My Bp has a serious aggro issues why?

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Originally Posted by DustinB

Are you handling the day he eats and the day after he eats? Most snakes really don't like to be messed with up to 48 hours after they eat. He really only needs to eat an appropriate sized meal every 5 days up til he is 500 grams or so(from what I've read on here). Then every 7 days.

He also needs 2 hides so he can choose where he wants to be, mine almost always stays on the cooler side. If he is always on top of the hide on the warm side and you are using a heat matt he is probably too hot in the hide.

Leave him alone for 48 hours after feeding every 5 days, get him another hide, make sure you temps are 80-82 cool side, 90 - 95 warm side with an ambient of around 82-85. Do all of this, let him settle in a week or so, then try handling him a couple days a week for 15min and put him up. If he strikes don't put him up, just be calm with him. He will probably start to relax a bit more with time.

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ditto on those lol. didn't consider the hide thing. assumed (which you should never do haha) that he would move to the cool side of the tank, but it does make sense that the place he should feel secure (the hide) would be his choice for trying to escape heat even if he is sitting on top :P my pythons actually do this on hot days (like 88 degrees indoors, no ac).

the feeding schedule...you should try to get a scale as soon as you can (after other priorities like another hide and what not) so you can actually weigh your snake in grams. I bought my kitchen scale from Ross (discount store) for like 10 bucks. it has the option to weigh in both lbs and grams and measures in .1lb/1g increments up to I believe 7 lbs and 6kgs or something like that which should be more than enough for ball pythons (or atleast for now anyways). if you can't find a proper scale in one of your local stores, you can buy them online for reasonable prices :)

and definitely leave him be for 2 days after feeding him, don't handle him during feeding either. if you use a separate feeding bin, it could be stressing him out. the way we feed is in their enclosure, taking out their hide and water dish and then presenting the prey item. it's worked best for us and our snakes never strike towards us at all. this is 2 snake experience though lol someone else might have a different opinion :P

Okay everyone, more handling is not what this snake needs. If anything, it is some time off and a nice secure enclosure for a week or two.

I can't believe no one has been asking more questions about his hide and enclosure.

What kind of hide are you using? You need two identical rock cave type hides. They like small enclosed spaces, this is what makes them feel safe and not like they are going to be eaten every time you go and pick them up.

What size tank is he in? Too big of an environment can be very stressful for a bp oddly enough.

Everything you have described sounds like the snake is horribly stressed. Thankfully, this is usually easy to fix. Just leave the snake alone for a while. We all need alone time :P

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Okay everyone, more handling is not what this snake needs. If anything, it is some time off and a nice secure enclosure for a week or two.

I can't believe no one has been asking more questions about his hide and enclosure.

What kind of hide are you using? You need two identical rock cave type hides. They like small enclosed spaces, this is what makes them feel safe and not like they are going to be eaten every time you go and pick them up.

What size tank is he in? Too big of an environment can be very stressful for a bp oddly enough.

Everything you have described sounds like the snake is horribly stressed. Thankfully, this is usually easy to fix. Just leave the snake alone for a while. We all need alone time :P

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this is why I was saying a few pics of his enclosure would be great lol.

as far as "rock cave-type hides", I'm not sure if you mean actual rock looking hides or not. I use a single hide right now since it's summer and I don't use a UTH right now, night time drops to about 75-77 and daytime raises about 10 degrees and my ball pythons aren't stressed or anything (please don't lecture, I have a UTH and a thermostat as well as an Accu-Rite thermometer with 2 external temps and an external humidity probe, new batteries, etc)

the hides I use are just blue plastic bowls I got from Dollartree in 2-3 packs lol. I just cut the rims off and added a hole. no matter what kind of hide you use though, you have to keep in mind that the snake will be most comfortable in a confined space, they like having their side touch the hide all the way around. IMO the hide should have 20-50% more space than what your snake takes up, giving it space to move around while keeping it comfortable and allowing space to grow so you don't have to keep updating every couple sheds lol. if the hide you're providing has a ton of extra space or 2 open ends (like log "hides") then you'll want to switch out for something else.

I keep dragging on, sorry lol!

Well, usually people can picture in their mind immediately what the rock cave hides look like. That is why I used that as an example rather than trying to explain how to convert a bowl into a hide.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Well, usually people can picture in their mind immediately what the rock cave hides look like. That is why I used that as an example rather than trying to explain how to convert a bowl into a hide.

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>.>

I immediately think of a small, plastic hide that looks like the side of a cliff...or ruins in a desert haha.

it's probably just me, not trying to poke fun or anything. :D

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Originally Posted by BallPythonLOVER

Keep handling him daily for him to get used to your scent. He may feel not comfortable or nervous around you, so when you handle him make sure your calm and gentle with him. Snakes can feel your emotions, so if your scared they will be scared, nervous, and tense a little. If you are calm and happy, the snake will be as well. Also, try not to make fast movements around your BP. BPs seem to hate fast movements, and they will either hide their head underneath their body or strike (but the strike is usually only bumping you with it's nose to scare you away). My male has striked at me a few times, but I'm handling him every day (except the day and the day after feeding) and he seems to be getting used to it. I've had him for 3 weeks now and he's doing great. Just gently and calmly handle him on a daily basis and he will get used to your handling. Show no fear, you know you are way stronger than he is even though he may make movements (striking) to scare you.

*Note- males sometimes will get a little grumpy around mating season, which seems to be getting close (the Fall).

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As others have stated, I also disagree with upping this snakes handling to a daily event. Stressed snakes do not usually respond to increasing their stress levels and handling is a stressful time for these shy snakes.

Robin gave some great advice. So did others here.

Mating season for ball pythons is traditionally late fall into the winter months (though many experienced breeders breed year round). June however is not late fall/winter at least where I live.