Strangely aggressive Ball Python?

[Yes]

Hello so I've had my Ball Python (CB) for about a year now, she's been a sweetheart and never struck at me until recently. For some reason she's started attacking me whenever I open the lid of her tank which is a 25 gallon, one heating pad, and humidity controlled. I have been feeding her one large mouse every 8 days now but she's just become so aggressive and I don't know why. She isn't in shed and has a healthy one about a month ago, I feed her in a different container and I don't own any other snakes. My house is extremely quiet and she lives in my room which is the quietest place In the actual house for extra measures. I don't live anywhere near traffic and I keep my cat out of my room at all times, I really would like to know what I'm doing wrong and how to fix it! Thank you and have a great day.

[Alexio]

What is your warm/ cool side temps?
Have you changed anything in the enclosure recently?
Can you post a picture?
It's definitely female?


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[Eric Alan]

My guess is that over the course of a year, she's grown enough that a single mouse every 8 days is not nearly enough food for her. Do you know how much she weighs right now? I'm betting you could easily double the amount of food she's getting (to one small rat each week) and her behavior would change.

On a different note, there's no reason to feed in a separate container. As you've learned, moving a hungry snake is a recipe for getting yourself bit and stressing the snake out even more. Feeding in their own home is perfectly fine and won't cause any of the issues I'm sure you may have heard about that are actually old-wives tales.

[Slim]

I have been feeding her one large mouse every 8 days now but she's just become so aggressive and I don't know why.

I think I found your problem

[Bemottled]

My guess is that over the course of a year, she's grown enough that a single mouse every 8 days is not nearly enough food for her. Do you know how much she weighs right now? I'm betting you could easily double the amount of food she's getting (to one small rat each week) and her behavior would change.

On a different note, there's no reason to feed in a separate container. As you've learned, moving a hungry snake is a recipe for getting yourself bit and stressing the snake out even more. Feeding in their own home is perfectly fine and won't cause any of the issues I'm sure you may have heard about that are actually old-wives tales.

+10!
When my little ball got grumpy, it was because she wasn't getting enough to eat. Moved her up a food size and she was back to her usual sweet temperament.

I also never move to feed, never had any problems