First rat and a question

[Nicky]

Hey all,
To start off on a good note starburst ate her first small rat yesterday it was slightly bigger than the adult mice she was taking. Also has anyone ever had a ball that seems to be really relaxed around other people except you? For example if my brother or close friends hold her she'll be (or at least look) relaxed and calmly slither around there arms while when i try to hold her she goes in strike position and won;t move from it ?? Is it possible she dosen;t like me or just maybe she smells the other animals on me? Either way it's kinda wierd and I hope she eventually litens up around me.
Rock on
Kayla

[justinO]

congrats on the rat conversion!

as for her not liking you...... i've had everyone i know with snakes assure me that there is at least one in the collection with a mad hate on for a particular owner (even the breeders who usually do not handle them frequently) ! I've heard it more often with burms, but also for ball pythons.

I'm not sure if there's a way to change it though...... bp's are pretty damn stubborn! he he he

Jessy

[sapphire_moon]

Before picking up your bp try washing your hands/arms and changing shirts, he may smell food on you!


Congrats on the rat!

[Auskan]

Also, a lot of animals can sense tension, so it may be that because of past experience you are subconsciously tensing up when holding her, so she reacts to that tension, and it continues the cycle.

[Nicky]

thx alot guys,
ya i noticed that animals really have a way of sensing fear for example my uncles cat is the biggest sweat heart except towards my aunt because shes so scared of him and he'll purposly go around and sit on her and hiss and what not its kinda funny to see. Hopefully things will change.
Kayla

[mykee]

Snakes don't have personal opinions of people. They are snakes, not people. They don't like or dislike one person more than another. Possibly afraid, but not personal.

[daver676]

When I have my bp out, sometimes the cat or the dog will walk by, and everytime they do, my bp will freeze. No flicking or anything, but usually as soon as the cat or dog move on, she is right back to her exploring.