Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got my female yesterday, and she was really friendly when I got her. She was all over me with no problems at all, and the ride home she was ok. But come time to put her in her aquarium she gets pretty ill. She struck at me twice and when I go by her she would draw back like she is going to strike. I have her tank covered now so it's nice and dark for her. Any suggestions on how to calm her down?

I would give your BP at least a week to settle into its enclosure. You want it to feel secure (which will help with stress and feeding response).

From there, it will calm down with constant handling. Begin with a few minutes each day and build that time slowly over a couple of weeks. Eventually, your BP will not feel threatened by you (it fears you - imagine a predator tremendously larger than you coming in and picking you up).

No surprises when picking it up. Come from underneath and gently pick it up from the back. (BP's are head shy).

0.1.0 Ball Python
1.0.0 Amenalistic Cornsnake
0.0.1 Western Hognose

0.2.0 English Bulldogs
0.1.0 Piebald Miniature Dachshund

1.0.0 Betta

yeah when i pick up my males i run my hand along them to let them know i am there before the startle of being picked up.. should i feed her before i start with the whole trust issue or wait?

Slap her around and call her Susan. It usually works for me.

No...not really.
Just give her some time to cool down. Changing scenery can be stressful.
-----
"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

Just take your time and be patient. I recently had a similar case. I bought an adult female, she was great at first. Now if she's in her hide, i can move it and take her out fine. but if she's out exploring her cage, and i come within 5 feet of it, she hits the side so hard it scares me. but once she's out, she's fine.

she is still a little nervous, but for 24 hours i had a shirt i had on all day in there with her (no perfume or anything on it) and just a few minutes ago i didn't go head first into picking her up but with her head still covered i barely pulled it off her side and gently ran my hand down her a few minutes until she started showing signs of having enough of that and covered her back up and locked her tank back up.. maybe that is my best bet until she calms down just a little more???

here's a picture of her