Aggressive Python

[unknownclown]

Hello :)
I went to the pet store today and seen this gorgeous ball python about 2and a half feet long and I was talking to the petstore owner about it who said that it is aggressive and stikes upon opening the cage. She said that since its been hard to place and it will take someone willing to work with it that she could work me a deal for it.

Ok so Ive pretty much decided I would buy it but I'm curious what are the chances of it having a change of heart after time and becomming alright with being handled?

Personally I dont mind having an animal who doesnt like to be messed with and can respect its space if thats what it wants and needs. So I can go either way on this I was just wondering if it is at all possible or if I would be wasting my time and gettin bitten for nothing which by the way I plan on buying appropriate gloves etc.

[marisa]

Bought my Mexican Black Kingsnake knowing he was a realy handful for a colubrid. He was biting, musking, chewing etc. But to this day I wouldn't have changed my mind. Sometimes I have gotten a "mean" snake only to see that once its in a different enclosure and being fed on my schedual, it becomes calm and a big baby. As for a ball changing of heart, or the chances of it changing i do not know. just wanted to share my past experience.

Marisa

[unknownclown]

I read somewhere here that you arent supposed to feed them in thier homes or they will snap like that and guess what they are doing outta fear of bein bitten. Throwing the food and slammin the door shut.

[Pythonian]

The best thing to do with a wild ball python is handle it.. buy it and leave it alone don't handle it or anything for about a week or two .. then feed it (however way u want i personally feed it in it's own enclosure. and my ball doesn't strike at me or anything.wait at LEAST 48 hours althought i'd give it a week. after that handle it for 10 - 15 minutes a day. it should be cool within 2 or 3 weeks of that.

Mike

[Linds]

Do you have any history on the snake? Has he had previous owners? Or is he a snake they got in on a regular order? Assuming he came in on an order and not dumped off by previous owner that couldn't handle him (or didn't want to)...

Balls typically aren't agressive snakes by nature, there is usually something more to it. Pain or irritation due to injury or mites and stress are some common reasons a ball may become overly agressive. At that size I would be inclined to believe it is a WC as well, and WC animals typically have much more defensive behaviours (though it takes an awful lot for a BP to surpass the curling up stage and go to striking). In a pet store all of the above are a very good possibility.

Once you get your ball home, put him in a low-traffic place with alot of cover in and around his home, even cover up parts of it. Leave him for 1-2 weeks and then try feeding him. Do not handle your snake until it begins feeding for you. If he is stressed out (which it sounds to be the case) this will only intensify the situation. Once he is feeding then you can try handling him for brief periods daily, gradually extending "play time" as you progress. If he is intimidating you, try removing him with a snake hook.

Here is something I previously posted in the General Forum on feeding in separate enclosures...
Originally posted by Linds
I used to feed all my animals in separate enclosures. This however becomes a great inconvenience as the collection size grows and just is too time consuming. I now believe it causes unecessary stress on the animals to be moved around for feeding. I have not noticed any behavioural differences between snakes fed in their enclosures or in seperate containers. I have not noticed either having any effect on nippy or agressive snakes either. However one of my rosy's is jsut stubborn and will only eat if he is in his little cell phone box :rolleyes:

Hope this helped :)

[unknownclown]

you all are very helpful thanks :) I would love to hear more comments and tips on how to handle him/her.

The pet store owner did say that it was never abused but aside from that didnt go into detail of where it was from. It looked very comfortable in its surroundings and was just hanging from a branch which seemed different to me. Im new to snakes but so far Ive only seen them (BPs) hangin out on the ground sometimes mine climb up but this one seemed to look like he thought he was a tree snake the way he was resting up there. He does have an aire about him thats for sure.

:( shame I have to wait till tuesday Im kinda getting anxious :) he is gorgeous! As soon as my bro figures out why my camera is messin up and only taking extremely huge pics and not giving me the option to resize Ill post some pics :)

One thing though I asked the lady what he is eating she said mice once a week is this enough for a 2-3 foot snake? shouldnt he be on small rats?

[krrc]

yes.. and no it depends on the gurth of the snake. I would be careful with buying this snake as linds said is sounds as there is something else going on there. best of luck

[unknownclown]

well as far as health issues go Ive been hunting around for a vet around here today that takes snakes to determine the sexes of them. (this will be my 3rd undetermined) Since they will charge me just for a just looking at it I would hope that means they will examine it as well :) Heck Ill make sure I get my moneys worth ;)

[unknownclown]

I got my baby today:) it cost me a whole whopping $21 :)
first i went to home depot and found some heavy leather gloves. I was expecting some major struggle like something off of the crocodile hunter where it strikes repeatedly at me until it attached itself to my nose or something the way they described it. It seems gentle so far and hasnt tried anything yet.

They fed it 2 days ago a mouse but I dont think thats enough since the widest part of him is 2 and a quarter inches in diameter its head is an inch wide and a inch and a half long. So am I right in thinking its time to start feedin this bad boy/girl rats?

I dont see anything to be concerned with aside from there is a bit of scarring from eating live and its eyes are silver from getting ready to shead. Well there is one thing that strikes me as odd it has some scales that are blood red is that normal? i tried to wipe it off but it aint happening its the scales.

[stormyva]

Congrats on the new snake! I am sure it will come around and become a very nice pet for you.

I am jumping into the post late..... but.... If you do decide to feed in the enclosure make sure that you do not use a loose substrate such as repti-bark or cypress mulch. These type substrates can be ingested by the snake when it is eating. Paper towels, cage carpet, or new paper would be fine though.

[snakemann87]

congradulations, and good luck with him.

[Soleil]

Congratulations on your new family member! Sounds like you got a good deal and it's wonderful that you're willing to give a "difficult" snake a good home.
I'm sure with handling and lots of TLC you'll have a perfectly wonderful snake.
Take care,
Soleil