Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have one snake that is always ready to bite me when I open his tub. He strikes at me whenever he gets a chance. He is a male pastel around 700 grams. I have had him for about 6 months. He eats rats around once a week. He sheds in one piece, and seems healthy. Will his fear of me go away or will he always be this way.
All of my other ball pythons seem at ease when handled. I guess I will have to live with him either way for now cuz I need him for breeding.

I have a het albino male that is the same exact way and he hasn't tamed down yet but he's only about 300grams but he's been like that since birth, at least that's what the breeder said so I don't think he's going to calm down at all. I have a friend with a mojave male that is out to get you every time you open the tub and he is about the size of your pastel male. My friend has given up on taming him, it's just not going to happen. You should contact the person you got him from and see if he's always had that disposition, if he has, odds are he won't calm down. I would have gotten another het albino male that isn't so mean but I got him in a pair, but it's not so bad. I just watch out every time I have to pull him out. That's just my opinion though.

Some snakes are just cranky all the time. Have you tried the typical "taming" techniques or have you just been doing what you need to maintain the snake?

~jenny
-----
"The python has, and I fib no fibs,
318 pairs of ribs.
In stating this I place reliance
On a seance with one who died for science
This figure is sworn to and attested,
He counted them while being digested."
~Ogden Nash

jenny.thegreenes.org

"If you're happy and you know it,
Bomb Iraq!
If you cannot find Osama,
Bomb Iraq!
If the terrorists are frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky,
Bomb Iraq!

What I do with snakes that keep snapping at me, is to stuff them with food. As much as they want. It seems after they get used to not being hungry, they calm down. And after a couple months of them eating like there is no tomorrow, they always settle down into a normal eating pattern.

Of course fix all husbandry issues before trying this technique.
-----
2.1 Albino BP
0.4 100% Het Albino
2.1 100% het Caramel Albino BP
1.0 100% Het Clown
1.0 50% het clown
2.12 Normal BP
0.0.2 Western Hognose
alot of cornsnakes
0.1.0 Dumeril Boa
3.6 Bearded Dragons
1.0.2 Sulcatta tortoise
3.3 Russian Tortoise
1.0 Cockatiel
0.1 Rottweiler
0.2 Boston Terriers
0.1 White Boxer
0.1 Paint Mare
bunch of geckos
0.1 Cat
0.1 Teenage daughter
1.0 Husband who puts up with all my critters.

Snakes have individual personalities just like dogs, cats, rats, whatever. Some are docile, some are mean as hell. I have a mix of both. I have a few really sweet and handleable ones, and a few really nasty ones that would love to bite my face if they could. One is 6 years old and no amount of handling has changed her -- that's just how she is.

I agree with Melinda below, I have found that certain ones have voracious appetites compared to others and will calm down if you let them eat until they're entirely full. Once they realize that food isn't scarce, they'll chill out and be a bit more relaxed. I use this with my mean girl and it keeps her from being mean until she gets hungry again. LOL!
-----
~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

I have found that putting the little meanies around your neck and just quietly sit for 10-15 min. After doing this a couple of times a day for a while I walk around the house with them, clean and water cages -- whatever??? I think it offers a sense of security (maybe like a warm tree) that they don't feel when just in your hands. I have never had one strike my face -- YET!!! I have turned some biters into real sweetties.
Bill Buchman

I was told in the burmese forum to put an article of clothing that I had been wearing for a day in with my burmese for a couple of days. I was very scheptical, but it actually did calm her down. I'd reccomend anyone trying it.

Also, I notice that the burmese (because all my ball pythons are sweeties, so this topic doesn't apply to them) gets much crankier the hotter she gets. Make sure your heat isn't too high.

Hope I helped a little.
-----
~Sara~
5.5 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
2.1 Pet Rats
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.2 Convict Cichlids