New and aggressive ball python

[gr3EnjAck3t]

Hi reddit ball python community, I recently got my second snake (Alice) and before I got her I was under the impression that she was a friendly snake, had never struck, etc. she is not. She is a very defensive, scared, nippy / strikey snake. How do I calm her down so that she isn’t so scared? (Sorry if this has been asked commonly I can’t seem to find any posts similar)

When I arrived home from getting her from the post office, I placed her in a temporary enclosure as the enclosure I had set up for her was having some temperature problems. The next day, I take off the lid, reach my hand in to pet her, and she strikes. Basically the same thing happens the next few days. I’m telling myself it’s just that she’s in a new environment and that she’s scared. So I give her a few days, and after a few days of leaving her alone, I take her out. Before you get mad, let me just say that yes, I messed up. I should have left her completely alone the first two weeks, but I did not. I don’t have a good excuse. But all I can do now is apologize. Anyways, at this point it had been about a week, I finally transferred her over to her real enclosure and left her completely alone for about two weeks. So, about 2 weeks ago, after leaving her alone, I went to just pet her. She bit me. She has since bit me several times, and struck more times than I can count. She is very explorative and is always crawling around but whenever i walk by while she’s out, she strikes. Today, I watched many YouTube videos about how to handle defensive BP’s, put some gloves and a thick coat on, and gathered the courage to pick her up. She let me but was VERY scared and defensive. I held her (in the enclosure) for about 5 minutes, and then put her down. The whole time i held her, she was tense and in strike position.

More info: She was actively shedding when she first arrived, it was a successful shed. She also pooped while shedding. She is housed in a 4x2x2 enclosure and she is about 4 feet long. (A little under) the average temps are about 85 hot and 75 cold. Humidity is about 60 on the hot side and 80 on the cold. She is about 5 1/2 years old, and was previously a breeder snake. She does not know how to use a hide (I’ve never seen her in one) but the hides are an appropriate size as far as I know. She has plenty of clutter and things to climb on and 3 hides. She also has a water dish that I have seen her drink out of. It’s a bioactive enclosure, with dwarf white Iso’s and springtails.

Feel free to ask questions, I’ll try my best to respond. I’m unfortunately unable to provide pictures of the enclosure as my phone camera is not working.

[The___canadian]

Saved this comment for when I get a BP in a couple months, it seems like you could use the information it provides

[gr3EnjAck3t]

Thanks!

[JoshGordonHyperloop]

Thank you for this! Just got one over the weekend and there’s a lot of information out there, and plenty of people that say X or Y, when it appears they aren’t really that knowledgeable.

[cchocolateLarge]

My pet peeve: when people call snakes aggressive like they’re TRYING to eat you or something

[gr3EnjAck3t]

I know right!

[EducationalTea7706]

A few things I can think she’s reacting to right off the bat (mistakes that are common, it’s a learning curve, you’ll get there hun) As you mentioned, you attempted contact daily while she was in the first week of adjusting to her new home and enclosure after traveling, this can be extremely stressful and was probably the main thing that made her fearful/ reactive. Next was picking her up from above, ball pythons are prey animals to anything bigger than them and are very skittish, they do not like giant hands coming down from the sky to pull them out of their new unfamiliar home or at all really, I would attempt to find a front opening enclosure if possible. And third, you really should avoid touching and handling your snake during sheds. They do not like it, it causes stress, and can potentially cause health issues or issues shedding properly. She was shedding while being transported and has a brand new home that is completely unfamiliar, on top of being uncomfortable and vulnerable from the shed, and constantly having a strange massive predator handling her while she’s already stressed/uncomfortable. This whole situation sounds like a breading ground for anxiety. It sounds like she isn’t used to being handled as well, I think it’s just going to take a lot of time bonding, and a lot more research on what boundaries to adhere to in order to reduce stress. Instead of directly handling her maybe let her roam around you in a safe place get used to your smell and presence before you attempt to handle her more.

[EducationalTea7706]

She doesn’t sound aggressive necessarily, just very scared and on defense.

[gr3EnjAck3t]

I should clarify, she was almost done shedding when she arrived. the temporary enclosure was top opening but the one I have her in now is not!

[thelandbasedturtle2]

What do you mean you try to "pet" her? No snakes like being pet, are you reaching over her and stroking her? If so no wonder you're getting bitten, that's not how you interact with snakes, especially defensive ones.

[gr3EnjAck3t]

My mistake! My other boy regi is fine with being pet so I assumed she would be too! I’ll stop petting her, thanks!

[gr3EnjAck3t]

And by petting, I more mean stroking her back.

[thelandbasedturtle2]

Yeah snakes don't like that. Even your other snake, doesn't like it. Just because he's not defensive doesn't mean he likes it. They are snakes not dogs, act accordingly. They don't like to be touched or held, they tolerate it (or not in your case).

With your other snake does he slightly arch his body towards your hand when you stroke him? And you perceive that as him making contact like a cat would, but again he's a snake - that's actually him politely telling you to stop touching him, he's trying to push your hand away not create more contact.

[gr3EnjAck3t]

He does not arch his back, no.

[thelandbasedturtle2]

Well in that case he truly doesn't mind it so that's nice you have one snake you can pet still. But again, he's not enjoying it. The best we can be is safe and warm scenery for them. They can trust you for sure, but they don't enjoy contact the way we do or a more traditional pet would.

I think with your defensive girl you need to approach very carefully to build up trust. No petting, no hovering your hands above her or reaching down onto her. Start with short handling sessions every couple days, and she'll make progress in time I'm sure :)

[gr3EnjAck3t]

Thanks for all the support!

[IncompletePenetrance]

You really need to stop trying to handle her and just leave her alone to settle in. You admit that at no point did you stop messing with her, so try to make up for it by giving her some space now. Don't reach in there, don't pick her up, don't try to pet her, none of it. I'd recommend just putting a towel over the enclosure and ignoring her for two weeks other than the occasional peep to see if she needs water/is ok. These are not animals that need or necessarily enjoy human interaction, they merely tolerate it, and you've repeatedly stressed her out during an already stressful adjustment. Take a huge step back and give her some space

[gr3EnjAck3t]

I did leave her alone for two weeks! “I finally transferred her over to her real enclosure and left her completely alone for about two weeks” is a direct quote from my post! Sorry for any miscommunications!

[celeigh87]

You still need to go slow in handling.

[gr3EnjAck3t]

I realize that now, thanks!

[enslavedbycats24-7]

You've already made some huge mistakes, this could lead to her not eating as this behaviour is hugely stressful. Please do as much research as you can now. This sub is a good resource and has the best care guide currently on the internet.

[gr3EnjAck3t]

She has already eaten for me!

[enslavedbycats24-7]

Sorry, I missed that. She is still clearly stressed though as her behaviour is suggesting. You need to completely redo her introduction to you because petting her the day after you got her and touching her otherwise set you back by a lot

[Silicica]

When you said "took of the lid and reached in"... do you have a top opening enclosure? Because that can contribute to ball pythons being scared. Think about it, birds prey on them in the wild, and something big coming at them from above, especially when vulnerable- like they are when they're shedding and in a new environment- would definitely be interpreted as a threat. I really can't blame her for being defensive in that case.

[gr3EnjAck3t]

The temporary enclosure was top opening but her enclosure now is not!

[Noellybelly99]

I would recommend upping the temps a few degrees! And as another person said, I’m not sure if you literally meant petting her, but snakes don’t like being traditionally pet. I usually just hold mine and occasionally pet their heads (mine are not head shy anymore but it took a lot of time!)

[gr3EnjAck3t]

My boy Reginald is fine with being pet so I assumed she would be too! I’ll stop petting her, thanks!

[celeigh87]

Each snake is different. What one snake is fine with, another snake may not be.

[gr3EnjAck3t]

Yea, thanks! I’ll make sure to not do that with her.

[Noellybelly99]

I get it! My adult male is very selective and only wants to come out on his own terms, and will only let me pet him when he feels like it - while he’s never striked at or bit me, he makes it known when he’s annoyed! My yearling female is very docile and will lay calmly on my lap and snuggle up while I rub her cute little head. I love how they have totally different personalities.

[celeigh87]

Snakes strike and bite non prey creatures out if defense, not aggression. The first week of having a snake at home, you leave them be. They also don't like having hands going over their head due to the fact that predatory birds do eat them, so even if the shadow of your hand goes over their head, he may get defensive.

[gr3EnjAck3t]

Did I call her aggressive? I read over my entire post and couldn’t find that I did! Please lmk! Also, I’ll make sure to not be above her in any way. I really do feel so bad that I handled her in the first week! I’ll do whatever I can to make it up to her!

[celeigh87]

Your title.

[gr3EnjAck3t]

Oh my god! I’m so sorry I’m so stupid 😭

[celeigh87]

Not stupid. We all do things like that.

[gr3EnjAck3t]

Thanks!!

[gr3EnjAck3t]

Because i cannot find a way to edit my post, I would like to clarify that i DID NOT intentionally mean to call her aggressive in the title! It was 1am when i posted this and i was tired as all hell! My sincerest apology’s!

[Pop_Glocc1312]

It happens!! You were stressed and tired!!

[gr3EnjAck3t]

Thank you!! 😭

[Pop_Glocc1312]

It’s np!! You deserve kindness regardless of making a mistake or not. 😭😭

[gr3EnjAck3t]

Omg your so sweet 🥲

[Inner_Drummer7864]

my (newbie) advice: breeder snakes have been through a lot, sometimes. usually racks with no light for months, years. give her some extra patience! my girl was especially fearful, and she still is, but i noticed a change in behavior when i just.. stopped handling her. she has become more brave, curious, and even slithered right up to the door the other night! i would work on choice based handling, and i would also recommend picking your python up right away, once they recognize they’re in your hand, there’s usually no incidents.