Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a Ball Python who is 9 months old. She is about 18 inches and healthy. I handle her regurlarly except when she is shedding or 2 days after she has eaten. She eats regularly but lately has only been pooping every 3weeks, She finally pooped 2 days ago but now everytime I try to pick her up she hisses. She doesn't look like shes gonna strike, she just stays in her ball position and hisses... She had never hissed before this.. I have to admit I am now nervous because I have never been biten by a snake, so I am sure that doesn't help the hissing. But should I just leave her alone for a few more days?? Do you think she is soar from her previous constipation? Im nervous that if I leave her alone to long she is never gona stop hissing...

Thank you,

I haven't heard of a situation like this, but if I were you I would go and pick her up and if you get bitten, then that's the name of the game. Odds are she will not bite you, but if you do get bitten, it shouldn't hurt very badly. It is the surprise of getting bitten that will scare you. When you pick her up she should calm down. So, like I said, go for it and pick her up and see what happens. Good Luck.

Its just your's snakes way of saying back off - leave me alone. It doesn't matter how tame she is or how much holding you do - no snake ever wants to be held and on particularly grumpy days they will hiss at you to tell you as much. It's not a big deal - pick her up and handle her - otherwise you are teaching her that her hissing works. Over time she'll just learn to accept your interruption but don't expect that the hissing to entirely stop it's her way of communicating her displeasure.
-----
Tosha
JET Pythons

I have a few babies that always hiss, but never strike. I also have a adult male that hisses every time I have to take him out, he has never struck, just likes to make noise, when he is out he hangs on my shoulders and is very content, he even hisses when I go to put him back.At first it was unnerving but I am used to it now.

My little guys only about a month and a half old and he is very healthy and he has hissed once or twice, but normally he's a happy camper. I'm so used to my other snake, who likes to hiss, rattle her tail, and strike that everytime my ball hisses i expect him to strike, but he has not done so yet, and i've been bit before by little guys like this, most of us have, it doesn't even hurt.
-----
-Doug Daly

"Dad, Can I scratch your Beard?"
"Did you finish your homework?"
"Yes"
"Well ok then."

0.1.0 Leucistic Texas Rat Snake (Elaphe Obsoleta lindheimerii)
1.0.0 Pastel Jungle Ball Python