maybe she's just sassy? 4 month update on behavior

A while back I had posted about my python being well, jerk-ish.

I feel she's very skiddish and very VERY VEEEERY shy, like someone comes in the room and she'll form an S shape looking straight at them like "who the hell are you?"
I never ever handle her at least 3 days after she's had her meal, she sheds great, never misses a meal.

She should be about 9 months old now and a little over 2 feet by now.



She's bitten me 3 times, she doesn't always do it though, just when she's very grumpy.

Her tank is in my room where there is just about 0 foot traffic, her temp is great, humidity is fine, not sick I took her to our awesome vet and she's A-ok. Even he said he was a little "sassy"

Anyone have advice on how to deal with a snake I treat like a queen?

Sorry if this is an obvious question, but do you have snug-fitting hides for her? You mentioned that she S-es up when you walk in the room, but you wouldn't necessarily be able to see that if she was in her hides. Also, what have the circumstances been when she's bitten you? Was it when you were reaching in the cage, or after she was already out? Do you hesitate when you reach in for her? Just a few questions that came to mind. :)

Does she have hides in her tank? Are the sides and back blacked out? Maybe she's jumpy because she doesn't feel secure. Has she bitten you when you have her out, or just as you're reaching in for her? Bummer that she's so fearful...I'm sure you want her to relax and get used to you. :(

Annarose beat me to the punch!

Very little foot traffic how is the lighting tho ?

And like the others have asked what are her hides like and how large is her tank ?

ExotixTowing- she has her light on her hot side and no light on cool side both sides have same hide

warm side from 85-99 and cool side 78-80

She just outgrew her hide and recently purchased another one. She completely outgrew the one she had right after she ate her rat but yes she is cozy it's very dark just like she likes it. I also make it a little more private by covering where she could see people (If they're in my room in the first place). I also only take her out in the evening so I don't disturb her.

Another thing she has bitten me only after I fed her, i did wash my hand after handling the rat so I didn't smell like it. I'm very gentle picking her up, she doesn't always do that I think she was just grumpy those 3 times. No blood drawn

She does the S shape only at other people except me. She stiffens up if anyone but me wants to say hi to her, if I do let them hold her I only do it for a little bit of time cause she gets really stiff and grumpy. She loosens up when I pick her up.

She trusts me more than anyone else, I'm trying to ease her into getting friendlier with people very slowly. Only my brother handles her other than me, occasionally my mother NO MORE.

The only time she's "I love you I love you!" is when I'm getting to feed her.

Right now she's in a 30 gallon breeder btw

Could her cage be too big?

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Her tank might be a little large... How about natural lighting ?? Does she get more darkness then day light


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I have two that are "aggresive." and are kept the exact same way as my other balls. Each animal is an individual and you might just have an aggresive animal.

How often do you feed, and how to you appropriate prey sizes?

Cheers,
Chris.

85-99 is a huge variation... get those temps sorted out. 99 is too hot. I personally wouldn't go past 95, even then, I shoot for about 90.

A 30gal is much too big for a 4 month old. It could definitely be a security issue as already mentioned.

85-88 I meant. She's 9 months old I've had her for 4 months.

In terms of lighting she doesn't get much from my window I get artificial and have about a 12hour span of darkness and daylight.

I feed her once a week right now giving her a small rat

She's a little over 2 feet now, will weigh her soon.

30 gallon is large for a 2 ft snake. I personally wouldn't move beyond a 20 until the snake is pushing 4 ft. A 20 gallon is 30" long so even at 4 ft they can strech more than 60% of their body out. Also, you say that she has only bitten you after she has eaten but that you wash your hands and pick her up gently. This sounds like you are feeding her in a seperate tub/tank. If so, it is unnecessary and you could avoid being bitten by just feeding in her everyday tank.

She sounds like a normal, young BP. Stop handling her right after feeding, it isn't recommended due to the added stress, anyway, and that will solve you getting bitten. Feed her in her tank, if this is the reason you are handling her. Feeding/tank aggression in BPs is a myth. Also, of course she's more nervous with unfamiliar people - they're unfamiliar, so she has to decide if she's going to get dropped or eaten before relaxing.

Your hot spot should be 90. How are you controlling that? Also, I am guessing that you are moving her to feed her? Don't. And let her be for at least 48 hours after a meal or not only a bite, but a reguritation you might get. Tank is too big also. Bps need to feel secure. You might try to get a smaller tank, or clutter/fill up the one you have so there isn't as much open space. And lastly, all bps are different and have different temperments. Yes yours could be a "grumpy" one, but the only way to know for sure is to get all husbandry correct, let her settle in, and then see if behavior stays the same.

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Thank you guys for all your answers.

I will clutter up my tank.

I control temperatures using heat lamps, I am seriously scared to death that if I use a heating pad controlled with a thermometer one day by sheer unluck it will get too hot when I'm not around and kill my baby, yeah I read too many stories of that happening to people. At least if I have a heat lamp the temperature wont go up past a certain number. Help me out if someone I have an irrational fear of this and believe there is a surefire heat pad that will never ever do this.

Also yes I do feed her out of her tank and do not handle till at least 3 days, will try feeding her in her own tank instead.

I totally respect that she may just be a grumpy girl

As long as your heat pad is on a good thermostat, it will be fine. Unregulated is when you have problems. I have a Herpstat, by Spyder Robotics and love it. Heat lamps are hard to keep regular temps with, plus they suck the humidity out. Definately stop moving her to feed her. After you have made all changes, just let her be for a week or two, with in tank feedings. Then start handling her again and see how she is. Make sure you keep us posted. :)

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

As long as your heat pad is on a good thermostat, it will be fine. Unregulated is when you have problems. I have a Herpstat, by Spyder Robotics and love it. Heat lamps are hard to keep regular temps with, plus they suck the humidity out. Definately stop moving her to feed her. After you have made all changes, just let her be for a week or two, with in tank feedings. Then start handling her again and see how she is. Make sure you keep us posted. :)

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Thank you THANK YOU :D

I have two rather large females that are absolute ash holes. They always eat. They strike at me through the tub! Ive tried feeding untill they were too full to possibly be hungry (to eliminate the idea that they thought i was food) and i ran outta rats or patience before they gave up. They his and puff up and strike. Sometimes they fly out of the tub at me.

But in the end i understand that snakes will be snakes and those two are particularly good at it. Needless to say they dont get much out the tub time. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Izzys Keeper

I have two rather large females that are absolute ash holes. They always eat. They strike at me through the tub! Ive tried feeding untill they were too full to possibly be hungry (to eliminate the idea that they thought i was food) and i ran outta rats or patience before they gave up. They his and puff up and strike. Sometimes they fly out of the tub at me.

But in the end i understand that snakes will be snakes and those two are particularly good at it. Needless to say they dont get much out the tub time. :D

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wow those two are some grumpies