We're first time owners of a snake (though we have had a little bit of experience with a California King - Anita's brother's snake), and we have a few questions concerning our snake and his behaviours.

Breir is a ball python and he is a few months old, we're not exactly sure the exact month he was born but he's a good few months along, and he is about 16-17 inches (ish).

Question is about behaviour and we got him about two weeks ago and we were told to wait at least a week until we fed him (due to stress) so that he could get used to his new environment. On the 5th day that we have had him we had handled him for about 10-15minutes and when we placed him bck into his tank, he quickly went and leaned against his water bowl. Anita went to go and close her laptop (which is beside the tank and was directly across from where the snake was resting) and he went to strike at her finger.

It was about 10 days since he had last eaten, was the strike from hunger? Or agression. Because, he had actually been resting inside Anita's sweater on her shoulder and when we went to go and pull him out, it sounded like his scales were getting caught on the fabric, so we don't knw if it caused him any possible injury, hence the aggression.

A Little bit later, we went and contacted a friend who also has a ball python and asked him if we should feed him. Breir (snake) ate about 30min-an hour after the incident and is currently doing fine. Oh, and when we went to take him out of the tank we noticed that he was curled back up in his house and didn't strike at us (though to make Anita more comfortable, Zack put on a leather glove to handle him).

Whenever we place him back into the tank (we have handled him about 5 times since we got him) he has a look to him that is like he's angry. He, at first, would slowly go into his house but now he just goes in as fast as he can.

We have also noticed that he HATES water. When we first got him he outlined his water bowl with his body and flicked his tounge at the water. That was it. We tried to give him a bath with a shed ease reptile bath (his eyes are going slightly blue and he is getting that grey look - we believe he is close to shedding) , but he stiffined up his body and refused to go into it (though he actually submerged his face, then after that refused to go in).

He is still very slightly jumpy, and today just sat in Zack's hand, not moving much, just looking at him for a few minutes, then turned his attention to Anita for a few minutes. The funny thing though is when we went to go put him back in, he got really curious with Anita's wall mirror). Also, not including today, when he's out he is really active and always wants to move, which we both really like.

Any comments? This is our first Ball Python (for pet reasons not for breeding) and we're just really curious and a little worried. Sorry for the third person perspective hahaha.

In my opinion I wouldn't say it's from aggression (possibly hunger but doubtfully). I would be inclined to say it's from fear. It could be as simple as a quick movement or submitting the snake to a treatment it's not used to causing it to take a defensive position/action. The quick retreat just means that it wants to feel secure and de-stress. If the snake remains motionless or lazily moving it usually means that it is calm and isn't trying to find a means of escape.

Just take your time with the little guy and go very slowly when you do try to handle your ball. If it becomes defensive give him a couple days to calm down.

In fact I just recently had a problem with my spider ball python. I became a little complacent and got a little too quick with him causing him to display behavior I hadn't seen before. He tried to strike at me 3 times in a one week span. I gave him some space and tried again about 3 days later making sure to go slow and haven't had any problems since.

JTBoa pretty much nailed it. the Snake biting is most likly from fear rather than aggression. Its a baby, they hatch perprogrammed that it on the Aferican savanna with lots of preditiors. It will take it a bit of time to get used to captive conditions and that you are not going to eat it.

As far as bathing it goes. most bp are not fond of water, just be sure that the themperature does not get over 95 F or less than 85F