Ball Python acting weird since biting me???

Well I have owned my baby ball python for about 5 months now and he recently bit me. Ever since he has bitten me he comes out of his hide alot more and its kinda freaking me out. I feel like he is out to get me. Before he would be really shy and always be hiding and if I came home from work and walked by his cage while he had his head out of the hide he would instantly pop his head back in there and hide. Now since he bit me when I walk by the cage he still leaves his head out and If I go sit down by the cage he will slowly inch his way closer and closer to me. Whats the deal?? Is he out to get me now or something?? He is not hiding like he used to.

Describe your set up & feed scedule. There could be a number of reasons why this is happening.

setup is a 55 gallon, (yes i know a little big for the snake but it was free). I have a rock hide on the cold side and a log on the hot side, a bowl of water on the cold side and some other objects like fake leaves and a log thing in the middle to make the cage have less open space. The bedding is bark stuff. I dont really have a feed schedule (probably part of the problem) I feed it when the pet store actually has mice and when I can actually pick up a mouse before they close. I work retail and I only have one day a week were I can actually make it to the pet store before they close and that day changes every week I never really know.

Oh and humidity falls between 40-30percent I try my hardest to keep it up but im having a hard time since the tank is glass and the top is mesh. Temps are cold side 70-80 depends on my house temp, Missouri has been really hot lately my ac is having a hard time keeping up and hot side is about 90=95

he has tasted you blood and is looking for more! lol

You are his [pet] now and he wants to keep reminding you of it everyday!

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Originally Posted by Lunchbox

setup is a 55 gallon, (yes i know a little big for the snake but it was free). I have a rock hide on the cold side and a log on the hot side, a bowl of water on the cold side and some other objects like fake leaves and a log thing in the middle to make the cage have less open space. The bedding is bark stuff. I dont really have a feed schedule (probably part of the problem) I feed it when the pet store actually has mice and when I can actually pick up a mouse before they close. I work retail and I only have one day a week were I can actually make it to the pet store before they close and that day changes every week I never really know.

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Probably should move him up to rats so he can go a week between feedings if you have a hard time getting to the store

At 5 months old he could probably be taking rat weaners with no problem.

He thinks you taste good:) Don't be afraid of your BP. Like llovelace said what is your feeding schedule, setup etc.

I'd just make sure you are feeding him every week and feeding him the appropriate sized prey. My buddy had a BP a long time ago and the BP would always be on the move. Once I acknowledged that he wasn't feeding food near large enough for the size of the snake and he started getting small rats, the BP went back to his typical BP attitude.

If you were able to switch him to f/t you might be able to set up a better schedule that didn't revolve around pet store hours.

Is recommend a UTH on the cold side as well set up on a thermostat so it stays around 78.

For humidity you could cover a portion of the screen top with plastic, or foil tape. I also keep a damp wash cloth on top of my hot side hide to bring up the humidity, changed out every other day when I change the water.

I'm guessing that he is in a busy room, a more quiet location would also help if possible.

So my first thing to try would be to see if I can get him to eat frozen for a better schedule, and also feed him a small rat....right?

maybe/not really and no

If you feel as though frozen would suit your schedule go for it, but when he doesnt eat it you wasted money (some will refreeze) and no not a small unless he can handle it. Mine are close to 5mths and they would not be able to take a small rat, but my 4ft, 1800 gram ball can. The 150-200 gram balls are handling rat pups or hopper asf's

owning a snake is hard sigh....I guess i will learn from this though

thanks so much everybody for the answers

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Originally Posted by rperry03

maybe/not really and no

If you feel as though frozen would suit your schedule go for it, but when he doesnt eat it you wasted money (some will refreeze) and no not a small unless he can handle it. Mine are close to 5mths and they would not be able to take a small rat, but my 4ft, 1800 gram ball can. The 150-200 gram balls are handling rat pups or hopper asf's

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Rat fuzzies are perfect size for my 122g BP.

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Originally Posted by llovelace

At 5 months old he could probably be taking rat weaners with no problem.

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rat weaners...lol...idk y but that made laugh.

While I agree that it could be your feeding schedule it's also possible that he's just a little aggressive. My male spotnose used to be a little jerk. I check on them before I go to bed just to see what they are up to, they get pretty active at night. Anyways, Clyde used to slowly creep closer to me and sometimes would try to bite me through his tub.

If it does happen to be the case that your BP is a little aggressive then you pretty much just need to take a few bites and whatever you do, DO NOT put him away after he bites you. They can learn pretty quickly that biting means they get left alone. Good luck! :)

Sorry if it was confused that I recommend a small rat. Size is all dependent on the size of your snake. I'm just saying I noticed that when my buddy fed prey that was too small for his snake, he tended to act hungry

Hmmm...ball python out to get you? I see only one solution...I think you need to call Sam and Dean Winchester, they'll sort that little demon out, lol!!

Sorry I just had to, but ja, looks like the other more clever people already covered everything.

He probably bit you because he was hungry, and he's coming out now because he's hungry.

There are two things to address here: 1. the fact that you're becoming afraid of him, and 2. his behavior. You might as well feed him more, at least until his appetite drops off (I guarantee it will---he'll probably start stressing you out by skipping meals this winter). But you also ought to handle him more often without feeding, so he doesn't always associate "human handling" with "food".

I really recommend handing with gloves or mittens. My het pied male was mean little biter his first year, so I let him chew on my gloves. It's not terribly rewarding for him, and it got around my fear.

And I recommend feeding him in a cardboard box. Then he'll associate the box with food, not you. It really helps with cage aggression.

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Originally Posted by loonunit

And I recommend feeding him in a cardboard box. Then he'll associate the box with food, not you. It really helps with cage aggression.

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The problem with feeding in another cage/box is that some snakes will stay in feeding mode for a while so there is a good chance you can/will get bit moving them back to their cage. I used to feed my snakes in a cardboard box and I almost got tagged by my normal several times while I was trying to get her out to move her back.

Also cage aggression is not caused by feeding in their cage. I have 12 snakes and I feed all of them in their cages/tubs and I have no problems.