I have 2 ball pythons one is mine and one is my sisters. I am not sure the age of mine but he or she havent brought it in to the vet to check the gender yet is 2 1/2 feet long. My sisters is a lot smaller and probably quite young hers is half the size of mine at least or smaller

We have a major problem with her snake. It is very aggressive It strikes at everything. Its making it hard for me to do anything with the cage including picking my snake out of the cage mine is VERY friendly and loves to be handled. Her snake strikes at the air for no reason and even when I go to change the lights which doesnt involve my hands being in the cage whatsoever it strikes at the air. We cant even go near it without it striking and biting us. We already tried letting it settle in my sister got it over 2 weeks ago and since day 1 it has been like this. It eats normally and the temps and humidity are perfect. Please help. This snake is pissed at the world. We dont even try handling it now because it bites everytime you even come near it. We tried using a hook but it striked at it and as soon as you get it out of the cage it strikes over and over again.

He sits there and hovers in strike position at all times while in cage or out of cage.

We bought from pet store so it isnt a rescued snake.

Please help Its so hard for me to even socialize with my snake when Im scared to death of even opening the tank screen because of her snake. Its very mean.

AND YES I understand this is a snake and this is their nature but seriously I have never heard of a ball python being THIS AGGRESSIVE Its nuts to even watch him sit in the cage because he sits there and strikes at the slightest movement. Almost as if it were possessed. Just using the possessed part as an example

Only serious answers please we have tried everything

Its a python....what do you expect? licks and cuddles...?

If its a baby then you have your reason right there. Hes nervous and youre HUGE to him when you come up from above the tank. It could also be your snake. Theres something twice his size with him at all times and that makes him even MORE wary than he should be balls are solitary animals and they DO cannibalize their own kind especially with that kind of size leap between the two.

Get a plastic shoe box or a 10 gallon tank and separate him. Youll have two happier snakes and two happier owners.

After you separate them:
Sit in front of the tank at eye level and completely ignore the snake. You can bring it to the TV room and set it on the table while you watch a movie. Let him watch you and strike away at the glass if youre nervous of scared hell know that so dont be hes behind glass and a ball python bite doesnt really hurt as much as it will just startle you.

After three or four days drape a small hand towel over the snake and use that to get him out. You can also get working gloves at the hardware store and place him in a small snake bag. Run your hands gently along his body through the bag/towel for 510 minutes a day until he calms down and then return him to the tank. Repeat making the time longer by a minute or two until you can hold him for 1520 minutes.

Now try without the bag or towel you can keep the gloves if you want to. If he still tries to strike at you go back to using the towel/bag and repeat.

Balls are pretty easy to tame and as long as you are not nervous when you handle them the snake should mellow quickly. Hatchlings are a little bit more nippy and theyll try to tag you but it wont hurt and you have nothing to really worry about.

Separate the snakes first to reduce his stress and allow him to adjust before you try to handle him again.

You think maybe he was abused in some kind of way at the pet store. I have heard that alot of animals at pet stores are mistreated in some kind of way. My last snake was from the pet store he was not aggressive but It seemed like he bit everyone but me.

It could be a numerous things wrong? when you got the snake was he/she in the cage by itself or was it with others. If you brought the snake alone then you should have kept them tanked separetely. I think his aggression towards you have to do with the other snake its in his territory. And its especially bad if you do not know the sex of the snakes. There is always an alpha something. and reptiles are the most aggressive when it comes to territory.

Why dont you try to separate the two snakes and the aggressive one give it time to adjust and sometimes you have to take the risk of getting bit by anything especially if its ur pet. I also have a python I ordered him on line and hes very sweet I expect him to have his moments though I am still a little uneased but I cant cause If i am scared he will sense it.
Here is his number 716 9846520 he is really good snake expert I call him and ask questions about my snake all the time. Maybe he can help. Tell him ur issue and see what he says.

Well some snakes are just like that maybe at the pet shop they fed him/her in there cage. Doing this causes the snake to think every time something comes into the cage its feeding time. Now that could be it but what your telling us sounds like just a pissed of snake unfortunately some snakes are just that way and there is nothing you can do.

just to make sure try separating the two some times that is the problem maybe once he settles in to his/her own cage he/she will stop striking so much.

And remember always feed your snakes in a separate tub never in the there cage.

Good Luck

Snakes are individuals too. Some are just like that. If you got one that is unusually aggressive then too bad. Youll have to decide whether or not to keep it. It may take more time. Have a professional interact with the snake.

Have you considered getting another snake if this one remains aggressive? Better to find out now than before the snake is unmanagable.

You should NOT have them in the same cage together. Yours may kill your sisters especially if it is a lot smaller. Each time you bring a new ball python home it should be quarantined for a minimum of 28 days even longer for boas. The two cages shouldnt even be in the same room. They will pass diseases and mites if you dont.

Bad husbandry in most cases is the reason for a snake to act aggressive. You need to get a different cage and make sure your humidity and temperatures are correct and I guarantee the snake will calm down. That one that is aggressive may need more hides in the enclosure to make it feel more secure and not nervous.

You need to buy a book on Ball Pythons and read it. You dont have near enough knowledge to care for them properly.