Out Of Curiosity..

Hey.

I was wondering what is the difference seen in the average ball python as they age. I'm referring to the way they act, temperament, speed, jerkiness, amount of movement.. etc.

And while we're at it .. in which direction do ball pythons see? Always wondered that.

Thanks!

As mine have gotten older they have become more handleable and overall better tempered... I'm not sure if that is to do with age or the fact that I regularly handle my snakes.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

As mine have gotten older they have become more handleable and overall better tempered... I'm not sure if that is to do with age or the fact that I regularly handle my snakes.

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Same here. I think its got to have at least some to do with their size. I mean 1) the smaller they are the more threatened they must feel (you could eat them,) If they've made it this long they can be reasonably assured nothing is going to eat them, and B) think of little kids, they're always much more energetic and rambunctious than adults.

My older ones are not as twitchy but they all do a bit if you touch their head. I'm sure you could get then used to it a little. The adults seem much more content to just sit there.

Direction they see? I'm not sure I understand the question....

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Well I mean their eyes seem to be pointing outwards. Is their scope of their vision forward or to the sides?

it is forward

Idk for sure but I think they can probably see in front but have the side views as well so they can see all around. They don't have great vision though. They use smell and heat-sense, which is very similar to spider-sense, a lot more.

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Mine have calmed down alot but even the adults have teir moody days. My cinny girl is in a mood every day lol.

i think the main factor that determines their behavior is size, because when i got my female, she was 77 grams and I couldn't hold her without being struck at. now that she is bigger and used to handling, she isn't as threatened by everything so she doesn't strike unless there is a rat dangling in front of her :)

Dangle a rat in front of them and then see what direction they look ;)

They have pupils that move. Not sure if they just dilate or move, but they definitely see forward.

another angle to this question that I have wondered about:

Are there any BP morphs that tend to be more aggressive/nippy/grumpy than others?
And conversely, are that any morphs than tend to me more calm/placid than others?

I have all types of different attitudes with my snakes. Some I believe have a certain temperament because of age but others I believe its because of human contact. My first snake I ever got was given to me at about 150 grams. I held her often and she is currently the sweetest snake I have. She has never hissed and doesn't mind being touched on the head.

My girls mojave as a baby was a nightmare. Extremely aggressive and always striking any chance she could get. She is now 400+ grams and has significantly calmed down with only light handling.

I just picked up a 2000 gram breeder girl and she is extremely defensive and will strike occasionally. She is way out of the "baby" stages obviously but still acts ski-dish, probably from not being handled.

In my opinion snakes have different temperaments and while I do believe they get calmer with age and handling. Some will just be nice or nasty regardless.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

Dangle a rat in front of them and then see what direction they look ;)

They have pupils that move. Not sure if they just dilate or move, but they definitely see forward.

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In the world of predators, whether mammal or reptile, we have forward facing vision to judge depth perception.
Prey animals often have the opposite so they can get a wider field of vision to protect themselves by seeing danger around them.
So yes a BP would have forward facing vision, they need to be able to see what their striking at. They may have a small blind spot right in front of their nose but that would be minimal.

As far as snakes personailites as they age....I guess it depends on the snake. But mine sure seem to mellow out a bit as they get older.
Until they think its feeding time, then watch out! My lesser has always been grumpy and a striker. Ive had him since 400g and hes now pushing 1k and hes always been Mr. poopy attitude lol.

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Originally Posted by chet1028

another angle to this question that I have wondered about:

Are there any BP morphs that tend to be more aggressive/nippy/grumpy than others?
And conversely, are that any morphs than tend to me more calm/placid than others?

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Darker morphs tend to be more aggressive from my experiences.

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Originally Posted by mues155

So yes a BP would have forward facing vision, they need to be able to see what their striking at. They may have a small blind spot right in front of their nose but that would be minimal.

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Yea but wouldnt their heat pits make up for said blind spot?
Since they can use both at the same time i think. Or are they like boas who can turn it on and off and flip between the two?

Mine are all pretty much the same, Pariah has always been skiddish and timid, the other two are calm yet bold and always friendly.
When I got CovaH and Sajah as babies, they would crawl around the cage during the day and I would just stick my hand in there and they would come up to me, smell my hand, then crawl up it so I could take them out and hold them; they wouldn't leave my hands for the hour I held them either, and when I put my hand back in the cage they would crawl off. They don't do that anymore :( I miss my babies...