Suddenly angry BP?

[ailey_kr]

So I have had a BP for a couple months now (since last November). And it (hate to call it an it but I don't know the sex) has been great always ate and has never tried to bite me but while I was holding it today it was moving more than normal and when I set it down to go get my phone it tried to bite my feet. This is really odd for it and it's my first snake so I am not good with angry snakes.

Finals weren't too long ago so for the past month or so I haven't had time to really hold it or have a one on one sort of time.

About a week and a half ago I noticed that my heat bulb had gone out. I'm not sure how long it was out (poor guy) so I went and grabbed another bulb this time it was more watts and I got a regulator that turns it off and on for when the tanks temp. Changes so that's different than normal.

I I fed it two days ago. It hasn't had a shed for a while but not showing any signs of starting a shed either.
196 grams. Young piebald I have an UTH and a bulb as I mentioned. I am raising money for a better humidity system than me spraying it but that is what I have been doing.

Could this be due to any of the previously said changes or do I need to hold it more? Also any tips on handling a rowdy snake because I still don't really have it handled. It is just kinda on my floor at the moment and I put its favorite hide in front of him (Tupperware container with moss inside) in front of it so I could just put the Tupperware back with my snake inside. I know this isn't the best way but like I said I don't really know how to handle it when it's angry.

[ailey_kr]

I have it back in the tank. I just waited for him to calm down out of the S shape and picked him up. But will this be a normal thing?

[Scottywelsh]

There could be hundreds of reasons for it.
Maybe he/she hadn't digested her/his food yet and that was bothering her/him
Temp changes / viv changes could have caused it.
Maybe you moved a bit to quickly which startled him/her or maybe your toe or something was mistaken for food lol
Remember if your going to be handling that you don't want your snake to think your scared of it don't be hesitant or pull your hand away when he/she moves.

Please don't take this the wrong way but considering you have a relatively expensive snake I would have thought you would have had you husbandry sorted before getting it. From example. A thermostat one ALL heat sources, thermometers to keep track of temps (I'm assuming you don't have any as you said you didn't know your che had gone and could have been a while) and read up on all the ways to keep humidity up in the tank.
Good Luck.

[chrid16371]

Also you may want to consider either a regular lamp dimmer if your going to use a bulb or switch to a ceramic heat emitter. An on/off thermostat will fry bulbs fast so like I said either a lamp dimmer or switching to a ceramic heat emitter would be best, or a dimming proportional thermostat like a spyder robotics Herpstat 1 or ve-200D from reptile basics.

Also your uth must be hooked up to a thermostat as well, if it is not unplug it! Buy an ir temp gun or acurite 00891 to take temps. The acurite 00891 also takes humidity.

Read this care sheet and make any adjustments needed.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

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[Scottywelsh]

Just get dimming thermostats. You can use them with everything unlike pulse or on/off thermostats. microclimate B1 stats I always use.
As for thermometers any infrared thermometer is going to be great and will be very accurate so don't buy expensive ones. And thermometers for inside the tank any digital ones with a probe will be fine as long as when you get them you test them to see how accurate they read.
Pretty much all hygrometers are off its just luck if you get one thats bang on So do the salt test on any hygrometer you buy to see how accurate it is.
Good Luck

[melcvt00]

From the responses I have seen from others here, the snake could be hungry (what are you feeding and how often?), and juveniles can be jerks sometimes.

[BMorrison]

Definitely handle in a confident manner. Worst thing that happens is a little tag it'll feel like a quick bee sting. When mine get anxious or a little rowdy or snappy I watched a video by Justin Kobylka years ago and putting your hands over them now as they grow it becomes harder but my female gets testy sometimes and I found covering her head with my hand for a second calms her right down.

A thermostat is definitely a must and if you're running lamps a dimmer. Good luck!


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[Devenco]

Definitely handle in a confident manner. Worst thing that happens is a little tag it'll feel like a quick bee sting. When mine get anxious or a little rowdy or snappy I watched a video by Justin Kobylka years ago and putting your hands over them now as they grow it becomes harder but my female gets testy sometimes and I found covering her head with my hand for a second calms her right down.

A thermostat is definitely a must and if you're running lamps a dimmer. Good luck!


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Video he is talking about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7DQssbM0uk


Beside that could be any reasons, check husbandry (the things other posters said)

Also the snake might also not be "in the mood" I have 1 girl that can be ... moody

[ailey_kr]

From the responses I have seen from others here, the snake could be hungry (what are you feeding and how often?), and juveniles can be jerks sometimes.

Oh I'm sure he isn't too hungry. I fed him two days ago with fuzzy rats every five days because I got him from pet smart and he was too skinny. He is doing better now though I might be able to change feeding to every six days or every week

[chrid16371]

Just make sure you feeding the appropriate sized prey, the rodent should be equal or a little bigger than the widest part of your snake or you can weigh rodents and feed 10%-15% of body weight. At 196g I would keep feeding every 5 days.

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