Why is she so aggressive?

emo_emy · 08-19-04, 03:59 PM

I have owned one previous, which never even struck. I got this one from a breeder today and it seems to be very aggressive, thus striking five times; one time bite. They said that she has never struck before but why all of a sudden has she started? They did say that she was fed earlier today, could that be a reason?

Thanks,
Emy

P.S.
please any help will be greatly appreciated.

Bartman · 08-19-04, 04:57 PM

Just a guess, but she could be very stressed. I’ve never really heard of an aggressive ball python but I guess it happens. Give her more then the usual week acclimation period, so maybe 3 weeks, and see how she is then. Good luck!

justinO · 08-19-04, 05:21 PM

Yeah, the only agressive ball I know is a 25 year old wild caught male that don't take no shiet from anyone..... ha ha ha

It's probably cuz you just got it, and is stressed........ give it lots of hide spots! I know you said it just ate, but if it happens to be striking from hunger, feed it again (and again and again)

mykee · 08-19-04, 10:56 PM

No ones ever heard of an aggressive ball??!! EVERY single hatchling that I produced this year is a little pissant. They're all strikey little monkeys. Reason; they're small, you're big. Show them that you won't hurt them by slow gentle handling and you should be alright, it's a gradual process.

Tim_Cranwill · 08-19-04, 11:05 PM

Most snake species would be long extinct if they weren't aggressive/defensive when they were young and small. He should calm down a lot with time though.

**Andy_G** · 08-19-04, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim_Cranwill
Most snake species would be long extinct if they weren't aggressive/defensive when they were young and small. He should calm down a lot with time though.

Amen!

snakehunter · 08-20-04, 11:09 AM

Just look at the baby n. water snakes, those are the DEFINITION of aggressive, granted they do remain as grumpy as they age

ib_inked · 08-20-04, 11:36 AM

I took a snake as a rescue project a few yearsa ago, and it was EXTREMELY aggressive. It's housing was disgusting, and as far as I know it had been in that tank since it was young (it was 3 or 4 years when I got it). I had to get it eating F/T Rats, as it would only eat live and I never feed live, but with a bit of patience, it finally ate.
Anyhow, it spent it's entire time in it's hide, even at night, but if I would ever put my hand it do anything it would actively come out to strike. At one time it actually chased my hand around the enclosure striking repetedly.
Eventually I just let it bite me. And the I let it bite me every time; (some of you may dissagree with this), but it eventually stopped and became a pet. (and yes it hurt)
A year later it was totally handleable even by my 5 year old son at the time.
So, I believe it was stress and the lack of human contact as well as shi**y living conditions that just pissed it off.
Just keep working with it. It'll come around.

emo_emy · 08-20-04, 01:35 PM

Thank you all for your comment/suggestions. I have just handled her and she only striked at me once. She is calming down a lot since yesterday.

hhw · 08-20-04, 01:58 PM

You should probably leave her alone for the first while anyway, to make sure she gets acclimated properly. A good rule is to leave her completely alone for a week, then feed her, and wait 48 hours after that to handle her.

Of course, some people can get away with feeding their new ball python and handling them the day after, but given how yours has been striking and such, it's probably more easily stressed than most so you should play it safe.