Ball python repeatedly bites itself.

[bob1114]

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Is he going mad?! i've had my ball for about 6 months, he's an 08, great feeder, docile, good temps and hides etc never had a problem with him except for mites a couple of months ago. Treated him with hypoasis miles (Predator mites). Not seen any now for a few weeks so hopefully thats it. Anyway. A couple of weeks ago my ball tried to bite me only to miss and bite himself. Since then he has biten himself several times. When i pick him up he follows my hand intently but chooses not to 'have a go' instead he waits till i put him back down then spins round to bite me only to bite himself. He even bite himself twice, one after the other.

[likebull1]

Try leaving him alone for a week and keep him away from a "high traffic area".
You can also cover his enclosure to keep his stress level down.
Also avoid handeling him until he seems to be less stressed out.
Hope everything works out for you.

[bob1114]

he is in a low traffic room and i've already covered him. Anything else you can think of?

[likebull1]

The only other thing i can think of is, he still has mites or he could possibly still be stressed out.

Do you have any pics of his enclosure by any chance?

[MarkS]

Does he bite himself in the same place all the time? I've seen snakes that are in pain bite the area that hurts. Its as if they feel something causing them pain so they feel the need to attack it.

[bob1114]

he lives in a rack, in a 36*24*10 tub. Sounds big but he's a fat 2 foot and has plenty of good hides. Been in it for a while as well so cant imagine it to be that. Not seen any snake mites for a while, not in water bowl or when i bathe him. Could he have something mentally wrong with him?

[pavlovk1025]

Maybe he thinks he's a dog and he's just chasing his tail?
Id freak if my BP kept biting himself. Id think it was an Exorcist morph. Prove him out, fill his water bowl up with holy water. See what that does to him. If he starts rolling over and puking up green shtuff get rid of that dude.

[Ben Biscy]

Maybe he thinks he's a dog and he's just chasing his tail?
Id freak if my BP kept biting himself. Id think it was an Exorcist morph. Prove him out, fill his water bowl up with holy water. See what that does to him. If he starts rolling over and puking up green shtuff get rid of that dude.

if it is demon incarnate morph, i'll take it

not all snakes are...."bright". my rat eater burm takes several minutes to find a meal that is placed in front of her face, and often tries to eat her coils instead of the rats.... o.0

[bob1114]

so you all agree with me that he's mad. No one i've asked has even heard of anything like this. What should i do? his unpredictability kinda scares me!

[dc4teg]

if it is demon incarnate morph, i'll take it

not all snakes are...."bright". my rat eater burm takes several minutes to find a meal that is placed in front of her face, and often tries to eat her coils instead of the rats.... o.0

rotflmao