omg...he hissed at me...lol

[sekans]

Ok so ive had my snake for 2 weeks and yesterday was his first day he ever hissed aggressively. He really didnt feel like being handled but i refuse to lose. I read that if u take a bath towel and cover him they usually calm down. So i covered him and started gently rubbing him and he stopped hissing. Once i picked him up every thing was normal for about 2 minutes and then i notice that he wasnt doing what he usually do which is stretch out flickering is tongue getting and feel for his enviroment, instead he went into the striking position and gave me the dead man stare. Usually i handle him for 30 minutes to a hour with no problems but this time i felt as if i should respect the fact that he was stressed so i put him back in the tank after about five minutes. I think ot was the kids cuz they was yelling at each other as i went to get him out. Hopefully tomorrow he has a different attitude.

[candyraver69]

There is a delicate balance of choosing if it's not a good time to hold your snake because he's in a mood, or not allowing the snake to think hissing and striking is going to get you to leave it alone. Some times snakes just aren't in a good mood for one reason or another and it's best to leave them be. Was he maybe still digesting? Starting to go in to shed? Startled by something? Maybe you had a strange smell on you? If he doesn't make a habit of acting that way, I would leave him be on the rare days he does. If it's more something he starts doing to be left alone he may just be starting to feel confident about his surrounding enough to be territorial, and you need to establish boundaries with him.

I personally haven't tried the towel thing but I have tried the method of covering the head gently with my palm or hook training- depending if it was my corns or boas. It sounds like the towel thing your tried is a similar approach and should have the same effect.

[shaunyboy]

he could be going into shed as some of mine get cranky during the shedding proccess

cheers shaun

[SnakeyJay]

How often are you handling him? Just wondering as if its daily it may stress him out, and people have covered everything else i can think of. At the end of the day you do what your judgement says is best. Goodluck.

[SkYyaMe1623]

If you have a snake that likes to go into striking position on you then you should probably get a hook. If the snake sheds in a couple days you know why he was cranky.

Just curious, what type of snake is this?

[UwabamiReptiles]

He could be going into shed or he could of just been in a bad mood. Snakes have there bad days just like we do. Even the most docile snake can have a mean day. I personally wouldn't bother with the towel thing if this was the only time he's done this. You will learn to read snake the longer you have him. Sometimes they just don't want to be held and we should respect that. If you are holding him everyday, you should try to not hold him as often. Excessive handling can really stress out a snake. Also what kind of snake is it and how old is he?

[millertime89]

last weekend I was holding a jungle carpet, and from the moment the viv opened he was hissing, but he never went into strike mode and never really showed any other signs of being stressed. The owner said he was a "talker" and just like to hear his own hiss, so to speak. Just throwing out the possibility.

[Terranaut]

Type of snake is very important. Some colubrids will his a look like they are going to strike.... But never do. I wouldn't be to worried about it. I'm sure you get cranky some days right? Try again tomorrow and see what happens.

[Gungirl]

My BP hisses every once in a while. I take it as him saying hello because he has never struck and once I have him in my hands he will just chill.

[Kayla90]

Gosh for the first time ever one of my carpets hissed and bit me... I had never seen her do that before.. she had Just shed the day before that is why I took her out.. but she also took a giant poop.. today is feeding day, she was in constant feed mode when I took her out.. she kept looking at me like I was dinner :P

[alessia55]

My adult bp Kaybe has only hissed once: when he met my boyfriend's cat (I had Kaybe on my lap and Badger (the cat) decided to take a look at what was going on. Kaybe didn't like it one bit) lol. I've never seen Kaybe ever hiss before in the 2 years I've had him. My baby bp has never hissed so far :)

[sekans]

Thanks for sharing that everyone..by the way he is a red tail colombian boa

[shaunyboy]

last weekend I was holding a jungle carpet, and from the moment the viv opened he was hissing, but he never went into strike mode and never really showed any other signs of being stressed. The owner said he was a "talker" and just like to hear his own hiss, so to speak. Just throwing out the possibility.


i've had a good few carpet python hatchlings behave like that mate

most of them jungles

also had plenty that will sss up,they almost always have a strike at you

again most of them jungles

" just gotta love carpet's.....!!! "

cheers shaun

[Kayla90]

" just gotta love carpet's.....!!! "


God yes.. I love my three.. they all have there on distinct personalities :)

[alessia55]

I guess part of the reason I don't like carpets is because I hear so much about their bite-yness, hissing, and all that. Whereas I know my 7yr old cousin can put his hand in and take Kaybe (my adult bp) out and Kaybe won't hiss or resist or anything. If I could be assured that I could get a "nice" carpet that doesn't have attitude, I'd be all for it. Visually they are absolutely stunning, that's for sure. It's just the personalities I've heard they have don't convince me :sorry:

[shaunyboy]

I guess part of the reason I don't like carpets is because I hear so much about their bite-yness, hissing, and all that. Whereas I know my 7yr old cousin can put his hand in and take Kaybe (my adult bp) out and Kaybe won't hiss or resist or anything. If I could be assured that I could get a "nice" carpet that doesn't have attitude, I'd be all for it. Visually they are absolutely stunning, that's for sure. It's just the personalities I've heard they have don't convince me :sorry:

i keep carpets into double figures and none of mine are biters

i've had biters in the past but generally most of my carpets have been calm

carpets can go into feeding mode from early evening onwards,but once you get to know the individuall snake you will know whats what

imo if you bought a calm adult,then you would do just fine with them

cheers shaun

[Kayla90]

I guess part of the reason I don't like carpets is because I hear so much about their bite-yness, hissing, and all that. Whereas I know my 7yr old cousin can put his hand in and take Kaybe (my adult bp) out and Kaybe won't hiss or resist or anything. If I could be assured that I could get a "nice" carpet that doesn't have attitude, I'd be all for it. Visually they are absolutely stunning, that's for sure. It's just the personalities I've heard they have don't convince me :sorry:

It really depends on the personal snakes personality.. My ball python, while she is a baby, is still uncertain and bites constantly at me in defence.. Just like any snake you first acquire though, he/she is going to be extremely mistrustful of you and you have to grow your bond of trust with them over time