signs of stress

what are some of the symptoms of a stressed out BP? is a stressed BP active? How can we know if we have a stressed out snake?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by new2BP

what are some of the symptoms of a stressed out BP? is a stressed BP active? How can we know if we have a stressed out snake?

---

The number one sign that a ball python is stressed is it refuses to eat.Is yours refusing to eat? Is this a new reptile to your home? If so do not handle him for at least a week or two as this also causes them to be stressed.If he is not new try only handling your ball python for 15 minutes only a day.To much handling also can stress them.I hope this helps.

yes my BP is fasting. i have had her sense june and she is around 7 months old. she has never refused eatting untill 4 weeks ago. sense then she only has ate once. i offer every week, if she dont eat, i dont offer untill the next week. i have limited my handling. all temps and hummidy is fine. her daily routine has not changed, she still hangs out in her cool hide. at around 6 pm she shows her head at the entrance of hide, then by 10 pm she is out and about roaming around her cage. if she was stressed do u think she would still emerge everynight from her hide. other than not feeding, she seems nromal.

I'd look at things like....refusing to eat....overly active during the daytime....darting quick movement when handling like they are trying to get away....tight defensive balling up that just never stops (though some snakes are just very shy and never take to handling much)....failure to thrive....regurge....defensive strikes...striking at the tank/tub if you approach....refusal to relax and use hides appropriately....constantly seeking a way out of their tub/tank well past the settling in time.....stuff like that.

Lots of those things could be more than just stress and might need a vet consult or fecal done to rule out a purely physical cause, but just some of the things I watch for with my own snakes.

For me husbandry is always the first thing I check (not just temps and humdity but also where the snake's enclosure is in the house, noise, etc) then how much I'm handling the snake and always it's health of course.


~~Jo~~

Yes ball pythons are active at night.Normaly this time of year ball pythons stop eating (breeding time) but babies should still feed.Maybe the size of the food item is a little big and it is taking a little while longer to digest.As long as he is eating every other week he should be ok(i think you said he was:oops: ).Now if he starts looking like he is losing his strength when you hold him(should grip your arm to hold on) then take him to a vet.Keep us posted ok

Not to intrude, but is hissing a sign of stress? My snake just recently began hissing at me (though he's never struck)...the only thing I really changed was his light, from a red-heat to one used for desert reptiles (a full UV one I believe, and very very bright).

after reading franky's post the only thing that my snake is doing that he has mentiond is the obvious ( not eatting ). she seems content when i handle her, never tries to excape. always has firm grip when i hold her, she never balls up. never strikes at anything, uses her hides, everything.

as far as the snakes enclosure, she is in my room. i work during the day so its very quite in there from 7 when i leave to 3 or 4. most evenings i am in and out, watching some tv. the mornings, she gets light from about 7am untill i turn my light in the room off at around 9 or 10 pm. after that, its ussually just the light of the TV on.

i cant see it being the size of food that i am offering, she has been eating adult mice sense the first month that got her. I guess i'll just watch her wieght, keep towels over her cage and be patient. dont worry i am not freaking out over this, i just wanted to see what u guys/gals had to say sense it is my first time at this fasting stuff. and thanks for the great info so far. keep it coming

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Cannibal Monkey

Not to intrude, but is hissing a sign of stress? My snake just recently began hissing at me (though he's never struck)...the only thing I really changed was his light, from a red-heat to one used for desert reptiles (a full UV one I believe, and very very bright).

---

hissing is a sign that he's unhappy about something... btw what lightcycle is your new light on? If its on 24 hours a day that could be the reason he got upset lately. Snakes don't need UV and they also get stressed out if theres a very very bright light on all the time. just my :twocents:.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Cannibal Monkey

Not to intrude, but is hissing a sign of stress? My snake just recently began hissing at me (though he's never struck)...the only thing I really changed was his light, from a red-heat to one used for desert reptiles (a full UV one I believe, and very very bright).

---

not necessarily. when im going to sleep sometimes i will hear my male hiss for no reason. ive heard it be described as "talking" when they hiss unprovoked and just feel like hissing. but, theres the other hissing like when he wedged his self under his cage and i was trying to get him out he hissed out me loudly expanding then contracting his body. thats when they are stressed.

Thanks guys, I'm probably going to end up getting him a new light or somehow blocking it a little bit (it's on 24/7, I can't keep the temps up otherwise!! 0__0), the woman at the pet shop claimed that she used to raise burms and said that they didn't mind the light, I guess that's what I get for trusting pet shop people (grr)!


new2BP, though I'm obviously not an expert, I'd have to agree your little guy is probably just going off feed, I've read many many many threads (and I'm sure you have too) talking about BPs not eating during the winter. Animals can definately tell when the seasons change no matter what their environment is like in captivity (a good example is my dog, he basically passes out all winter =P). Just my humble opinion, good luck with him/her/it! ^__^