Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I only have a little corn snake, and even she is being moody right now. I suppose everyone's entitled to their bad days, but is it true that ball pythons tend to be a little more tempermental than most? I know a girl with some and they usually seem so sedate, but then when I get nice and relaxed with them she says something like "oh by the way, she bites out of nowhere sometimes, so watch out" and of course i get on edge. I'm sure the snake senses it too. I've also heard that from people in pet stores and whatnot. So is it a myth, or is it true?
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purrhisswoofmeowblubsqueakneigh

I have corns and I have a BP that I've had for a couple of months. Juveniles of any snake species can be a little nippie at times, but as a rule BP's are very relaxed critters just like corns in my experience. You also have to factor in things like stress; Poor husbandry, over handling, and having a cage in too high of a traffic area will all contribute to stress, which in turn can lead to a nippie critter.

Just my two cents...

BP's are like most other animals, it depends on the specific animal. I have two, they both live in the exact same type of enclosure, right beside each other, everything is identical. Nala, the one who eats regularly is as sweet as any animal I have ever seen. She will wrap around my arm and 'cuddle'. The other one, Niame, is a pill. Every time we go to get him out to feed him (he is a really pesky eater, eats about every two or three weeks) he will curl up to strike. He has bitten my husband, hisses all the time and is really unpleasant. I think that he thinks that he is a cobra or something. It all just depends on the animal. They are great to have, I hightly recommend getting a BP, just beware that they can be really picky eaters.
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annjaret

"When I die, I want to come back as one of my animals."
0.1 Cat - Cordelia
1.0 Dog - Jake R.I.P. I miss you little buddy.
1.0 Leopard gecko - Joey
1.1 Ball Pythons - Niame and Nala
0.0.1 Snow Corn - Gandalf
1.0 Aberrant Cali Kingsnake
1.0 Husband - Shaun
(Not always in that order...but sometimes)

I have to say that my ball is very temperamental. I have been bit three times and struck at more than that. He has bitten me out of nowhere, when he was wrapped around my arm and I stood up and "whap." Very unsettling to say the least. Boy oh boy at feeding time it is like walking in a mine field. Adds excitement to our lives but I must say I do not handle him as much as my other snakes.

Sounds like you're right, just like any other animal. I really honestly think the common conception that they are temperamental comes from their popularity. Someone says "I want a snake!" so they go to the pet store and pick between the only kinds they probably know, ball python or boa constrictor. And then I'm sure they find out how much work it is to clean those big tanks, then find out how much it costs to accomodate the little turkies when they get big, so they start to resent the little guy and ignore them. My friend I mentioned got her pythons from her idiotic cousin, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's done things like dropped them or something...
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purrhisswoofmeowblubsqueakneigh

but yeah... all moodiness or nonmoodiness aside... they're so cute!!!!
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purrhisswoofmeowblubsqueakneigh