially if shes a baby.. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]
[addsig]

ChrisRezendes · #10 (**permalink**) 11-15-2002, 06:12 AM

You've probably noticed most of the people here have mentioned work gloves. Well, you'd better get some. Just wear some work gloves and a long sleeved shirt, and when he DOES tag you, at his size, he'll barely penetrate the cloth. Patience is the best route during the taming process. It's better to get bitten a lot when he is still small then it is to allow him to grow up nasty... You seem intent on working on this problem, so you should be fine. Just try to keep him away from your face- face bites hurt a heck of a lot more than a hand/arm/leg bite.
[addsig]

JuliusSqueezer · #11 (**permalink**) 11-15-2002, 06:23 AM

Oh pooey on the gloves....LOL....it doesn't hurt. Snake bite just sounds like such a horrible thing but it's all our own mental issue. A kitten or Puppy bite/chew/nibble even in play hurts a thousand times more....but do we wear gloves to ruff up a kitty or wrestle with a pup? nope...why not? their teeth actually hurt.
[addsig]

ChrisRezendes · #12 (**permalink**) 11-15-2002, 06:32 AM

Because it's all mental. When I was younger, I was easily intimidated by an angry brown snake. They average 10 inches long. One time, when I was around maybe 9, I was frightened by a 3 inch baby brown snake. Could the snake have actually hurt me? Certainly not. It's a natural human instinct to fear snake bite. Wearing gloves gives you much needed confidence. Mentally, while wearing gloves, you feel much more safe. On the flipside, there are some snakes whose teeth could easily penetrate the gloves/clothes you are wearing with no problem, yet with gloves on, I'd hold them anyway. It's all in the confidence level. BTW, I know you already knew that. I was just explaining for the benefit of the original poster. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
[addsig]

Advertisement