Ball Python increased aggression

[metallica]

Hello all... in my last post I updated about a new adult BP I just got a hold of.

4 days ago.. She actually escaped from the cage (didn't have a latch in) and couldn't find her for 2 days (this was feeding day she was lost mind you.) Long story short - Found her in a closet.


Ever since then once I found her. I fed her the normal Small rat she normally takes (she eats VERY well) Every 6 days.

Well.. since then... she has been very aggressive. Not hissing or anything like that... but very tense (I work night shift) so when it is night time I use the red light and when I get home during the day. Turn the red one off.. keep the day light one on. Her husbandry hasn't changed a lick and I have had her for a month or two now. I don't know if she is wanting another small rat or what is the deal. She is literally staying in 'hunting mode' from what I can tell. She use to normally stay in her hide all day on either side of the tank (cool or hot side she would swap fine) now when I come home she is just perched out full body exposed and smelling the area.. if I put my hand towards the glass she follows my movement and everything...

Is this because she wants more food? Have I not been giving her the right sized food as well? Her head is a bit small I have pictures of her in my past thread. She is 3 ft and 2+ inches. I got her when she was in shed.. dunno what is up. She was so tense I usually mist her cage 3-4 times a day to keep normal humid in the tank and this time I sprayed and she just jerked back cause how tense she was seeing my presence of my hand.. it was the first time I have seen her S - Coil up on me and she normally was very tolerant with me on being handled. Was it her little 2 day escapade of 'freedom' that broke her?

Definitely need some advice on this.

so husbandry aside - (between temps / what's in the cage etc etc.. all stayed the same and she is very comfortable with it.. it's literally the exact same cage she has been living in... so it's nothing like that.)

[dr del]

Hi,

I think she will probably calm down in time.

You can certainly try feeding her two rats per feeding ( one after the other ) to see if that helps.

I find none of mine enjoy being misted so try my best to do it at the other end of the enclosure when it becomes needed. I'd try and find a way of changing the enclosure to make it less necessary than 3-4 times a day though.

If you put up pictures of your enclosure we may be able to suggest the best way forward.

[metallica]

Hi,

I think she will probably calm down in time.

You can certainly try feeding her two rats per feeding ( one after the other ) to see if that helps.

I find none of mine enjoy being misted so try my best to do it at the other end of the enclosure when it becomes needed. I'd try and find a way of changing the enclosure to make it less necessary than 3-4 times a day though.

If you put up pictures of your enclosure we may be able to suggest the best way forward.

she is doing this.


also - I see she knocked over one of her humidity gauges and I can see where she is trying to get out of her cage to snoop around...





picture isn't great.. but it's what I got =P

[scalrtn]

My snake vascillates from calm/lethargic to active/exploratory. I think its adventure to the closet got it excited, but I wouldn't worry. Sounds like you're taking good care of it

[metallica]

My snake vascillates from calm/lethargic to active/exploratory. I think its adventure to the closet got it excited, but I wouldn't worry. Sounds like you're taking good care of it

well.. went to pick her up and accepted the fact I might get bit.

She flared up but still got her up.. then loosened up after a minute or two.


I noticed now when I did - her belly is kinda turning a little pinkish and some scales are looked like they are about to peel off or something. I provided pictures.

This first picture look at the bottom left part for the brownish spots...







no eyes turning blue or anything..

[Running Elk]

well.. went to pick her up and accepted the fact I might get bit.

She flared up but still got her up.. then loosened up after a minute or two.


I noticed now when I did - her belly is kinda turning a little pinkish and some scales are looked like they are about to peel off or something. I provided pictures.

This first picture look at the bottom left part for the brownish spots...







no eyes turning blue or anything..

Don't worry. The pinkish belly is an early sign of a shedding! That's how I know mine are going to be shedding soon. I'd leave her alone for a week or two, as far as handling goes. My snakes often display a pink belly first, then the foggy eye-caps come a few days later. Sometimes the eyes look clearer, after they've become foggy but before the snake has shed. At least in my experience.

I ALWAYS have whole sheds on my snakes.

[metallica]

Don't worry. The pinkish belly is an early sign of a shedding! That's how I know mine are going to be shedding soon. I'd leave her alone for a week or two, as far as handling goes. My snakes often display a pink belly first, then the foggy eye-caps come a few days later. Sometimes the eyes look clearer, after they've become foggy but before the snake has shed. At least in my experience.

I ALWAYS have whole sheds on my snakes.

Yup - When I first got her she was in shed.. albeit she was already 'in the blue' but guess she has been growing a ton so probably it's that time again. Could be why she is acting a bit different?

[SamanthaLeigh]

Yeah my snake always gets blue eyes a few days after turning pink. So I don't think there's any worry there. Mine has never been aggressive while shedding but any snake can act differently. I've seen some snakes that were pretty grumpy cause of shedding. I agree with Running Elk though, I wouldn't handle her for a little while. As for the brownish spots, I'd wait and see if they go away when she's done with shedding. Sometimes I've seen early stages of scale rot that look kind of similar, but I don't think that's what it is. It sounds like you're taking good care of her. I think it will be fine when she sheds. And there is also the option of feeding her another rat too. Hope that everything gets better!