Aggressive after shedding?

Dherrera · 09-05-13, 05:52 PM

My BRB who is about 3 months old who normally is very mellow, just shed his skin last night is now being very aggressive. When i tried picking him up earlier he tried biting me, then i tried picking him up 6 hours later and he tried again. I handled him while he was shedding and also fed him. Has anybody heard of a snake trying to bite after a shed?

Mikoh4792 · 09-05-13, 05:58 PM

Sometimes snakes will have bad days. For example my carpet python who is normally docile will sometimes not want to be messed with. He'll start hissing and posturing up. On most days though he can handled. You just gotta leave them alone. Messing with them too much will stress them out.

SSSSnakes · 09-06-13, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

Sometimes snakes will have bad days. For example my carpet python who is normally docile will sometimes not want to be messed with. He'll start hissing and posturing up. On most days though he can handled. You just gotta leave them alone. Messing with them too much will stress them out.

Great point. Snakes are like people, some days we don't want to be messed with and will have an attitude if you do.

Dherrera · 09-06-13, 08:52 PM

Thanks everyone! Hes fine now, back to his normal self. Maybe it really was just a bad day!

Snakesitter · 09-06-13, 02:16 PM

I would respectfully urge the opposite: if he bites you, *absolutely* pick him up...even if only for 30 seconds. Avoiding him after he bites only teaches him that aggression leads to freedom. You want to break that view while they are young.

(Obviously, there are exceptions, such as an animal that is gravid or has just fed.)

marvelfreak · 09-06-13, 02:47 PM

^^^ I agree with what Cliff said.
My Yellow anaconda doesn't want to be touch for a full 48 hours after he sheds. My Borneo and Black Bloods are the same but for them it only 24 hours after a shed are they aggressive if messed with.

Theweinz · 09-06-13, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

^^^ I agree with what Cliff said.
My Yellow anaconda doesn't want to be touch for a full 48 hours after he sheds. My Borneo and Black Bloods are the same but for them it only 24 hours after a shed are they aggressive if messed with.

Interesting point! I have noticed this yet with any of my pythons, but they certainly have their bad days! Especially my STPs and Bloods.