Aggressive Ball, ideas?

[MissSeeman]

Hey everyone, I've had my ball python for about 8 months. For the past three months or so i've been dealing with aggression. I find whenever i go to pick him up when he is already out of one of his hides, he goes into what i call "strike mode" and tries to bite me. But whenever i pick him up when he is hiding in one of his hide's fine i can pick him up no problems whatsoever. I don't think it's a hunger issue; I'm feeding him an adult mouse once a week, but every time i go to pick him up to put him in his feeding tank he strikes at me, so i've been feeding him in his tank. Which i've heard isn't a good idea.

Thoughts and ideas???

[Biffard]

I would agree with you that feeding in the tank is not a very good idea. I always fed in a giant Tupperware container. As for the aggression, I had a Red Tail Boa that was like that. But as soon as he was out of the cage he was fine!?

I don't know what caused it but he eventually stopped and I didn't have any issues with him again. So, maybe time will tell?

[MissSeeman]

I would agree with you that feeding in the tank is not a very good idea. I always fed in a giant Tupperware container. As for the aggression, I had a Red Tail Boa that was like that. But as soon as he was out of the cage he was fine!?

I don't know what caused it but he eventually stopped and I didn't have any issues with him again. So, maybe time will tell?

How did you pull him out of the cage? Did you use a hook, or just your hand?

[MissSeeman]

Plus, I was feeding him live until recently, I just got him onto F/T in the past month, but the aggression is still there. There was never a problem pulling him out of the tank, until he just randomly got aggressive.

[Quickone4u]

Actually feeding him in his home environment should cause no problem at all. There are those on both sides of the fence with this but I would say more so on the side that says you won't run into trouble feeding him in his regular enclosure. Reason being is that BPs can tell the difference between you and food. You dont look, smell, or act like food. Even when you fed in their enclosure they can tell whats what. How are you going about picking up your bp when he is out like you mention? Try just giving him a light stroke around mid body or towards the tail to let him know what you are getting ready to do. Bps are smarter then most people think and after a few times of doing this he should pick up on what youre doing and chill out a little. It's a good chance you could be just startling him when you pick him up. How much do you handle him?

[MissSeeman]

Actually feeding him in his home environment should cause no problem at all. There are those on both sides of the fence with this but I would say more so on the side that says you won't run into trouble feeding him in his regular enclosure. Reason being is that BPs can tell the difference between you and food. You dont look, smell, or act like food. Even when you fed in their enclosure they can tell whats what. How are you going about picking up your bp when he is out like you mention? Try just giving him a light stroke around mid body or towards the tail to let him know what you are getting ready to do. Bps are smarter then most people think and after a few times of doing this he should pick up on where going on and chill out a little. It's a god chance you could be just startling him when you pick him up. How much do you handle him?

Well when i go to pick him up ill open up his tank, and I'll make a little bit of noise just so he knows I'm around, then I try to pet him on the midsection; being careful to stay away from his head, and as soon as my hand goes near him he freaks out. I've been thinking about getting a hook for easier access into taking him out, but I'm worried it won't solve anything..

[MissSeeman]

And i handle him about 4 times a week, waiting 2 days after a feeding. Each time for approximately 5-10 minutes.

[Quickone4u]

Also feeding live verse f/t should make no difference either. They can and do pick up on routines so just continue to handle him in the above mentioned way and he should settle into it. Also make sure you was your hands beforehand just so you know they are clean and have no chance of having prey smell on them because this could lead to a nibble whether you are feeding in a separate tub our in his enclosure. Also good just to make sure you dont have anything on your hands that could harm him.

[Richard Hanson]

Does it hiss?

[GoFride]

Is it possible that he has outgrown his one mouse once a week, and is just hungry?