STRUCK... but not bitten?!?!

[gotballs?]

ok...

for the last week, tabitha has been showing severe signs of aggression. she actually struck the glass of her tank when i was looking in. then tonight, i was changing her water and looking for poop and urates, when she struck ME from inside her hide! she actually shot out of her hide, hit me, and then was back in her hide before i could even react. i fed her on thursday, and she eats a F/T adult mouse every 5 days like clockwork.

is she just becoming crabby, or should i be worried? i am concerned she might strike at my daughter...

if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

thanks in advance!!!

doug

[gotballs?]

EDIT:

forgot to add that she is also attacking the plastic plants in her tank now too... as well as trying to escape all of the time now.

[Hapa_Haole]

Has your husbandry changed at all? i.e. did you make any major changes to the tank decor, have temps been fluctuating due to the changes in weather, etc. From what I've read in other posts, changes in behavior similar to what you're describing are often due to a change in husbandry.

[blackcrystal22]

If she is trying to escape and biting, she is clearly under stress.

What are your husbandry details. Tell us everything husbandry wise, as well as feeding schedule and food types.

What size cage is she in?

Yes, I have been bitten without a mark or any pain. :]

[gotballs?]

If she is trying to escape and biting, she is clearly under stress.

What are your husbandry details. Tell us everything husbandry wise, as well as feeding schedule and food types.

What size cage is she in?

Yes, I have been bitten without a mark or any pain. :]

Nope, no changes in the cage at all. I wasn't handling any kind of food prior either. The temps are pretty consistent too. Here is my set-up:

I now have my baby in a 20L tank, and here is how I set it up:

I started off by painting some cardboard black, and taping it to the sidea nad back of the tank to create a more secure feel.

I used a medium sized under tank heater on the warm side, and a small sized one for the cool side.

I have an ACU-RITE temperature/humidity monitor device on each side of the tank. (I did this so I could better monitor the temps and humidity.)

I used 4 layers of aluminum foil (shiny side facing substrate), taped in place on the inside of the screen lid with black duct tape. I then cut a square hole slightly larger than my heat lamp in the foil layer in order to allow for heat and air. I use the heat lamp in addition to the under tank heaters because my house is kept at 68* all of the time.

I put the water dish (a simple 1/2" deep dish from the pet store) on top of the substrate on the warm side to help with humidity.

I use coconut bark substrate, mixed with sphagnum moss, about 1 1/2 - 2 inches deep. This helps hold humidity extremely well, when misted 2-3 times a day.

I have 2 hollowed out coconut shells with openings cut into them as hides, 1 on the cool side, and 1 on the warm side.

I bought some cheap plastic vines from the craft section at Wal-Mart, and used them and a pair of logs to help "decorate" the tank. To help hang the vines, I used the plastic suction cup hangers found in the Christmas decoration section.

All in all, my enclosure is pleasing to look at (it is in my living room), while maintaining an extremely secure environment for my snake to live.


I am posting some pics right now...

[blackcrystal22]

Nope, no changes in the cage at all. I wasn't handling any kind of food prior either. The temps are pretty consistent too. Here is my set-up:

I now have my baby in a 20L tank, and here is how I set it up:

I started off by painting some cardboard black, and taping it to the sidea nad back of the tank to create a more secure feel.

I used a medium sized under tank heater on the warm side, and a small sized one for the cool side.

I have an ACU-RITE temperature/humidity monitor device on each side of the tank. (I did this so I could better monitor the temps and humidity.)

I used 4 layers of aluminum foil (shiny side facing substrate), taped in place on the inside of the screen lid with black duct tape. I then cut a square hole slightly larger than my heat lamp in the foil layer in order to allow for heat and air. I use the heat lamp in addition to the under tank heaters because my house is kept at 68* all of the time.

I put the water dish (a simple 1/2" deep dish from the pet store) on top of the substrate on the warm side to help with humidity.

I use coconut bark substrate, mixed with sphagnum moss, about 1 1/2 - 2 inches deep. This helps hold humidity extremely well, when misted 2-3 times a day.

I have 2 hollowed out coconut shells with openings cut into them as hides, 1 on the cool side, and 1 on the warm side.

I bought some cheap plastic vines from the craft section at Wal-Mart, and used them and a pair of logs to help "decorate" the tank. To help hang the vines, I used the plastic suction cup hangers found in the Christmas decoration section.

All in all, my enclosure is pleasing to look at (it is in my living room), while maintaining an extremely secure environment for my snake to live.


I am posting some pics right now...

Sounds pretty good.
Unfortunately, you may have to temporarily put her in a small tub for security, because sometimes a 20g is just too stressful on a baby.

Also, make sure the duct tape is not inside the cage, the heat will roll the adhesive and if the snake comes in contact with it at all, it could take it's scales off.

To reduce stress, try stuffing the tank with newspaper crumples and plants. Cover the front of the tank for a week or so, and leave her completely alone and feed in a week. Remove any daylight lamps.
If she is still stressed out and bitey, then you may have to get her a tub to put her in until she's a bit bigger. :[

[gotballs?]

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...3/100_0963.jpg

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...3/100_0962.jpg

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...3/100_0961.jpg

Sory about the size of the pics...

[gotballs?]

Sounds pretty good.
Unfortunately, you may have to temporarily put her in a small tub for security, because sometimes a 20g is just too stressful on a baby.

Also, make sure the duct tape is not inside the cage, the heat will roll the adhesive and if the snake comes in contact with it at all, it could take it's scales off.

To reduce stress, try stuffing the tank with newspaper crumples and plants. Cover the front of the tank for a week or so, and leave her completely alone and feed in a week. Remove any daylight lamps.
If she is still stressed out and bitey, then you may have to get her a tub to put her in until she's a bit bigger. :[

No worries on the tape. Up until a week ago, never had any problems with her being in the 20G either. She is 7 months old, and weighs almost 225g. The lamp is only on there to provide light for the pictures. Normally, I let her cycle with the ambient room light.

Hope this helps...

[anendeloflorien]

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...3/100_0963.jpg

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...3/100_0962.jpg

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...3/100_0961.jpg

Sory about the size of the pics...

Is that thermometer saying 80 on the warm side??? If so that could explain her level of stress because of not being able to properly thermoregulate. Generally you want your hot side to be around 90-92 degrees. If I'm looking at the pic wrong lemme know but thats the only thing that really stuck out to me.

The only other thing I could think of is maybe trying a different type of hide? Something that makes her feel more enclosed might help to lower her level of stress...... RBI has some nice ones that I use.

Edit: Nevermind I looked at the last pic a little closer and saw it was 93 on the warm side. I assumed because you had the lamp on that side that was the warm side lol. My bad

[blackcrystal22]

No worries on the tape. Up until a week ago, never had any problems with her being in the 20G either. She is 7 months old, and weighs almost 225g. The lamp is only on there to provide light for the pictures. Normally, I let her cycle with the ambient room light.

Hope this helps...

Hmm.. Try covering the front for a week and leaving her alone.. If that doesn't help, she may be hungry, so try giving her a slightly bigger meal.