Python acted weird when I first got him last year. Can anyone tell me why?

Hi all,

Sorry for the vague title, didn't have enough characters.

When my ball python was about 4 months old, he was feeding every week on f/t rats.

One time he just slithered around the rat and was just basically protecting it.

Eventually he went to slither away so I went to take the rat by the tail because he clearly didn't want it. He then struck about 1 yard away from me on the floor twice really quickly. It was as if to say it was a warning shot for "Don't you dare take my food".

Do snakes get protective over the food and why didn't he eat it straight away? It took me about 30 minutes to get him to finally eat the Rat.

He doesn't do it anymore, as it's now 1 year later, but I was just curious as to what it was.

Thanks,

Dan

the prey could have been just to small or not moving enough and as for striking at you.... your hands nice and warm that combined with the smell of rodent around he prob mistook you for the food

The prey we just got stella was a bit to small, she made all the signs of wanting to eat but it looked like she couldnt actually find the prey till we got it rite next to her face... they can be picky but as long as she ate just choke it up to normal bp behavior

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dano94

One time he just slithered around the rat and was just basically protecting it.

Eventually he went to slither away so I went to take the rat by the tail because he clearly didn't want it. He then struck about 1 yard away from me on the floor twice really quickly.

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Two questions just to clarify.

1. Was the animal dead when he was slithering around it?

2. Where were you feeding him? It sounds like you took him out and were feeding him on the floor of your house or apartment?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 200xth

Two questions just to clarify.

1. Was the animal dead when he was slithering around it?

2. Where were you feeding him? It sounds like you took him out and were feeding him on the floor of your house or apartment?

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He was dead yes, I defrosted it from the freezer.

I have a little feeding mat that I use to feed him on. He wont ever eat unless I hold his tail and allow him to strike at it. But yeah I saw on the floor whilst holding him and he slithered around the mouse and then slithered away from it. Then struck twice about 1 yard away from me really quickly.

He has a funny character :)