Ralp Davis Reptiles Phantom?

I got a male phantom from RDR a couple months ago and he's an absolute pest! ALWAYS hissing and a TERRIBLE eater. I have MANY ball pythons and have NEVER had problems like this. When I got him I set him up in the rack (tub) and let him get accustomed to his new surroundings for about a week. (he pooped in the bag when he arrived so i knew he had eaten recently anyways) After that week I offered him food. When I went to go grab him out of his tub he started hissing at me and bit me. When he eats, he always shows MUCH interest in the rodent but continues to strike at it with no avail. since I have gotten him he's eaten about three times (i have had him for two months)

every time you pull out his tub he starts hissing loudly. this is all pretty new to me considering none of my other ball pythons are this defensive/freaked out. he's still a baby but i have other hatchlings smaller (and some the same size as him) that don't do this. the phantom is between 250-275 grams.

and i don't see how any of this could be stress related considering he's in a tub with a hide on unprinted newspaper. if anyone has any insight to this problem i would love to know. (or if anyone has a phantom or any other snake from ralph that had or are having this problem)

let me know! thanks.

My Phantom is fine, but she did not come from RDR. I would just leave him completely alone other than to pick up mess or refill water for a week and see if that improves his temperament. Make sure he has hides and all that good stuff. It may just take time.


Or you can just give him to me!:P

Is it possible that he is blind?
This is a complete shot in the dark but it would explain almost everything...

They can be jumpy when they're young. I have a 190 gram BP right now that tries to take my face off everytime I have to handle him for husbandry and such. I have no doubt he will be better with time and as he grows larger.

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Originally Posted by adam_c

I got a male phantom from RDR a couple months ago and he's an absolute pest! ALWAYS hissing and a TERRIBLE eater. I have MANY ball pythons and have NEVER had problems like this. When I got him I set him up in the rack (tub) and let him get accustomed to his new surroundings for about a week. (he pooped in the bag when he arrived so i knew he had eaten recently anyways) After that week I offered him food. When I went to go grab him out of his tub he started hissing at me and bit me. When he eats, he always shows MUCH interest in the rodent but continues to strike at it with no avail. since I have gotten him he's eaten about three times (i have had him for two months)

every time you pull out his tub he starts hissing loudly. this is all pretty new to me considering none of my other ball pythons are this defensive/freaked out. he's still a baby but i have other hatchlings smaller (and some the same size as him) that don't do this. the phantom is between 250-275 grams.

and i don't see how any of this could be stress related considering he's in a tub with a hide on unprinted newspaper. if anyone has any insight to this problem i would love to know. (or if anyone has a phantom or any other snake from ralph that had or are having this problem)

let me know! thanks.

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Your snake is stressed out. Try putting him in a smaller tub (6 quart), and make sure that all of the sides are covered except the front. Don't attempt to handle him at all until he starts eating again.

Good luck.

Have you contacted RDR to discuss the matter? If not, I'd go that route first......

What size tub is he in? Even though you say he's not, it sounds like he's stressed.

Leave him alone for a week.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

Your snake is stressed out. Try putting him in a smaller tub (6 quart), and make sure that all of the sides are covered except the front. Don't attempt to handle him at all until he starts eating again.

Good luck.

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x2 Put him in as small a tub as you can, and try switching him to aspen bedding. It stays "fluffy" and allows them to feel more hidden than newspaper. Then leave him alone until he settles down.

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Originally Posted by Trochu

Have you contacted RDR to discuss the matter? If not, I'd go that route first......

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I don't really see what RDR would/could/should do about it, especially months later, unless it's just to compare husbandry. These are snakes, not puppies that we "tame" to our liking.

While I agree with the above suggestions, some snakes are just nasty pains in the rear.

I've got a spider who is FINALLY calming down after 6 months of unrelenting anger, lol. And as for picky eaters, I've got my fair share. I've got a one who will almost toy with her food; she defensive strikes a few times, then finally attacks and coils.

Stop watching him eat.....he is defensive striking becasue he is stressed out....he is 'worried' that is he strikes and coils, you are going to do something to him......alot of hatchlings do it.......put in hopper, or rat pup, whatever you are feeding, close the tub/tank and walk away....leave him in the dark......give him 10-15 minutes.....I would be willing to bet he will eat....just doesn't need you hovering over him, stressing him out......

Jason

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Originally Posted by adam_c

I got a male phantom from RDR a couple months ago and he's an absolute pest! ALWAYS hissing and a TERRIBLE eater. I have MANY ball pythons and have NEVER had problems like this. When I got him I set him up in the rack (tub) and let him get accustomed to his new surroundings for about a week. (he pooped in the bag when he arrived so i knew he had eaten recently anyways) After that week I offered him food. When I went to go grab him out of his tub he started hissing at me and bit me. When he eats, he always shows MUCH interest in the rodent but continues to strike at it with no avail. since I have gotten him he's eaten about three times (i have had him for two months)

every time you pull out his tub he starts hissing loudly. this is all pretty new to me considering none of my other ball pythons are this defensive/freaked out. he's still a baby but i have other hatchlings smaller (and some the same size as him) that don't do this. the phantom is between 250-275 grams.

and i don't see how any of this could be stress related considering he's in a tub with a hide on unprinted newspaper. if anyone has any insight to this problem i would love to know. (or if anyone has a phantom or any other snake from ralph that had or are having this problem)

let me know! thanks.

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***EDIT*** I have tried leaving him alone in the dark to eat and all you hear are loud hisses from the rat pup ticking him off. i really don't know what else to try.. I don't see how it could be the bedding because I gave him a hide AND they aren't stupid animals, if they wanted to hide even more he would just find his way under the newspaper like my adults do. it's just weird because I have many hatchlings that just don't do this. he's the first one. so i guess i will just wait it out even longer and see if he calms down.

thanks for all the help and responses!

Could be stress. Might want to try putting some crumpled newspaper to fill the void parts inside the tub, this made my picky hypo girl eat as well as my pastave. Heres a picture of how I have the tub set up (I cant fit two hides in there).

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6468/img9615v.jpg

Another thing you could try, and this may be controversial, but I read it on Reptiles Canada.. You can get some Krylon Fusion paint, might wanna look it up on their website to make sure you pick up the right one, and paint three of the four sides of the tubs completely, while leaving a "window" at the front so that he has some natural light coming in. I have heard that this was modelled after the opaque ARS tubs and might stimulate a stronger feeding response. No evidence of course except for a few testimonies. The biggest issue though is you absolutely have to let it dry for 24 hours, even 7 days if you want to be cautious. The paint takes about 24 hours to be safe to put snakes around, but it takes 7 days for it to completely bond with the plastic, so me personally I would probably wait 7 days. I cant take credit for this idea but I think its a great idea for those who cant keep the lights off in the snake room 24/7, or if you have an open-sided rack.

And the image from reptiles canada (not mine!):
http://www.reptilescanada.com/forums...1&d=1314105675

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Originally Posted by mike41793

is it possible that he is blind?
This is a complete shot in the dark but it would explain almost everything...

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^ this

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

I don't really see what RDR would/could/should do about it, especially months later, unless it's just to compare husbandry. These are snakes, not puppies that we "tame" to our liking.

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Well lets see, he owned the snake and knows its nature and could likely provide some excellent insight. More importantly, I don't want RDR associated with snakes of a less than desirable character, something that may easily be assumed from a casual reader.