Adult temperment?

[satanicnugz]

I have a question for the more experienced BP owners.

As the BP species gets older/mature and full sized, are their any noticable changes in behavior? Do they get more protective? More nippy? More tolerant? Feed less? Feed more often? Shed longer? More aggressive? More laid back? Fully comfortable into your relationship and routine?

I know every snake is different but their must be a common thread of behavior.

My question is broad but interesting. Lets us new owners know what we are in for!

[rabernet]

Yup, it is pretty broad!

As the BP species gets older/mature and full sized, are their any noticable changes in behavior? Do they get more protective?

Protective in what way? Of their enclosure? I've not observed that in my collection.

More nippy? More tolerant?

I'd have to say that the personality of mine pretty much has remained constant. My nervous ones still remain nervous, my laid back ones remain laid back. None of mine are nippy. I'd say they are more tolerant in that they have now made the association that while I may be a predator, I'm a pretty harmless one, and I am the giver of rats and mice!! So I must be pretty awesome!

Feed less? Feed more often?

That's more a result of husbandry and correct prey size than age, IMHO. All of mine eat every week, I don't have any current fasters. I keep my temps at 92-94 on the warm side, 82-84 on the cool side all the time, offer small, snug hides and have them in appropriately sized sterilite tubs or a rack system. I also do not feed larger than a small/small rat each week. If they refuse one week, I don't offer again until the following week.

Shed longer?

Shed less frequently, as they aren't going through the growth spurts of a juvenile.

More aggressive? More laid back?

I think my answers to "more nippy, more tolerant" apply here as well - pretty much the same question.

Fully comfortable into your relationship and routine?

FULLY comfortable? Nope - I'm still a predator in their world, but I think they have adapted quite well to their routine and for the most part are pretty relaxed with me and our interactions. Personalities still come into play - a shy snake is still pretty shy and a bold one remains pretty bold!

Hope that helps!

[satanicnugz]

Awesome.

I was just kinda looking for different peoples input.

I was just askin to see if they get more stubborn with age or something. Like they are full size and don't succumb anymore. Also if they get attitude with you because they are older and more confident.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Try to remember that they are all individuals ... I think that is the single biggest mistake snake keepers make ... trying to lump them all into one "mold" ... it just doesn't work like that.

Ball pythons usually go through a freak out phase from about 750 - 1250 grams ... I call this "teenage angst" ... heard that phrase used to describe bps fitting that description somewhere before (can't for the life of me remember where) and it fits. They start acting wierd ... maybe get overly hissy ... maybe flake out on food ... maybe become shy ... just different than they used to ... hormone related probably.

After they break out of that phase they tend to settle down, eat well, and become very mellow ... my big girls get a "queen of their domain" syndrome and rule the roost for sure ... mellow, but confident ... like there is nothing you can do to phase them.

That said, I have over 500 ball pythons and can show you at least 10 exceptions to every rule.

Hope this helps.

-adam

[djslurp1200]

From my experience of owning adult ball's I'd have to say that my adults have always seemed more calmly natured... I haven't experienced any balls fasting either so I guess I've been lucky there. Good questions though... I'm sure maybe others have had different experiences with their older balls.

[SarahMB]

Ball pythons usually go through a freak out phase from about 750 - 1250 grams ... I call this "teenage angst" ... heard that phrase used to describe bps fitting that description somewhere before (can't for the life of me remember where) and it fits. They start acting wierd ... maybe get overly hissy ... maybe flake out on food ... maybe become shy ... just different than they used to ... hormone related probably.

That's great information to have, thanks Adam! This explains perfectly why my Cinder is acting just like my daughter, actually.

[Adam_Wysocki]

That's great information to have, thanks Adam! This explains perfectly why my Cinder is acting just like my daughter, actually.

LOL ... Glad I could help!

-adam

[frankykeno]

I remember when Kyna went through that teenage angst thing and Adam gave me this advice when I couldn't figure out what was up with her. He was bang on as usual. Having 2 teenage daughters though, I'd rather deal with the snake...thanks! :eek: