Angry ball python!!

[Gunner253]

So long story as short as possible. A couple weeks ago a moved my adult male Mojave from his 40g tank to my new 41qt rack I built. I left him alone for a week and tried to feed him and he refused like he has all breeding season but he was a bit aggressive to me when he's always been a puppy dog. A couple days later I saw he was going in to shed so I figure that's why. Well tonight I tried to feed him and he refused again but this time he deficated all over(I don't know where that came from lol) after refusing. He was very aggressive, hissing and striking at me like crazy while I was trying to clean it up. What happened to him to change his behavior so dramatically?! His temps are 90/80 and humidity is 60 using a temp gun and an accurite. I didn't put a hide in his tub since it's so dark, do you think that could cause all this?! I put a hide in there tonight so we'll see. If anyone has ideas please lmk Bc I miss the sweet guy he used to be. I did take him to the vet a couple months ago and the vet said he looked good so idk what's wrong

[anicatgirl]

Looks like a home change issue to me. Are your temps and stuff OK? It may be insecurity... IDK

[XcelExotics]

I would say he is a little stressed from being moved to new home. The defecting thing is him just marking his new territory getting his smell everywhere. Had a wild caught that did that after moving her and she hadn't eaten in months.

[Albert Clark]

Are you sure he isn't sick? This does sound strange but you have to eliminate the more possible causes. I think the hide in the tub is a good move. Hiding is something he is used to so yeah. Changes in behavior due to environmental factors can be a possibility too. For now see how that remedy with the hide works and give him time. As far as not feeding try to feed a smaller prey item and if he refuses that don't sweat it. Give him time.

[Gunner253]

Yeah my numbers are spot on and I haven't witnessed any symptoms of illness or ri so it just seems weird to me that he has changed so drastically. I'm gonna give him some time with a hide in there and see if it gets better. If not I'll take him to the vet to see if there's something medically wrong but I don't think there is

[DVirginiana]

I think a lot of reptiles will defecate when they're stressed. I had a rescue turtle that hadn't eaten in so long she was visibly emaciated, and when we took her out of her hospital enclosure and put her in a carrier to go to the vet she went twice in about an hour. It sounds like your BP is just stressed from the change and maybe trying to let everyone know this new place is his. As of now doesn't sound like anything to really worry about.

[Albert Clark]

Yeah my numbers are spot on and I haven't witnessed any symptoms of illness or ri so it just seems weird to me that he has changed so drastically. I'm gonna give him some time with a hide in there and see if it gets better. If not I'll take him to the vet to see if there's something medically wrong but I don't think there is

Cool, just keep the hide there and watch him. Remember, these are captive animals with wild instincts and their behavior can be erratic. I would give him time to ditch the aggressive behavior especially since its so atypical of his behavior. Good luck.

[Gunner253]

Thanks guys, I'm gonna wait it out and try not to worry. I just got a new cinny male with a big black stripe down his back that seems pretty happy so I'm sure it's not something wrong with the rack or my husbandry