New, scared ball python

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Posted by Sharon on June 09, 1999 at 10:41:24:

I bought a ball python this past weekend at the reptile expo in Austin. He is only a couple of months old; about 14 inches long.
I have him in a 10 gallon aquarium. The man I bought him from said he hadn't been handled much. I have left him in his cage
for the last several days and have been gradually holding him in my hand inside the cage. The second time I handled him he
started striking at my hand when I reached in the cage for him. I was coming up from behind him and he was't having it!
Then when I was sitting there watching him later, I had my hand near the glass of the cage and he struck at the cage. When he
strikes he does so with a closed mouth--kind-of hits me with his nose. Is this normal for a ball python? I have read everything
there is to read over the internet about this and called the man I bought him from and he said this was normal. I'd like some different
opinions/suggestions on how I should handle this. I don't want to get discouraged over my first snake and am worried that I am
scaring him to death or if I really picked an aggressive snake. Sorry to be so clueless but I'm new at this but want to do it right.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

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: I bought a ball python this past weekend at the reptile expo in Austin. He is only a couple of months old; about 14 inches long. : I have him in a 10 gallon aquarium. The man I bought him from said he hadn't been handled much. I have left him in his cage : for the last several days and have been gradually holding him in my hand inside the cage. The second time I handled him he : started striking at my hand when I reached in the cage for him. I was coming up from behind him and he was't having it! : Then when I was sitting there watching him later, I had my hand near the glass of the cage and he struck at the cage. When he : strikes he does so with a closed mouth--kind-of hits me with his nose. Is this normal for a ball python? I have read everything : there is to read over the internet about this and called the man I bought him from and he said this was normal. I'd like some different : opinions/suggestions on how I should handle this. I don't want to get discouraged over my first snake and am worried that I am : scaring him to death or if I really picked an aggressive snake. Sorry to be so clueless but I'm new at this but want to do it right. : Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

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