So I have a question. Iām not used to a āStrikeyā Snake who wants to kill me.
We used to have a yearling but she would strike once and not close to you, and thatās it. She was your friend then!
And my boy Hideyoshi (Banana) was just hissy but he stopped that very quick.
But my new boy Blaze does it all the time! Even when I go near his tub! He strikes and hits the side. I donāt want to be bitten, noone does. But Iām wondering if I just put my arm in, take the bite so i stop worrying about the bite (Never been bitten before) and deal with him being a right moody git! Or if anyone has an idea of how to stop him stressing. Apparently he never struck at the breeder. Maybe he doesnāt like me much
Heās eaten twice since being here too. Amazing eater thatās for sure!
I donāt actually, since Hideyoshi doesnāt I didnāt think too.
Plus we used to have a rack with clear tubs and all the other royals we used to own (had 12 at one point) were fine!
But even in his black hide, if I lift it up to get him out he goes for me!
Heās on his own shelf on the āCrestieā rack atm. So he canāt see anything or anyone at all unless I go over.
I just want to be able to get him out
The first day he was lovely! Even my daughter (6) held him, and my nephew (4)!
I have a different snake nowā¦
Iāve had a few like this, typically when theyāre rack raised by a breeder, this is a stage I deal with when theyāre younger, because the majority of their interactions are feedings at that point. When I put them in more open enclosures they could see out of, youād see a lot of the same behavior passing by the enclosure, and when I reached in to manage the enclosure or to handle them, they would ALWAYS get ready to eat, sometimes strike a few times, and I got them over it by using a hook to pull them out of the enclosure, rather than my warm hands, and once theyāre out and being handled they tend to get the idea and stop being so bitey.
I agree covering the back and sides is a good idea.
Plus I think, regular handling is good as long as you donāt do it around feeding time Iāve never been bit by our snakes, but thatās because my husband handled the snakes, his been bit a few times but only because they have missed their food š¤¦ senyd like a food and nervous response. Try walking in front of the enclosure at set times of the day and he might get use to it.
He could also just be one of those grumpy snakes that donāt calm down. I have 2 of those, a Banana Super Cinnamon and an OD Leopard Lesser Fire. Both of them are males and breeding size, the Banana is actually around 800 grams now, maybe more. They usually calm down once I get them out the tub and just hold them for a second, but boy do they not want me to touch them in their tubs! I just take a paper towel roll and gently poke their heads until they ball up, then pick them up.
As a Ball Python breeder, it is most likely he was probably āraisedā that way on a rack, and always ready to eat. But covering the back and sides, I agree, is definitely worth a try. He is probably just a little beast though in my opinion, Iāve got a few . Lol. Try to hold him regularly and get him used to you, Iāve had some calm down that way after a few weeks or months.
Well when speaking to the breeder he said heās never struck at him. Also was feeding every 5-7 days.
He got him out in front of me etc and handed to me, I saw set up. He was very chill, not even a finch. I got him out the bag etc myself a couple times when checking him out in car, showing the Fam and then again when home and all fine. Itās since heās been here that heās been a pain.
Heās eaten twice, 5 days apart. So due again Wednesday, which will be 5 days since last eaten. I thought Iād do every 5 atm since he is a very hungry boyā¦ I shall risk my life again tomorrow to great him again
Maybe he will always be like that? Iām sorry I canāt do more than say some animals just are like that to certain people. Maybe try to leave him alone to get him used to you? I would just set my hand in the tank of an old aggressive Rosy Boa Iād had and slightly inch my hand forward every day, and eventually they got so used to my hand they used it as a branch lol . That worked for me. That snake manā¦ Took me months to get him to even trust me. I think he thought he could kill me with his āvenomā , he bit me so many times. Eventually I just left him alone, and slowly started to gain his trust. All snakes are different though, canāt tell you anything for sure, but hope something in here helps you.
I agree, some snakes are like that. It could be because he loved in s track with little to see out, but now he sees a lot.
It could also be that he is with the geckos and senses them, some people say keeping food, such as mice in the same room as snakes can make them edgy. Although we have always kept mice in the snake room with no bother.
We have a snake (Sergai our spider BP) that I donāt usually hold because he looks at me like Iām food. Iām not sure why as Iāve never fed him, yet my 7 year old and my husband can hold him with no worries.
Does he have a snug or spacious hide? I found that Sergai was calm when his hide was a tight fit, but when we upgraded him to a bigger one, he wasnāt happy - he doesnāt do change well.
Thereās nothing around him so he canāt really see anything but walls unless Iām there.
Plus I will add actually, that the rub heās in now is actually smaller than what he had! He bad a bigger one with the breeder, biggest Iāve seen hatchlings in I will say!
As I thought with moving him they can sometimes be fussy with eating and from experience they liked a smaller home to start and then Iād upsize again.
Yes the hide is a cosy one! Same one that he had with the breeder
I really hope so. Other than feeding him a couple days ago I havenāt gone over to him much as donāt want to stress him more. But I fed Hideyoshi yesterday whoās on the rack in his tub above him so he saw me then for a second as Hideyoshi took his rat instantly so I walked away after, but didnāt strike, looked hungry again though So maybe he is getting used to me.
Touch wood Iāll be able to update soon to say heās calming down.
I suppose upgrading his home to some like he used to have should wait? He had a lot of room before and me thinking he would prefer smaller now makes me think I didnāt need to downsize at allā¦ As heās always out and about from whatās Iāve seen! Wondering if he would enjoy the space againā¦
plus I need to clean him out today
Maybe he is out and about because he doesnāt feel secure. I keep hatchlings in small tubs for the first 4 or 5 months roughly until they are what I consider doing rock solid.
Maybe quarantining him away from your collection in a super quiet space may help as well.
Heās not āalwaysā out but he seems to like to wander and be nosey. Shouldāve put that.
As said he was in a big tub with breeder which was clear and never struck, heās in one quite a bit smaller here because I thought it would be better after the move as others weāve had wouldnāt eat right away unless we downsized first. I donāt think I needed to put him in smaller though heās a machine.
My other boy is a roamer so I donāt think itās the fact heās scared as such. As my other boy climbs and all. Loves the space.
I might bring him inside with me for a bit, but itās not noisy out there apart from calling dart frogs at times
He was born 5th July so I can deal with the striking at that size even though not used to it. Itās my daughter really I worry for. She knows atm she canāt handle him because heās āgrumpyā though. She gets it so itās fine. She understands the needs of them all luckily, very switched on when it comes to animals and she knows how they can be and act. She just checks in with me that heās ok
Maybe he shouldāve been called Firecracker and not Blaze
Iāve never been bit by our snakes, but thatās because my husband handled the snakes, his been bit a few times but only because they have missed their food š¤¦ senyd like a food and nervous response. Try walking in front of the enclosure at set times of the day and he might get use to it.
. Lol. Try to hold him regularly and get him used to you, Iāve had some calm down that way after a few weeks or months.
