BP Help?

[ahenry33]

I have a about 11 month old BP, I've had him since was only 9 weeks old. Hes about 3ft in length, but only about an 1 1/2 in width. Captive bred, and my first snake. Is this size normal for a ball python his age? Hes fed adult mice once a week. And has been this skinny for a few months now. But the real problem with him is in the past two months he has been SUPER defensive, aggressive, and nervous. In the nine months I had he had not struck at me once, never even got in the position to strike. And suddenly this past two months hes been super defensive, he hissed at me once while soaking him, and randomly strikes AWAY from me..that the weird part, its never at me, except for today when he actually got me with a warning bite for the first time. I cant think of anything im (or environment) doing to stress him out, his room is completely blocked off from other animals, i wash my hands before getting him out. Since he is my first snake, im probably over thinking it, But i love this snake to death and im just concerned on his happiness. And also, I have a yellow belly next to his tank with a very noisy filter, but even between the two glass walls could that be the issue? If you have absolutely any ideas trow them at me, I'm willing to try anything to get him unstressed.

[Royal Hijinx]

Feed him more. A mouse a week is not likely enough.

[Slim]

Welcome to BP.net!

At 11 months old, he should be eating larger prey than mice, or should be taking several mice at a time. Switch him to rats.

[AK907]

Welcome to BP.net!

At 11 months old, he should be eating larger prey than mice, or should be taking several mice at a time. Switch him to rats.

Yup.

[ahenry33]

Welcome to BP.net!

At 11 months old, he should be eating larger prey than mice, or should be taking several mice at a time. Switch him to rats.

I tried several mice then read about how many mice at a time will end up injuring him, choking him, all this stuff. So I didn't again. But I will deffinatly switch over to rats. Thank you!

[Slim]

If you feed him multiple mice at one time, just wait until the first one is down the hatch before you put the second one in. He will not choke himself. In the wild, snakes are opportunistic feeders and will often eat multiple rodents at one time.

[RobNJ]

I tried several mice then read about how many mice at a time will end up injuring him, choking him, all this stuff.

Don't believe everything you read...I have a female that will eat 6-7 mice at a time with no issue.

[RobNJ]

Don't believe everything you read...I have a female that will eat 6-7 mice at a time with no issue.

She is huge, btw, I'm not at all suggesting you try to feed a yearling 6-7 mice.

[deathfromabove]

Mine won't eat when he's in shed, but when he's done shedding, he can get pissy because he's hungry and hisses at me. So you should up your meal size. Mine is maybe about 28 inches long 807 grams and eating between small and medium rats. Also I don't know what your set-up is but if it's a tank, wrap all 3 sides of the tank in dark construction paper or card board and half way up the front side to make him feel more secure, looks horrible but makes a big difference in how they act, at least with mine it did.

[ahenry33]

Mine won't eat when he's in shed, but when he's done shedding, he can get pissy because he's hungry and hisses at me. So you should up your meal size. Mine is maybe about 28 inches long 807 grams and eating between small and medium rats. Also I don't know what your set-up is but if it's a tank, wrap all 3 sides of the tank in dark construction paper or card board and half way up the front side to make him feel more secure, looks horrible but makes a big difference in how they act, at least with mine it did.

wow! that's a fantastic idea. mine always eats, instantly. doesnt even wait a second to strike. Im about to upgrade his tank into a viquarium and give him some climbing shelves and stuff, and i thought about wrapping three sides in the decoration paper, but didn't know if it would make a difference, or stress him out even more haha. But thank you for answering that question