HELP! My Ball Python is acting oddly aggressive

[ScantilyClad22]

I was hoping someone here could help me out a little bit. I've owned my ball python Mustafa for about 4 years now, and when I bought him I was told that he was a little over a year old. He's always been really friendly. I've kept him well socialized, and he's never bitten anything but a mouse. He WAS the sweetest snake I'd ever met (and I've had a few).

PROBLEM- the other day I went to go change his water, and I picked him up to say hi and he snapped at the air! That totally freaked me out. I put him down, figured "maybe he's just in a bad mood?" (this has NEVER happened before) and thought "I'll just change the water tomorrow"... well it's been a few days now and every time I get close the cage and talk to him like I always do, he feels the vibration and gets tense and snaps at the air!! I have a very bad feeling that he's sick... this is not like him at all.

I would really appreciate any input at all. Or any tips on how to change the water of a snake that seems to have gone crazy.


Thanks in advance everyone!

[strangefamous]

Any signs of RI? When is the last time he ate?

[ScantilyClad22]

RI= respiratory infection? If so then no, he hasn't been making any weird noises or acting strangely otherwise... so I don't think so. He last ate about two weeks ago, I normally feed him three mice every three-four weeks. When he starts looking like he's hungry/like he's looking around for food I feed him. This is different though, he's never just snapped at the air (when there wasn't a mouse around).

[West Coast Jungle]

Its usually defensive or feed mode. Sometimes when they are in shed they can get real defensive because their vision and sense of smell are greatly reduced making them paranoid. Try taking a spray water bottle (with just water of course) and spray him so he balls up or retreats and then pick him up.

Also how many mice do you feed him? One mouse is not enough food for an adult and he could just be real hungry. Try feeding him a small rat or several mice. Starving snakes will snap at the first heat signature they pick up and if its your heat signature he will snap.

[ScantilyClad22]

I feed him 3 mice every 3-4 weeks.

Thanks for the water bottle advice! I really hate the fact that I haven't been able to change his water it is almost gone and looks dirty. =( I was given advice to put him in a plastic bin in a dark area to let him chill out and destress, so I might just do that while I change his water. I'm also going to clean out his tank because it needs to be cleaned and maybe that will help his mood?

[unspecified42]

I feed him 3 mice every 3-4 weeks.

Every 3-4 weeks? As in about once a month? That is not nearly enough. Try offering food every 10 days instead- you might find that he is just very hungry!

Also, try laying a dishtowel over him when you open his cage- then you can grab the water bowl without getting struck.

[ScantilyClad22]

Thanks for the advice I'll start feeding him more. He has been looking a little bit skinny lately. =( I feel like a bad mom.

[Kaorte]

He is probably just hungry. I would feed him 3-4 mice or one small rat every 7 days for a while and then slowly retreat to every 10 days.

Feeding him 3-4 mice every 3-4 weeks is just like feeding him one mouse per week, which is what 2 month old snakes eat.

[West Coast Jungle]

Every 3-4 weeks? As in about once a month? That is not nearly enough. Try offering food every 10 days instead- you might find that he is just very hungry!

Also, try laying a dishtowel over him when you open his cage- then you can grab the water bowl without getting struck.

I agree, I would feed every 7-10 days.

[BuckeyeBalls]

I feel like a bad mom.

I would consider u a bad mom only if u didnt fix it. There is a difference between knowing and not fixing it and just not knowing.

Once u know and u fix it ur golden in my eyes. Not every1 knows everything