Bp has been hissing at me alot?

[newowner]

Ive had my ball python for about 8 months now. Shes getting to be about 2 1/2-3 feet long. Shes (sex hasn't been confirmed, but shes seems more slender and less bulky) been shedding and eating regularly. She comes out during most nights and does switch between her cool and warm side hides. Up until about a couple weeks ago, she had no issue with me getting her out of her tank and had only hissed at me a couple times during a shed (totally understandable).

However, now whenever I try to pick her up, she hisses and runs away She has never stricken or shows signs of aggression so I thought maybe it could be some kind of stress? She allowed me to pick her up once in the past two weeks or so without having her hiss at me.

She is still eating perfectly fine, Im giving her small rats (weighing around 60g) every 12ish days (sometimes 14), She last ate on Feb. 15th. Her last shed was on Jan. 13th and for the time i've had her, she sheds every two months and I havent noticed a change in her colouring so Im almost 100% sure shes not shedding.

One of my coworkers said she could just be moody because of the seasons changing?? Even if her enclosure temps aren't changing, she might be able to sense it anyways?? I havent had her for a full year yet so this is my first time having her for a winter-spring transition, but I’m just worried that maybe shes not happy with her enclosure? Ive changed nothing since I got her… Please let me know what you think!!!

Tank Details (which basically haven't changed in the 8 months)
3 feet long and 1 1/2 feet deep, glass with front opening doors. It had a mesh top which I covered most of it with aluminum tape to help keep heat/humidity in (except where the heat bulbs are coming down)
Warm side: Temp of 93 during the day and around 88 at night
Cool side: Temp of 77-79 consistently
Humidity: can be anywhere between 30% (overnight usually) and 50% and I mist at least once a day, where it does go up to about 70% when i do so. I have a dry house so the humidity has always been a hassle for me
Substrate: Paper towel

[Bogertophis]

Warm side- 93* is too hot- much safer to use a thermostat & keep it under 90* (some say 88*) So that might be adding stress- but also burning more calories, which is why she might be on the 'slender side'. Young snakes tend to shed a little more often too, but growth requires enough food.

(note: while I think this chart may promote feeding a little too often, I think you're not feeding often enough.)

Humidity can be a real challenge, & paper towels don't help. You might want to fit in a "humid hide" to help her.

Without seeing her enclosure, it's hard to say if she has as much privacy as she needs. BPs tend to like covered sides/back & "clutter".

Would help to post pics of her- she might need to eat more often- hungry snakes can be cranky. This chart may help:

[newowner]

Okay the temp thing is good to know, I will get a small wattage light bulb for her ASAP!

Oh! I didn't even realize, most charts I found say 10-14 days (shes about 600g). When I first got her, I was feeding every week. she eventually stopped wanting to eat weekly so I had done every 10 days, but even a few months ago she would only eat every 12-14 days so I've just been doing that since. Here are some pics? I have no idea if this is how to upload them... I will repost if this doesn't work

So... after taking the picture of her I realized she does look a lot duller than she usually does... Maybe she is shedding. The first picture is from December (I was sizing her to see if I could switch to small rats) and the second is her today... Maybe I just didn't take that good of a look at her... This is good information though! I appreciate it

[IMG]file:///C:/Users/Amora/Pictures/snake%20old.jpg[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/Users/Amora/Pictures/Snake.jpg[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/Users/Amora/Pictures/Warm%20side.jpg[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/Users/Amora/Pictures/Cool%20side.jpg[/IMG]

[newowner]

Okay well that didn't work... I looked ay my permissions and it says "you may not post attachments". I can contact an admin to see what the issue is and try again? Sorry about that, I do really appreciate the information though!

[Armiyana]

As far as the moodiness goes, depending on your noodle's age, it can also be hormonal changes. I know my sweetest female is ovulating right now and she's being a bit more huffy with me than usual.

[Bogertophis]

Okay well that didn't work... I looked ay my permissions and it says "you may not post attachments". I can contact an admin to see what the issue is and try again? Sorry about that, I do really appreciate the information though!

How to post pictures: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-Post-Pictures

[Erie_herps]

I could be wrong but I don't think there's a reliable way to sex ball pythons other than popping or probing. I think "she" might actually be male looking to breed.

[newowner]

UPDATE: Hi all! Sorry it’s been a while. I didn’t even realize there was a mobile app! I took your advice and lowered the temp, and started feeding her every 10 days!! Im not sure where her moodiness came from but now shes done a full turn around and is ridiculously social.

every other day now, open the tank and she (he?) crawls right onto my arm and ill let her explore for a bit until shes ready to go back in… Is my enclosure too small or is she(he) just looking for a mate?!?… the issue is now shes gone 16 days without eating, I offered at 10 and 14 days and wasnt even interested in them

Here are some pictures of her and her tank (it is 3 feet long and 1.5 feet deep), Let me know what you think!!!








Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bogertophis]

I think the size of her current enclosure is just fine, & you did a good job with the "cover"- so good that I can't tell what actual "hides" you've provided- so tell us about that- it matters.

"She" sounds more like a "he" to me- restlessness at this time of year (searching for a mate) with less interest in eating. It would be nice to know for sure what gender, but either way, you'll have to play along as best you can. If this IS a male though, they tend to be fine with smaller meals (nothing larger than a small rat when full-grown).

You might be handling too often for this snake's appetite to kick in- or rather, for the snake to be focused on eating, feeling safe (private) enough & all that. When & how do you offer food? Details?

[Albert Clark]

Another consideration is that these reptiles are individuals with different personalities. Congratulations on getting the python to be more tolerant. Definitely having the correct husbandry will affect their responses to the environment they’re in and any external stimuli such as handling. Hissing is quite common and is usually a bluffing defense response. I would reconsider any “light” bulb. Consider a thermostat to control your heating applications.