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 #1740060


Frog_lady15
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 Why’s she hissing??

I just got a 1 year old female ball python last Tuesday.. I put her in a 15gal aquarium, and I haven’t handled her. On Saturday night, I fed her a F/t mouse, which she ate with little encouragement from me. So I took that as a good sign. I took her out lastnight and she was a ball. I put her gently in my lap and she just sat there hissing! I didn’t provoke her, or poke her, I wasn’t even touching her. So I put her back in her aquarium. About 3 hours later, I thought I’d try again. So I took her out. And she did the same thing. The never threatens to bite or anything, just hisses. My hubby, terrified of her!

Should I leave her alone and let her adjust for another week?? I don’t want to stress her out.

Thanks for the advice!
R
05/19/08  02:08pm

 #1741752


Hummi
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   Message To: Frog_lady15   In reference to Message Id: 1740060


 Why’s she hissing??

Sounds like she may have a respiratory infection.
05/20/08  08:50pm

 #1742028


PinkLady
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   Message To: Hummi   In reference to Message Id: 1741752


 Why’s she hissing??

A respiratory infection would have been wheezing/popping, not hissing. Hissing is a natural sound they make on purpose as a defense warning.

You handled her too soon after feeding her. They digest very slowly, and when they have a full belly, they are vulnerable to attack in the wild because they can’t get away very fast or strike well. If you couldn’t tell by her hissing and balling up, she felt threatened by you and was warning you to leave her alone. Remember, they see us as predators, especially when they are babies and juveniles (1-2 years old). They aren’t dogs and cats, they don’t love us or feel bonded to us. They only learn (eventually) that we don’t want to eat them. She needs to be left alone to digest her food for at least 2-3 days after feeding. Then, short handling periods 1-2 times per week of only 5-10 minutes each time will slowly get her used to people. Don’t confine her, put her down, or hold her tightly -- just let her slither where she wants to in between your fingers and around your hands/wrists/arms/shoulders/lap. If she freezes up or balls up, then let her stay that way -- she will uncurl when she is ready. If she doesn’t uncurl, or hisses/strikes, then she is extremely scared/stressed and should be put back into her enclosure and left alone for a few days. It will take time -- these are not domesticated animals.
05/21/08  04:57am

 #2082172


Hognose
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   Message To: Frog_lady15   In reference to Message Id: 1740060


 Why’s she hissing??

i don’t think it is aggression i think she is scared or not used to you.
10/09/09  12:28pm


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