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Striking

zCALz Aug 05, 2005 12:28 AM

90 gram ball python as gentle as any ive handled
in the past 2 days has struck at my son and my dog
wasnt really close enough to reach them so far no bites
how do i handle this?

Replies (9)

zCALz Aug 05, 2005 12:29 AM

i should also state in no way were they threatning him

jyohe Aug 05, 2005 09:13 AM

they are bigger than the snake so that is actually a fact that they are threatening to it.......

just grab it before it grabs you...

balls are mean and do not like people.......I say it all the time....they are not the little loving snakes people think they are......*(even though there will now be replies that state how it watches TV or the computer with someone and kisses them)..

anyways......

full hand over the top and grab it first.....

bites don't hurt.......

.........

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........don't you Luv that a few weeks ago they ask all the starter questions and a few weeks later they know it all?.............gotta Luv the internet huh?.........

CJBianco Aug 05, 2005 02:10 PM

"just grab it before it grabs you..."

LMAO That sounds so militant. Now where's my Metallica Kill 'Em All CD?

It's a good point, though. Some BPs won't settle down no matter what you try. I had an evil little beauty a while ago. This guy would strike and then laugh about it. He was mean little prick. I just grabbed him up anyway and endured the bites. (And I wouldn't put him back until he went a full minute without striking.) I did this several times a day for about two weeks or so. After the second week, I could pick him up (usually) without him striking at all. He hissed, but he didn't strike. So the BEST way to cure a BP of his strikiness is to hold him anyway. Show him that his defense (biting) isn't working. Eventually he'll give in and give up. That is, once he knows that you aren't eating him.

Chris
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mean people suck

sparke303 Aug 05, 2005 03:08 AM

and he wants me to tell you something.

FEED ME!

LOL

jmartin104 Aug 05, 2005 09:45 AM

Whenever this happens, take a water bottle, spray the snake and in a firm tone, say "NO!" "Bad snake". It only takes a couple of times.

In all honesty, it's biting because it feels threatened. Normally, I just quickly grab snakes like this. It does not give them time to react with biting, but normally just balling up.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

bps516 Aug 05, 2005 11:53 AM

np
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Ball Python - Apep
0-1-0 Mountain Horned Dragon - Ki
1-1-0 Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-1-0 Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

ginebig Aug 05, 2005 04:40 PM

"Bad Snake!!" like he can really hear ya, right? That's a riot I gotta try that one.

Quig

blazingreptiles Aug 05, 2005 01:15 PM

I'd think of it this way, if I was 90 grams, I'd be scared of EVERYTHING!

Your little ball python is at the bottom of the food chain, they know this from instinct! You may not think you are threatening but to it, you might be... people are just another big scary thing coming to eat them.

I'm not sure about your enclosure situation, but coming at your snake from the top down (like predators do) might be the problem.... if possible, come from the side....

He should settle down, I wouldn't worry

Jessy
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1.0 gorgeous spider ball python
2.2 het for axanthic
5.9 normals
www.blazingreptiles.com coming soon!

CJBianco Aug 05, 2005 02:00 PM

The snake is reacting naturally as it would with any serious predator...especially winged predators. Predatory birds swoop down on snakes with wings spread wide much like the sillouette of an open human hand. Make sure you do two things when attempting to pick up the little fella -- (1) approach from the side at floor level and (2) make sure the little snake is awake and aware BEFORE touching it.

Chris
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mean people suck

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