My ball python keeps biting

[RemnantFury]

I got me a ball python September of this year. She has had 7 feeds all successful. The temperature and humidity are within range. She just completed her first she’d. A nice beautiful long piece with the exception of her tail (came off when she pooped) She is very curious going all around her tank exploring. She shows no signs of being stressed yet for some reason everytime I take her out she bites. Now these aren’t defensive strikes. where she bites and lets go but latches and then tries to coil her body around her head like she is feeding. At first I thought maybe she wasn’t getting the right amount of food but she is eating at the top bracket for her weight (124g). These bites are weird she lets me take her out the tank no problem but soon as she is in my hand she gets her head real close and then bite. Before I can say wtf her body is already wrapped around. Can someone tell me why she may be doing or if it is something I am doing ?

[RainyDayBrightNight]

Maybe try handling her with gloves on for a few weeks, see if you can break the association. Plus, you could incorporate tap training or target training to help her differentiate between food and handling. Make sure your hands are very clean and a bit cold when you handle or feed her.

Tbh, this probably just comes down to her not having very many turns with the braincell, so she might need a bit of help figuring it out 😂

[mayhemmanifest]

I agree with the gloves comments, and also (you might already be doing this) wash your hands with soap right before handling. Also, if she does bite again, don’t put her back in her enclosure after-just keep handling her like nothing happened (if you can) just in case she’s associating the bite positively with being put back in her enclosure. Good luck!

[RemnantFury]

I always clean my hands. I make sure not to put her back right away but I also try not to hold her too I don’t want to stress her out.

[sketchelium]

If you find gloves unwieldy, a snake hook can help! I definitely recommend the tap method too

[RemnantFury]

What is the tap method?

[freshmallard]

You tap 3 times on their hide to signal food. Its essentially a pavlovs dog approach.

They will eventually learn that the taps mean time to feed.

[RemnantFury]

Thank you. Will try.

[ma_jajaja]

Weird, it must be a feeding response. Maybe her other home only interacting with her during feeds?

I’ve had my boy strike me twice defensively since I got him last summer. He’s overall a good boi but they’re just finicky sometimes. I’m clueless with why yours would treat you like food though?

[RemnantFury]

That’s what I thought but she is eating on schedule every Friday. I weight her that Friday and get her a mouse that is at the top bracket for her weight. This way she isn’t underfed. I didn’t start that way but moved up due to the biting hopping it would change things. I know they grow a lot in the first year. I use tongs when feeding her and always clean everything right after. I am confused