Ball python acting Very strange

[Popcornflavoredtea]

Uhm, ok so my ball python has been acting really weird simce we last tried to feed her? She will only sit on one side of her tank and hasn't used a hide since we tried to feed her. (which was around thursday or friday? Sorry my memory isn't the best sometimes)

We had been trying to feed her live for the first time, as that's what she had prior to us buying her and she has no interest in frozen thaw sadly, but instead of striking she just ran and let it bite her. Luckily it didn't bite hard enough to make her bleed or anything but I am really worried over this whole thing as sweet tea is quite important to me. I know she ate a week before we got her which was around early april so I'm sure she'll be fine for not eating for a bit (though I would prefer she Did eat but hey sometimes snakes just ain't hungry) but I'm worried that maybe she is sick or something?

We had ended up housing the rat til today so I'm thinking maybe it's scent from the side of the room is what is making her do this? But I wanted to check with more knowledgeable people just incase it's something bad. Though she is still active and friendly as ever so I don't think she is sick.

Sorry if this is a bit incomprehensible I'm not particularly good with words, especially when panickinhg over a pet and typing on a phone.

[Craiga 01453]

We will need a lot more info to help you out...

How long have you had her?
How old is she?
Do you know her weight?
Are you handling her?
What is your setup (enclosure size/type and what equipment?) How are you heating? Are your heat sources regulated?
What are your temps? Humidity?
Are you offering her prey in her regular enclosure or using a "feeding tub"?

An "active" BP is not a good thing, as active usually equals stressed.
BPs typically spend the majority of their lives hiding, hence often referred to as "pet rocks" in the hobby.


So, my guess is your snake is stressed due to any number of things. If you can answer the questions above we can help you out a bit more, but without answers there are too many variables to be able to offer any advice.

[6037201]

1, Its ok for ball python to be in a side of the enclosure (or tank). Mine he usually spent 80% of the time on colder side and occasionally I will see him on the harder side. They are cold blooded animal so its normal. As long your temp on both sides of the tank is acceptable then you should be fine even tho you think ur snake is only on one side of the tank, sometimes hes on the other side but you just didn't see it.

2, I use a tube system, and I have this towel covering almost entire enclosure. So cuz of this my snake feel like this entire tube is his hiding place so he wont care where to go to hide. I have a wood log hide for him too but like I said he rarely use it when hes feeling "i need to get some heat".

3, Yeah you could be right if the snake is not hungry he/she just wont eat. But I strongly suggest you try to switch from live to F/T. You can use a tong and hold the live mouse or rat by the tail and offer it to your snake instead of let it run around your snake which holds a potentially risk of biting. And once he get used to the tong then you can try F/T.

4, Active ball python is not good, that means they are stressed out. Trust me you want a laziest snake possible in term of python. The one sleeps almost all the time (90%) with occasionally crawling around(10%).

5, I don't really get what you mean by saying "the scent from the side of the room?"

And are u using an aquarium tank?