Moody Python

My Python is aproximately 7 months old. I do not know if it is a male or female because they said she was too old when i got her and I'd have to take it to a vet. We have not yet done that but call him a boy.

He has always loved being handled and actually would fight when we put him back in his tank. Last week he began hissing at me when i go to take him out. I got him out once and he actually struck at me, but missed. i don't know why he would do this. Does it have anything to do with possibly being a female and being spring time? I want my friendly snake back!!! :(

Whoever told you that he/she was "too old to sex" has no clue what they were talking about...

In my experience sudden changes in behavior almost always are a result of improper husbandry...

Check out these threads to make sure that you are doing everything correctly.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...04#post1845904

Finally Ball Pythons do not "enjoy" or "love" being handled... most will tolerate it, but they would much rather be tucked away in their hides.

What's the husbandry looking like? Balls get pissy when something is off in their enclosures. I'm sure it's just an easy fix and you'll get him right back!

Hot side is almost always between 87-92 and cool side around 80. I don't change anything at night so the temp is constant. Humidity I keep around 50 right now because he shed a week and a half ago. He has 2 hide logs, one on either side and One big Rock in the middle that he can climb in where he spends 90 percent of his time....

Is he near a window? It's so much lighter outside now and the days are getting longer.. maybe it's too bright for him. You could try putting a dark towel/sheet over his cage and seeing if that helps at all.

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Originally Posted by liv

Is he near a window? It's so much lighter outside now and the days are getting longer.. maybe it's too bright for him. You could try putting a dark towel/sheet over his cage and seeing if that helps at all.

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Not near a window but on the other side of the room. He is ALWAYS in his rock, I don't ever see him get out of it. Not even at night. I'm usually up til midnight and he never gets out of it. i don't know what to think. it's just not like him to hiss and strike at me, he's never done that. could it be that he's a SHE and it's Spring? or no?

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could it be that he's a SHE and it's Spring?

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No...

How big is the tank?

How big are the hides in relation to the snake?

You say you use logs?

Bp's like small tight enclosed spaces. Maybe crumple up some newspaper to fill one side up so he just has an entrance.

It's a 20 gallon and he's just about 2 foot long. The hide on the cool side is so small he just fits under it, and the one on the other side is one size bigger. He loves being in his rock, and I don't have a problem with that. I have a problem with him hissing and striking. I just don't know why because nothing has changed.... :(

ok, then what about feeding?

What are you using to heat the cage?

I would try switching out the log hides for something that would provide him with some more coverage and security (ie, he is basically completely enclosed by it) and also have the hides be the same thing/same size. See if that helps.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

ok, then what about feeding?

What are you using to heat the cage?

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I have a Red bulb heating the tank 24/7 and a matt underneath the hot side. I'm feeding him every 7-9 days a hopper.

Does the heat mat have a thermostat regulating it?

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Does the heat mat have a thermostat regulating it?

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no but he's never over there... would that be why?

That is your problem, I guarantee it.

Unregulated heat mates get hot enough to kill your snake.

What type of thermometers are you using?

I highly suggest that you read this thread, it explains the dangers of unregulated heat mats (aka UTH's) and things like thermostats/thermometers.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...04#post1845904

Well... I am having surgery and will be off of work for 4 weeks and do not have 100 dollars to get one. Should I just take it off the bottom/turn it off until i can get one?

Yes, I would just unplug it until you can get a thermostat.

These thermostats will work as well, and cost only $30... Not as good as the $100 ones but will get the job done.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NZ...dir_mdp_mobile

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Yes, I would just unplug it until you can get a thermostat.

These thermostats will work as well, and cost only $30... Not as good as the $100 ones but will get the job done.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NZ...dir_mdp_mobile

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Ok Thank you! I've been beating myself up over his attitude and I hope this is the problem. I will look for a new hide and unplug that mat right now. Thank you for the help it's greatly appreciated!

Very good advice on the thermostat. Is there any way you can get a weight on him? At 7-9 months depending on weight I would think a hopper may be a bit small.

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Originally Posted by BPLuvr

Very good advice on the thermostat. Is there any way you can get a weight on him? At 7-9 months depending on weight I would think a hopper may be a bit small.

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I'm not sure I really have anything to weigh him with but I can work on that! How would I know if it's too small and it's time to move up until I can weigh him. he's going to be fed tomorrow...

How long has the "attitude" been going on for? Just this week? and has he eaten since the hissing behavior started?

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Originally Posted by Lisn123

How long has the "attitude" been going on for? Just this week? and has he eaten since the hissing behavior started?

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Just a week... I got to hold him last night for 25 min or so then I put him back. He's going to eat tomorrow night so hopefully his attitude will get better!

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Originally Posted by MariaLHodge

Just a week... I got to hold him last night for 25 min or so then I put him back. He's going to eat tomorrow night so hopefully his attitude will get better!

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Hope your snake is in a better mood after eating :) One time ours was in a really bad mood, the day after she ate. Hissing & striking at the side of the cage. but it only last 2 days. It was as if she had a "bad mouse" and made her grumpy :) Actually, she didn't eat right away- It was an F/T that sat in her cage all night and she ate it when I went to go get something to get it out of there.
After that, she was real grumpy. But I felt maybe she was "fired up" from sort of protecting the mouse all night- extra aggitated. I dont know, but I do know that I dont like when they behave that way. lol

Hope yours is back to his old self real soon.