My brb has been very nippy lately, and yesterday caught me by surprise and bit me and it bled a bit. He has nipped before, but only on a few occasions, and this month alone it's happened 3 times. I'm just wondering if it's because he's breeding size and he doesn't have a girlfriend, or if it's something else. Has anyone had a BRB get more aggressive as it aged? Any input is greatly appreciated.
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BRB Aggression?
rainbowsrule
Jun 18, 2011 06:02 PM
Replies (4)
johnnic
Jun 19, 2011 12:13 PM
you kinda have to read a brbs attitude. i have really placid ones but once in a while they'll also get tempermental off and take a whack at me. usually it occurs at night when they're in hunt mode and i'm cleaning their cages and set them off. they aren't bp/bci for sure!
rainbowsrule
Jun 19, 2011 12:57 PM
This happened during the day, and I made sure he was awake when I brought him out. They sure aren't BPs that's for sure. Thanks for the input. 
rainbowsrus
Jun 19, 2011 12:44 PM
Like John said, you have to read them, even the most placid ones can get testy.
Yes breeding season can bring out the worst, has he been eating? I've also seen it in one of my BCI females where "normal" food intake was not enough and she got aggressive until I was giving her a little more.
One thing you can do that might help is leave one of your dirty shirts in his cage to get him more used to your scent. Dirtier the better
Lastly, is he "hook trained"? Meaning you go in with a hook or other item and touch his nose to let him know it's not food time but handling time? Have the nips been as you were reaching in to get him out?
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Thanks,
Dave Colling
www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)
LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders 
lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats 
rainbowsrule
Jun 19, 2011 01:00 PM
he has been eating great, and hasn't missed a meal all summer. I think I will take your advice and feed him a bit more this feeding day, and I'll see what will happen.
I haven't "hook trained him", but before every meal, I take him out and handle him, and then feed him, so he knows that every time the tub lid opens it's not for feeding time. I have never gotten bitten taking him out of the tub, it only happens when he is out.
