BP's sensitive skin and irritated attitude

Hey guys wondering if you could help me sort this out. I have a wonderful 2y/o Ball who is always great about being held.

Yesterday however, when I walked in the room to feed her (she had eaten about 5 days ago so wasn't terribly hungry) I could tell she was having some sort of response that was atypical (hanging her head out of her hide looking pissed- or hungry). So then I did as usual, removed the hide and went in to pick her up....

Well her skin/body literally moved up so as not to be touched there as though she was in pain. I have had snakes tighten up, or flinch, but never move their muscles to get away from that one point of contact. It was as though she was using her muscles to get away from the touch but without actually moving her body. I tried petting her to let her know it was me and anywhere i pet her, her skin "crawled" and sort of moved in a way as to avoid the touch. She didnt look happy.

So simply fed her in her enclosure (usually i remove her to feed) and let her be. And all night/today so far she has been in her hide but with her head sticking out and up looking like "come by and ull be unhappy" lol. Any idea what this could be?

Could she be constipated? She hasn't defecated since her last feed. Any advice would be great thanks!

Could just be getting ready to shed? She wasn't in blue recently was she? However, I have a couple of snakes that tense up like how you describe when I first go in to pick them up (all females). Mine also hiss though lol. They always relax once I have them out for a minute.

Yeah I thought about the shedding possibility. Eyes look clear and skin looks normal, to be safe I upped her humidity a bit.

And yeah it just surprised me because usually she is so quiet/calm/comfortable

My guys used to do this. They were both rescued from a pretty bad situation. The woman allowed her children to over handle them, and they would do what you described. It was like they were trying to say "please don't pick me up," but not really trying to get away because they new it was useless. Over time they stopped doing it. Maybe your snake new it was feeding time and just didn't want to be moved? I'd try just feeding in the enclosure for a while and see if she stops doing it.


And I don't think she's constipated, BPs can go months without going with no ill effects. You could try soaking her if you're really worried though. This usually gets them in the going mood.

Completely normal - ball pythons tolerate our handling - if you stroke them on the side, they'll do that. All of mine will do that if I touch their side's a certain way. It's almost as though they are ticklish.

You're lucky do that with about 2 dozen or so of mine and you'll learn quick teeth hurt.. LOL

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

You're lucky do that with about 2 dozen or so of mine and you'll learn quick teeth hurt.. LOL

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Oh please! I bet I could handle any of yours and not get bit. Even my non-biters bite YOU! LOL

Thanks for the advice guys. I upped the humidity (slightly) in the event she is entering her shedding period and offered her some privacy for a couple of days, will report back tomorrow.

It is really easy to miss a blue phase.....I have one that goes blue and then back to normal in a blink of an eye it seems. I know that ALL of mine when they are getting ready to shed will hiss and it seems like it hurts if we touch them. After the shed happens though they are right back to being abnormal balls that seem to want attention.