Ball Python Hissing?

[Katiecat124]

hey there,
so I've had my bp for about two months if that, we finally got all temps correct, he's fed twice (first time took three trys, second time took two) his last feed was 9 days ago now and he still has not pooped... (last time he pooped exactly a week after) there have been little white things like there was last time he pooped but no actual poop.. so that has me a little concerned. on top of that hes been hissing at me alot more than he used too. before it was MAYBE once a week, now its every time i handle him. this started about two weeks ago. he has never struck me but i am very concerned. i have been handling him significantly less than i used too so maybe its that?? i pick him up anyway but i want to know any possible reasons for the hissing

[M.P.C]

They poo when they have to not on a schedual. what are your temps and humidity, how are these being measured and how are you heating the enclosure, agression is usually a sign of stress witch inturn is a sign something is off in the enclosure... Of course there is the possibility hes just a fiesty little guy

[Ax01]

snakes will hiss when they feel threatened. it's warning u to back off or it will bite. (sometimes it's just a bluff esp. with BP's) so hopefully it doesn't feel threatened by u anymore and it's hiss is just a sign of annoyance. when u are taking him outta his enclosure? when and how are u doing it? is it in the middle of the day when he might be asleep? are u removing it from it's hide when it's all snug and comfy in there?

if u just got your husbandry correct, he just might need some more time to acclimate to better temps and humidity before he wants to come out and play. just some thoughts.

[Albert Clark]

Also, how old is this ball python. That will make a difference as well as all your husbandry numbers as stated above.

[Katiecat124]

hes 3 years old, and this is a very new thing like i said it started two weeks ago, before that no hissing ever. i have uth with thermostat and a humidity / temp reader on the other side i also use a temp gun. 93 at most on hot side and around 72 on the cool side most days, humidity could be better, i usually cant get it to more than 46 but trying to be better about that before he goes into shed. he does this during the day and at night it hasnt mattered and i take him out with my hands no hook, ive always rubbed his back a little before handling so he knows hes being taken out, and thats when he hisses, again hes never struck me and doesnt seem aggressive other than the hissing. lately i havent been handling to handle just to spot clean the enclosure and put him back since i know im annoying him

[tembii]

Louie has hissed at me once but I figured it was because I woke him up and startled him. Usually I only handle and feed him during the late evening but in this instance I had lifted up his house in the middle of the afternoon to say hi and he hissed, haha, poor fella. He didn't strike or anything. I think just surprised.

[Skeletor]

Mine rarely ever hisses. He did once when he was in a shed....I didn't know not to bother them yet. One other time mine seemed hell bent on exploring....He hissed a little when I tried to pick him up during his romp. Yours seems a little odd if it's all of a sudden...hmmmm. It does sound odd if he was never like that before.

[Katiecat124]

Very odd and he acts normal other than that. He doesn't continue to hiss while out of tank just initially when I remove the hide and strike his back as per our handling routine. I feel like maybe it's because I handle him less than I used to? I'm not home as much so lately it's just spot check handling instead of under the sweater tummy time

[Albert Clark]

I don't think it's too much of a thing to worry about. I would go downward from 93f to 90f and work on making the humidity more of a constant 60% if possible. These are captive animals with wild instincts and we need to remember and respect that. As long as he isn't continuing to hiss and or strike out and bite I would focus on tweaking the temps and humidity. Hey, maybe he's not comfortable?

[Ax01]

oh, your temps and humidity is still off. i agree with Albert, get your husbandry correct and make him more comfy.

also you're removing his hide to strike his back and pick him up. that can be annoying esp. if he's sleeping. BP's like to hide. they feel safe there. get your husbandry correct and maybe he'll roam more when he wakes up. then it might actually mean he wants to come out and play.