Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a couple of problem children:

Both of them (1.1 het clowns) are biters: everytime I pick them up they bite, when I change their water they bite. I've been trying to hold them for a few minutes, a couple of times a week (just to get them used to it) but they get all paniky, heavy breathing, striking and hissing. They are both late 04s still small, but big enough that they should have outgrown this. I try not to disturb them any more than necessary but really wish I could get them to cool out. Were they just not handled enough as hatchlings or are they going to be problem children forever? Is it time to call Dr. Phil? Oh and ironically (or maybe not) they are garbage disposals at feeding time!
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Tosha

8.10.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

I too had one that would bite, and I tried to tame him too with no luck. I finally decided that he is just a snake that likes to be left alone as much as possible. I now use a garden glove to pick him up when it is cage cleaning time. He hasn't struck at me in awhile so maybe he out grew the biting stuff, but I sure don't want to find out first hand so I would rather be safe than sorry.

Each snake has it's own personality and I just guess that is his, as I have another one that is super shy.
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

If you keep handling them a little bit at a time, they will calm down. I have one that was extremely shy, now that he is up over 600 grams he will let me open his mouth without pulling away. Just be as gentle as possible and eventually they will feel safe with you. In the mean time, I have heard of a trick, but never used it. Get a piece of foam rubber and gently touch them on their head before reaching into their cage. This will let them know that it is you and not food that is coming into the cage. If they decide to strike at the foam, it will be soft, so it will not hurt them. BPs learn by habit, so if you do this routinely they will figure out pretty quick that being tapped on the head, means no food. Once they go into a more defensive posture, you can pick them up, clean cage etc...

Incidently, I had a male that escaped all the time even with double tank locks on a locking sceen lid. He eventually grew out of it and now he doesn't ever try to get out...so they do calm down with age.

Did you ever find your escapee?

Thanks for the advise. At this point I'm just holding them for a short time a couple of times a week. I thought about using a glove to handle them, but wanted them to be able to smell me and I figured the warmth of my hand might settle them a little. At this point they don't hurt when they bite but its a bit nerve racking waiting for the bite. I had the male out yesterday with some success, he still was very panicy, but he didn't bite, I just held him and talked to him and he just looked at me very intently and after about 15 minutes, I put him back in his tub. I'll try the female today, but I'll bet she bites, she can be a [bleep]!

As for Harry, he still has not turned up. I've tossed the house methodically several times, I've torn apart furniture, and tried baiting him with mice all with no luck. Poor Fluffy misses him! I know we aren't supposed to admit that our snake might actually get attached to each other, but I've noticed a dramatic difference in Fluffy since Harry's been missing. I'm sure he'll turn up soon.
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Tosha

8.10.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

Take an old t-shirt, wear it underneath a sweatshirt for a couple days, then put it in the cage and let the snake use it as a hide. I've had this work on a cal king that was extremely jumpy and nippy (it was found in a farmer's field around here in Tennessee...only "WC" albino cal king in area!) They'll still need to get used to the warmth of your hand but my housemate uses this trick on all his new blood pythons and hasn't been bit in quite a while. I've found it to be an excellent use for all the old army brown t-shirts I have laying around

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Tosha

8.10.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer