new baby

[LISA127]

Hi! I got a 3 1/2 month old cbb male ball python. I have a couple of questions. Right now I have him in a 20 long aquarium, divided with thick cardboard to give him a smaller space. If I take the divider out and put in a few hides, will he be ok w/more space? Or will it stress him?
Also, I once owned a female bp, who was very gentle. As a baby she just curled up into a ball, and then quickly became tame. This little guy however, does not curl up. But he did strike at me! Of course, the bite didn't hurt. I was just surprised because I thought bp's don't normally bite. Once he is in my hand, he is ok, just a little head shy. But he bit me when I put my hand in the cage. Has anyone else had a baby do this? Just wondering if he is going to be more difficult to tame.

[lilyskip]

20g should be fine for a baby (mine is in one now) and I just have a bunch of places for it to hide (a quarter log on the hot side, a cut-up box on the cold side, and a dense plastic bush in the middle that he is in right now!) and he seems to be fine. I also draped a towel over the back side of the terarium, so he feels a little more secretive on that side.

As far as biting, I'm assuming that you haven't handled food before picking up the snake...it seems like a general aggressive thing. I've heard that picking up the snake first near the back and then near the front is helpful in preventing biting, but i'm not sure if this is actually true. Are you sure it's cbb? Is it possible that he is biting you out of a feeding response? (maybe it's used to being fed right in its cage?)

[Linds]

As long as you make it seem just as cozy by providing him with ample hiding spots and decorations, you can house him in whatrever size you wish (after all, they aren't born in 10gal boxes in the wild ;)). As for the curling up and not moving, that is actually untame behaviour in balls. That is their preferred defense in times of danger. People all too often mistake this behaviour for the snake being "friendly" or "tame". The more these guys explore when out, the more comfortable they are feeling, if they aren't doing a whole lot they are more often than not very stressed. It may very well be a feeding response bite, this is common with young snakes, though not as often with balls, but it still does occur. If he persists with striking when your hand is lowered into the cage, you can utilize a hook in taking him out. Snakes are gernally accepting of being hooked. The other possible cause is that he is voerly stressed. Though they prefer to be in a ball when stressed, if they are pushed passed that point they begin striking.

[Andy_G]

I reccomend using a hook. Most bites will happen inside the snake's own environment. I feed mine in cage and I have never really had that problem, but every snake is different.