Frightened Ball Python

[kate805]

Hi Everyone!

I am having some trouble with my new ball python. Here is some info:

He is 2 years old and I recently bought him from a reputable breeder online based out of Virginia. He was shipped overnight and I received him on Wednesday 5/7. When I took him out of the box he was EXTREMELY petrified, he was curled up in a ball and when I tried moving him he would hiss and strike. which is understandable. SO I put him in his cage and left him covered until yesterday 5/11. Today is 5/12 and I tried feeding him, but he is still acting the same way as when I got him, striking and hissing. I put him in a box with a live small rat and he was terrified of the rat. Before I bought him I asked the breeder if he was easy to handle and said that he was. I have two other ball pythons, one is a year old and the other is 6 mnths. I have never experienced dealing with a ball python this aggressive. Has anyone had this kind of trouble before? any advice?

Thanks!

[angllady2]

Aww. He's not aggressive hon, just like you said he's scared.

Try to put yourself in his place. You get yanked out of your familiar, comfortable home. You are stuffed in a bag, shoved in a box, moved and shaken higgilty-piggilty who knows where. Then you are yanked back out of the box, stripped out of the bag, and dumped into an unfamiliar place. Nothing smells right, nothing sounds right, and to make matters worse, this weird smelling monster thing keeps dragging you out and poking and prodding at you.

You'd be crabby too.

Give him time, and he'll come around. It could take a couple of weeks, or even a month or longer for him to feel comfortable around you. Take it slow, give him time. Don't worry about feeding for now. At 2 years old, it won't hurt him any.

Gale

[Kat_Dog]

Some snakes take 1 week to get settled, some take a month.

Just have patience, he'll come around


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[richiquick]

I have one just like that!Its been over a month and I have held him twice now but its a start.he is a great eater just not very social.Try covering the glass on the tank so he feels more secure,breeder have them in tubs so the change might be hard and make him feel exposed.Take your time was the best advice on got on here and slowly he is letting me touch him,he still hisses at me but he hasn't tried to strike me in over a week.I gave him a week after covering the tank then I took him out then I gave him four days and did it again,so far so good,but he is scared so we will learn to trust together,good luck,be patient and don't give up

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[bcr229]

As was pointed out, it can take weeks for them to settle into a new home, especially if they're older, are settled into a routine, and have been shipped. I think the younger ones adjust to changes faster.

Also, if you purchased from a breeder, chances are this BP has lived in a tub/rack system all of his life. Now you've got him in a "cage" - a tank? He's really not going to be happy - BP's don't like space, they like cozy, tight places.

Finally, how are your temps and humidity, and how are you measuring them? If this boy was kept in great conditions all his life, and yours are off, he's going to be stressed.

[LLLReptile]

As others have stated, he is likely still just settling in. Some snakes don't mind being moved, some get pretty stressed out by it, which can throw off their usual pattern of behavior.

Give him more time, and offer his food in his enclosure - taking him out to feed him in a box might be making the situation worse.

-Jen

[kate805]

Thank you for all your advice! It is much appreciated and very helpful!