Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted this in the python forum as well..My snake is now 9mnths old(a jcp/ccp mix) is it too much to expect him to be tamed down by now? I cant even put my hand in the tank to change his water without him striking at me and generally biting me? Today he sprayed poop all over me as well as bite me several times when I held him. I am getting very dissappointed.The pet store man seemed to think he was too aggressive and should have tamed by now. I expected him to be what everyone called nippy and nervous but he hasnt calmed down at all..He is a good eater and seems well adjusted in his tank. He likes to hang out on a branch and refused to use his hides ( he has three diffent kinds to choose from. If Im near the tank he automatically goes into strike position..Did I just get a bad tempered snake or am I expecting too much too soon? Ive had him for about a month and a half. I do use gloves to handle him because he can draw blood.And I do handle him on a regular basis. Any help here would be greatly appreciated..
should I be seeing this as aggression or fear?

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I don't own any cp's but have worked with a few...both jcp were quite aggressive (one had a particular dislike for the color red and could never be handled without gloves), and if they didn't try to strike all the time, at least were up in defensive pose. From what I know its their way of surviving til they get big enough where they don't have to worry quite so much about being eaten my predators in the wild. both of the ones I dealt with were about 2 feet long... don't know when they tend to settle down
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Sue Barnett
1.0 Florida King
0.1 Western hognose
0.1 Egyptian spiny mouse
4.2 mini rex rabbits
0.1 Plott hound
1.0 half Arab