What is up with my BP????

Hi! I am new to this forum, but I would like everyone to know that I did read the thread about shedding but I still have a question. Let me kinda tell you the background:
I have 9 Ball Pythons...5 of them just got here yesterday. So when I started this process of absolute perplexity I only had 4. This concerns my adult male normal BP, Mojo is his name.
I did have them all in a 100 gallon tank all together because the guy I got them from was an idiot and told me to, since I was a newbie, I had no clu. Well Mojo was just being a jerk to me all the time. Everytime I'd reach in he would strike. So would the adult Female, Rosey. The smaller 2 did not ever do this. I have since gotten to the bottom of the problem - I bought individual tubs and UTH's and hides and made them all a seperate home. Only I cant get Mojo out. First of all he is full shed, which is making him even more anal! But I dont know if he will ever complete the cycle. Someone told me that snakes will get in their water bowl and soak if they are stessed out or if they have mites or are sick. I know he is neither sick nor does he have mites. This only leaves stress. Do you think he may be stressed since I took the other snakes out which changed their enviroment? He didnt do his untill the others were removed from the tank, when I went back past him less than 2 hours later, he was in the bowl. I would have moved him into his new tub but he was in shed and I couldnt pick him up. None of them have acted this way before. He is still in the tank, all temps and humidity is correct, but he will not get out of the water dish and he is constantly hissing and striking, probably because he still has "caps" on his eyes. So to get to the point - #1 - Will he complete the shed if he doesnt get of the water? #2 Why is he in the water? and #3 how do I get him out? He has acted like he does not like humans eversince I got him. I wouldnt have bought him, the guy gave him to me free when I bought the others. I guess I know why now...Can anyone offer help on this?:mad:

- Yes he will complete the shed.

- He will come out of the water when he is ready, some like to go in water during shed others dont. Maybe your temps are too hot. How are you measuring them?

- You could trow a towel on top of him to get him out.

Other than that, maybe is a she? is she and adult? If you had them all together and it's a SHE maybe she is gravid (pregnant). They do not like to be bothered alot during that time.

First of all congratulations on getting the tubs! They are much easier to keep temps and humidity up then the tank.
Mojo is probably still stressed from being stuck in a tank with the other 3 pythons for so long. I would get him out and into the tub as soon as possible. You can do this by throwing a t-shirt or something over him so he wont bite you, or if you have a thick pair of gloves that would work too. Get him into the tub and bump his humidity up to around 70% until he sheds. Leave him alone for a week or more to let him settle into his new environment. After a week you can try to feed him, then two or three days later you can attempt to hold him.


-Kristine

Ok, so I am really sure Mojo is a male, and I measure with a digital thermostat. I just wonder why all of a sudden he started this and why he is so difficult? I mean he really acts as if he hates everyone! I haven had hime long, I wonder if the guy I bought him from maybe mistreated him? IDK...

Some bp like to soak before a shed...maybe because the humidity is to low?

Sounds to me like he's throwing you clear signs of being stressed out. He could be soaking if he has mites as well.

As for getting him out - just man up and get him! :P I handle mine in shed when I need to clean an enclosure, it won't hurt him to do so.

I'd get a water bottle and just lightly touch the top of his head to get him to duck his head down and then pick up his body with your free hand. If you're worried about getting bitten, use a towel like someone else suggested.

I would expect that once you got him into a tub set-up and allowed him time to acclimate, with a nice hide, he'll mellow out pretty quickly.

no, the humidity is at 62% - IDK...still think somethis is def. different. I keep leaning towards the stressed answer that someone said earlier...all the usual things have been eliminated. But if anyone has any ides, I'd be glad to hear them. I only wanna make him happy. And any advice on making him nicer would be great also!

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Originally Posted by ClemonsKimberly

no, the humidity is at 62% - IDK...still think somethis is def. different. I keep leaning towards the stressed answer that someone said earlier...all the usual things have been eliminated. But if anyone has any ides, I'd be glad to hear them. I only wanna make him happy. And any advice on making him nicer would be great also!

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See my answer above. A 100 gallon tank is far too open and he's in a new environment from what he's used to (even if it is the same tank - it's still a new home).

Get him into the tub, and let him acclimate. Line it with white packing paper (you can get at Lowe's, it's in a plastic sheath in the packing section). That way you can see if you see any mites and can address those too.

Get a small kitty litter pan and soulder out an entrance for a hide and get a large crock for a water dish. Set it up like this (this is a full grown female).

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...b/Sarahtub.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...hexploring.jpg

I'd be willing to bet, given an environment like that, he'll mellow out for you, once you've got him into a more snug enclosure and ruled out mites.

One other thought - what's his body mass like? Is he nice and rounded like the female in the picture above, or is he thin like this (triangular shape to the body)?

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...007/Girl11.jpg

I rescued that girl who was starved by the previous owner - he fed her once every three months "if he thought about it". She struck at the side of her enclosure every time I walked by, because she was tracking my heat signature and was literally starving to eat. If he's thin, he could be hungry. Be careful if he is, not to give in and over feed him - you'd want to slowly build back up his weight.

That may not even be his issue, but that was my experience with one that struck all the time. Her "sister" that was housed with her was even thinner and also did the same behavior.

Plus.. some snakes just aren't what we consider friendly. There's always a chance that even if he's been in the best of care, he's just a nervous snake.

The posts have laid out the most common ways to help 'tame' and calm him. Try them out and give him time.

Well if the humidity is right...he may be stressed out...He may be trying to hide...does he have hides available in his terrarium?

Robin hit the nail on the head. And don't forget, snakes are incapable of being mad at you. He's just scared, and/or hungry.

I deal with some mean green tree pythons on a weekly basis and I use snake hooks to get them. I've never been tagged. You just have to be careful where you grab the snake with the hook and you'll be good. Buy yourself a snake hook from reptile online stores and that'll help get your snake out.

Thanks to all who offered advice, just one more question: He is a really big boy,almost the full 5 ft - so how bad does it hurt to be bitten? Just in case, lol!! Im not sure I am too scared to be bitten as much as I am what I might do when he bites! Any suggestions? Im goingto get him out in the morning!

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Originally Posted by ClemonsKimberly

Thanks to all who offered advice, just one more question: He is a really big boy,almost the full 5 ft - so how bad does it hurt to be bitten? Just in case, lol!! Im not sure I am too scared to be bitten as much as I am what I might do when he bites! Any suggestions? Im goingto get him out in the morning!

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If it's a defensive bite - one meant to scare you off - it's usually a hit and release, and it really hurts your feelings more than anything. I always say a cat scratch or paper cut hurts worse. However, given the right hit, it can leave a bruise. But it's a nice bragging injury! LOL

An offensive bite (feeding response), I've been told hurts much worse. That's bite and hold on, because it mistakes you for food.

So, try not to pull back (but that's hard when it's reflexive to do so) so that you don't rip out any of his teeth. Probably wouldn't hurt to towel him (cover his head with a towel, and just gently gather him up under the towel).

Wow....5 ft is pretty big...he just might be a she. So she also might be in breeding mode among other things as well.

Right now it sounds as if the snake doesnt feel comfortable...doesn't know you....etc. The snake is trying to intimidate you. Put it in the tub...let it shed...feed it...give it a couple of days. Then handle her with gloves or a towel. Once she figures out that you are NOT intimidated by her....then it will get better. This snake may be one that tolerates handling but doesnt really like it allot like some do. I have found that even my sassiest snakes come around eventually.

Try not to worry too much about being bitten.

Our biggest female, a solid 5' +, bit my hubby on the wrist. Just opened her mouth and closed it again, but she wouldn't let go.

Hubby is freaking out, and I'm trying to keep him calm. I ended up having to pry her off one tooth at a time. By the next morning, you couldn't even see the mark anymore, and it was right over the bone.

So, it's more scary than painful. The big thing is not to try and yank away, like Rabernet said, because that will make it hurt a lot worse. My trick is to very slowly and very quietly reach in behind the back, and gently stroke a few times to let them know I'm there before I pick them up. Now, if yours is tracking you movements, that going to be harder. I think I remember someone here saying the use an object to touch the snake first, so there is no heat signature to track. Something like a long wooden or plastic spoon or maybe a ruler.

Best of luck with your snake, be patient and persistant, and he'll come around I'll bet.

Gale

OMG!!! I think I need serious help! This male is now making this squeeking noise followed by a hiss. I just heard it. This is the 3rd time in an hour. I thought the first time it was my dog cuz he is so gassy, but as I walked past him, he did it and was sorta rubbing his face on the side of the water bowl. What do I do??? My vet isnt open till Monday and the emergency vet does not see reptiles....HELP!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ClemonsKimberly

OMG!!! I think I need serious help! This male is now making this squeeking noise followed by a hiss. I just heard it. This is the 3rd time in an hour. I thought the first time it was my dog cuz he is so gassy, but as I walked past him, he did it and was sorta rubbing his face on the side of the water bowl. What do I do??? My vet isnt open till Monday and the emergency vet does not see reptiles....HELP!!

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Did you get him into a tub yet? Make sure that his enclosure is away from drafts, keep the humidity level up (helps break up mucus - since he's unable to cough with no diaphram), and keep him WARM - make his warm side be about 95 degrees.

And get him in first thing Monday morning. Make SURE that they do a culture swab so that they have a better idea of the right course of treatment (differs based on the type of RI it is).