Young ball python suddenly jumpy!?

[ZiggiGirl]

Hello everyone,

I have a very young female ball python that is approx 4 months old. She is the winner of a pet contest, known to be very very friendly and docile, and loves being nosey...

She has always done very well in her habitat, and I have been keeping a good routine with her. (I even limit how often and how long she can be held to prevent stress for her).

I recently went on vacation and left her on her own (in her habitat) for approx. 5 days. I had someone check on her to make sure temps and everything were still correct. She was fine.

Since I got back about a week and a half ago, I have held her a handful of times. I fed her about 4 days ago, and waited the usual of 48+ hours being handling her again.xf

She seems very sheepish and jumpy. She was like that the first week I got her. But now I'm starting to think that something is wrong. She is usually never afraid of my hand, and I always wash my hand before handling. I did however keep in mind that she may have just needed some time to get used to being held again, and that I would take a couple of days and handling a to get her back to the comfort of it all...

If I slowly place my hand a few inches away in front of her face then she will jump and pull back. If I walk by her habitat she will start breathing heavily and ball up/pull back. She hasn't struck at me. But last night I decided I wasn't going to handle her again until I got more opinions as to what I'm doing wrong.

Please help me, I really love my BP. I haven't had her for long but I felt as we had a good friendship and I was beginning to be connected to her in way. I do not know what is wrong


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(PHOTO NOTE****)
Not a recent weigh in of her. She is currently 73 grams

[Albert Clark]

You aren't doing anything wrong at all. What you are experiencing is typical hatchling behavior. They are afraid of most large objects and quick movements. Especially most moving things directed at their heads. She needs a tight fitting hide and preferably two hides that she can squeeze into to boost her sense of security. Hatchlings are notorious for being a bit nippy and hissy at times. She will grow out of that behavior as she ages and puts on weight. Relax and enjoy her. Actually it's kind of cute. Like a baby or a toddler getting a little worked up.

[Smitty33]

When was the last time she shed? Maybe she is getting ready to come into shed again and is a little jumpy. As long as she's eating fine I wouldn't worry about it too much. She's a sweet looking girl!!!

[ZiggiGirl]

When was the last time she shed? Maybe she is getting ready to come into shed again and is a little jumpy. As long as she's eating fine I wouldn't worry about it too much. She's a sweet looking girl!!!

Her last shed was about 2-3 weeks ago. How soon do you think she will shed again?


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[Smitty33]

That shouldn't be the issue then I think the time between sheds can vary. My daughters corn snake one time though virtually shed back to back once or at least it seemed like it.

[Zincubus]

There's no way it's mites is it ??

I've read that they can make a snake jumpy ..

[treaux]

I had a similar experience with a very small BP. My friend's BP was only 66 grams at almost 3 months old and was very skittish and jumpy. Would be frozen with fear if you picked him up and could snap at you if you came near his cage or approached his head. He had been eating sporadically and had missed two weeks in a row and looked very skinny with a peaked spine. He was in a 10 gallon fish tank with two hides and a water bowl (with all but one side blacked out) and it was still too much for him.

After moving him to a shoebox size tub (I think it was a 6 quart) with his favorite hide (could only fit one in there really) and a water bowl and 1 month later he now weighs 115 grams, has eaten four good meals with a good feeding response, and is now pleasant to handle and will explore and wander around.

It was really a night and day difference and showed me what it means to have a snake stressed out by their environment.

So what is your BP living in?