HELP! My Ball Python is acting oddly aggressive

Thanks! I'll be headed to the pet shop after work to get him mice, as well as home depot to get a plastic tub to make into his new home so that he's less stressed out and that he has better humidity. Thanks everyone!

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Originally Posted by ScantilyClad22

Thanks! I'll be headed to the pet shop after work to get him mice, as well as home depot to get a plastic tub to make into his new home so that he's less stressed out and that he has better humidity. Thanks everyone!

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You got a uth right? Tubs are WAY better. tstat (or dimmer) a uth and tub is all u really nead :)

Sounds like he's just hungry. Don't be afraid that you are going to over feed him. I offer my snakes feed every 3 to 4 days. The larger ones ( over 2500 grams ) I offer 2 mice. Some will take them some won't. Some will feed some days and not other days. Snakes differ from one to other just like people. Even my big girls (4000 grams + ) will refuse feed if they are not hungry. and sometimes will only eat 1 mouse in a week or none at all. But the main thing is she is slowly gaining weight in ratio to her length. If you had a scale it would of made watching his weight easier. My most aggressive eaters ( the ones that come out 18 to 24 inches mouth wide open head going side to side when I slide their tub open ) handles great after I hook them and pick them up using both hands. So if he's stricking while your holding him, he's most likely hungry or very stress.

Yes, I've got a UTH but it's not very big, only takes up about 1/4 of the tank it's in.... I just went out and got a plastic tub that I'm going to drill into a clean, and then stick the UTH on with duct tape as I saw in a tutorial. Any tips on how to make sure it won't melt the plastic? Other than a thermometer which I plan on getting a therm/hydrometer tonight at the petshop if I can find one.

And I'm going to feed him, of course. :D:snake:

You need a reptile thermostat to safely use a UTH with a tub. The reptitemp 500r is the cheapest reliable thermostat for single setps. It is hard to find them in stores so you might be stuck ordering online.

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Originally Posted by ScantilyClad22

Yes, I've got a UTH but it's not very big, only takes up about 1/4 of the tank it's in.... I just went out and got a plastic tub that I'm going to drill into a clean, and then stick the UTH on with duct tape as I saw in a tutorial. Any tips on how to make sure it won't melt the plastic? Other than a thermometer which I plan on getting a therm/hydrometer tonight at the petshop if I can find one.

And I'm going to feed him, of course. :D:snake:

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Well when u put the uth on the tub it NEEDS to be hooked up to a dimmer at least. A thermostat would be BEST.

Reason is like the zoo med uths get 120* that will burn ur snake. If u hook it up to a dimmer and dim it 50% say the max temp would only be 60* (not exact just an example) But a thermostat would be best.

Make sure if your using a thermostat you tape it outside the tub to the bottom of the uth so the snake cant move it off the uth, And if your buying the acu rite hygro/therm put the probe inside the tub on the uth to measure how hot it gets :)

*Note* If im wrong about anything here guys dont hesitate to correct me :P

Moving him to a new home will add stress and he may not eat for a week or two! I would leave him be, just feed more and see if his behavior improves!

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Originally Posted by seeya205

Moving him to a new home will add stress and he may not eat for a week or two! I would leave him be, just feed more and see if his behavior improves!

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But if his temps are off, doesnt feel secure in his current home moving him to a new home would add stress but wouldnt it relieve some stress due to now hes in a place where the temps are what he likes and feels secure?

I fed him three mice last night, he was very happy! Sadly I moved him earlier than I had wanted to... got a note on my apt. door yesterday saying that they are spraying for bugs today so I had to bring him to my parents house in a smaller tank that I have from when I owned a baby king. =/ But he's comfortable, drinking water, and not snapping anymore! I still plan on setting up the plastic tub that I drilled holes in as his new home, I'm going to start setting it up tonight and figure out how to best adjust the temperature and humidity before I put him in there.

Thanks everyone again- so much! Moose will now be eating every 7-10 days and will have a new home to make sure he's as comfortable and happy as possible. :D

Your ball python needs to be fed a small to medium size rat every 10 days. small rats x 2 every 10 days medium rats x 1 every 10 days will suffice.