Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I picked up a new 1 month old BP about 3 weeks ago and he is really aggressive. Right out of the shipping box he struck at me. I figured it was just the stress of shipping.

I have fed him 2 hoppers a week for the past 3 weeks so I don't think he is just hungry. My temps are 91 on the hot side and 80 on the cool side. There is a hide on both sides and a water dish.

I've only handled him 3 times (once a week) since I've got him, just to see if he calmed down. Once I have him out he is constantly in the "strike" position. If I move, he strikes. If he is resting in the palm of my hand he strikes about 3 times a minute (or every time i move). He even tries strikes me through the cage.

The weird thing is that he chases me. I'll set him down of the rug about 3 or 4 feet from my body and he'll slither towards me and strike at my legs.

So far I tried the "open palm to his head trick" when picking him up. Result: strikes my palms, even with gloves. Today I put the T-shirt I wore the day before in his enclosure hoping he gets used to my scent.

I've never had this problem with a BP before. Never has a ball even looked like it was going to strike me. This is unfortunate because I am trying to get my fiance used to my snakes, and now she fears ball pythons (the puppy dogs of the snake world). I've asked the breeder if the snake struck at him, he said it was never aggressive with him at all. Any advice?

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1.1 100% het albino W. Hognose
0.1 66% het albino "red" W. Hognose
1.0 Pastel Ball Python
1.0 Common Snapping Turtle
1.1 Bearded Dragon

Look down the page for a post called nasty ball python you can find out what you need there

I read that post and I'm trying the techniques listed. Do "most" aggressive BP's grow out of this stage though? He has to get used to me sometime right?
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1.1 100% het albino W. Hognose
0.1 66% het albino "red" W. Hognose
1.0 Pastel Ball Python
1.0 Common Snapping Turtle
1.1 Bearded Dragon

I have had one ore two that never did like any one, not even themselves. But if you work with it every day 2-4 times a day except when shedding or getting ready to shed and for a day or so after it eats . and using the before mentioned methods it should start to worm up to you buy be consistent .
PS. GOOD LUCK WITH ALL YOU DO!!

Just leave him alone in his cage for a while. I had a green tree python just like that as well as a ball. Feed him more than that. My baby pastel 06 im going to breed him this year i feed him 1 pink every other night then he will shed poop and eat again. Just leave him alone for about a month only take out his poop and skin dont touch him. He needs to calm down and settle into his new enviorment.

Good Luck

John

I Disagree if you do that 85% chance it will be worse than ever but the continuous handling method is 98%. I have tried both ways and in 35 years I've only seen the left alone method work a couple of times and I say to youse only as a last resort!