Ball Python Being Fed - STRIKES AT ME - HELP ME PLEASE

Hello,

I have owned a ball python for about a year. I got it when I turned 12, and it was 2 years old.

I have been feeding it in a separate enclosure ever since, as that is what the pet store told me to do. I have just now started to feed it in it's living cage.

I think this is affecting his eating habits. He seems hungrier, so I bought bigger mice.

The main issue is that I was feeding him today, but he didn't strike. (the mouse was heated for 25 minutes in hot water)

This has happened before. I try later, about 2 or 3 hours, and then try the next day. After this, if he still does not eat, I contact the pet store.

This time, I was closing the cage again, and he got back into a striking position. I reached my other hand out to pick up the tongs I use to handle the mice, and he struck.

I noticed that he struck before his open mouth almost hit my hand. I moved my hand, and he slithered back into his cage.

I need to feed my snake. Right now I am waiting, and will try again later. Please help if you can.

REPLY WITH ANY HELP OR INSIGHT. THANK YOU.

Your hand was hot and probably smelled of mouse. :)

Simple case of mistaken identity.:gj:

Edit: ^^ That too. :oops:

He is probably adjusting to now being fed in his enclosure which is proper. Feeding outside the cage is a myth. You can also switch him to rats.

If he is striking without opening his mouth, it is a mock strike and is for defensive posturing and a warning to back off.

If you are feeding frozen/thawed mice and he doesn't eat it right away, you can leave it in there overnight. Throw the rodent out in the morning. Do not attempt feeding multiple days in a row, if the snake does not eat on its regularly scheduled day, then you can wait until its next feeding day.


Questions for you:

- How many mice are you feeding at a time?
- What is your set up like? Temperatures, humidity, enclosure type, hides?
- Do you know how big the snake is in weight? Measured in grams preferred.

"I have owned a ball python for about a year. I got it when I turned 12, and it was 2 years old"

Ok so your Ball is about 3 years old? Your feeding "Mice"? How many mice are you feeding on feeding day?

[QUOTE=Pyrate81;2236216

He is probably adjusting to now being fed in his enclosure which is proper. Feeding outside the cage is a myth. You can also switch him to rats.

I agree with feeding outside the cage.
Here's a good example to prove the myth.
When I am at home and smell something cooking, I go into feeding mode! Don't get between me and the table!!!!! Other than that I'm a pretty calm guy!

The problem with this logic is that at the end of a feeding you have a snake that's just eaten/gotten into the zone, and you (or at least the room!) smell(s) like rodent.

Then you have to get the snake BACK in the enclosure. Assuming you haven't got the rat in the room or on your hands when you have to take it OUT to put it in the tub to start with.

Which is either why your analogy doesn't work, or works really well to support the opposite side of this argument. Absolutely, do not mess with a hungry snake who smells food in the air. Not messing with them includes picking them up and putting them in another box. I mean, yeah, I sometimes move my snakes around to feed them in a tub or, in Atlas' case on top of her tank (I don't know WHY that works), but the logic in your argument just isn't there.

Probably a combination of things

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I have owned a ball python for about a year. I got it when I turned 12, and it was 2 years old.

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He seems hungrier, so I bought bigger mice.

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Seems like he should be hungry since the prey size was way under what was supposed to be fed, your BP was capable of eating adult/jumbo mice since it was a few month old, if it is a male by now it should be eating 2 to 3 mice or a small rat (which ever works). Hungry snake = aggressive snake

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This has happened before. I try later, about 2 or 3 hours, and then try the next day. After this, if he still does not eat, I contact the pet store.

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You are stressing him, if your BP does not eat within 20 min leave him alone do not offer again before the following week, the more you offer the more you stress him out, leading to refusal and defensive behavior.

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The main issue is that I was feeding him today, but he didn't strike. (the mouse was heated for 25 minutes in hot water)

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If your hands is warmer then the prey this will happen, which is why you need longer tongs or learn to gauge your animal.

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Originally Posted by Pyrate81

Edit: ^^ That too. :oops:

He is probably adjusting to now being fed in his enclosure which is proper. Feeding outside the cage is a myth. You can also switch him to rats.

If he is striking without opening his mouth, it is a mock strike and is for defensive posturing and a warning to back off.

If you are feeding frozen/thawed mice and he doesn't eat it right away, you can leave it in there overnight. Throw the rodent out in the morning. Do not attempt feeding multiple days in a row, if the snake does not eat on its regularly scheduled day, then you can wait until its next feeding day.


Questions for you:

- How many mice are you feeding at a time?
- What is your set up like? Temperatures, humidity, enclosure type, hides?
- Do you know how big the snake is in weight? Measured in grams preferred.

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Thanks, his mouth was open though.

I am feeding one mouse at a time.
I have a heat lamp on all day and I turn it off from 9:00pm to 6:30am.
No, I don't, sorry.

For a snake that age one mouse at a time is like giving you one bite of a sandwich once a day. Hungry snakes = aggressive snakes.

Switch to rats...he'll calm down. Little dude is hungry!


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