Help! I need suggestions on taking my BP out!

So my and my boyfriend have a ball python. We've had him for about 3-4 years now. He's very healthy, eats every 1-2 weeks (live rats) and sheds/poops regularly. I've never been scared to take him out of his tank until just recently.:( My boyfriend is away so I've been taking care of the snake on my own and every time I try and take him out of his tank im petrified! He's been extremely curious lately. I always see him moving around the tank and whenever I attempt to take him out he comes close as if he wants to strike. We've always fed him in a separate tank so I don't know why he's being extra curious and treating me as a "threat" as of lately. I even just bought a snake hook to prevent my hand from going inside. Any suggestions or comments as to why his behavior is changing?

Also, I notice that he star-gazes...a lot. I know its normal for snakes to do but now im curious because he will sit with his neck up for a good 15 minutes straight in one position and I feel like thats not normal! The temperature in his tank is fine so I'm not sure what the issue is.

HELP!

Take a deep breath and relax. Ease into it. Give him a little pet on the side...scoop him up. Take a few pics.

I usually do give him a pet on the side before I scoop him up, but just now when I lifted his rock he immediately lifted his head up like I was a threat and he never does that so I panicked and left him alone. lol

The last two times I fed him and I tried to scoop him I heard him hiss as well...which I've never heard before!!!

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Originally Posted by SimbasMom

So my and my boyfriend have a ball python. We've had him for about 3-4 years now. He's very healthy, eats every 1-2 weeks (live rats) and sheds/poops regularly. I've never been scared to take him out of his tank until just recently.:( My boyfriend is away so I've been taking care of the snake on my own and every time I try and take him out of his tank im petrified! He's been extremely curious lately. I always see him moving around the tank and whenever I attempt to take him out he comes close as if he wants to strike. We've always fed him in a separate tank so I don't know why he's being extra curious and treating me as a "threat" as of lately. I even just bought a snake hook to prevent my hand from going inside. Any suggestions or comments as to why his behavior is changing?

Also, I notice that he star-gazes...a lot. I know its normal for snakes to do but now im curious because he will sit with his neck up for a good 15 minutes straight in one position and I feel like thats not normal! The temperature in his tank is fine so I'm not sure what the issue is.

HELP!

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Two thoughts.

1. Are you feeding him enough? You said 1 to 2 weeks...not sure how big the rats are, but there's a chance it's not enough especially if it's something that's too small and it's every 2 weeks. Just doublecheck that.

2. Star gazing. Is he possibly sick? Star gazing is one of the signs of respiratory infections. Check for the other signs (mucus around the mouth, clicking or wheezing when breathing).

Could be something else, but that's what came to my mind when I read your post.

It sounds like you may both be nervous and animals may sense this. You can put a T-shirt in his cage that you have worm and that will introduce him to your smell. You can then put your hand in the tank after he has had a couple of days with the shirt and work your way up yo getting closer and closer to each other. Take your time. I have never been bitten by a ball but I have been bitten by some other species. Obviously it depends on size and species but it didn't hurt. Had I not seen it happen I wouldbt have known. I don't know if this is the case with bps. If he does bite try not to pull your hand away. You don't want to hurt him. Even if it does hurt it is not as bad as it seams and I promise worse pain exsites. It is not probably crying level pain. But in conclusion give yourself time and worm at the pace you feel comfortable. :)

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Sometimes a hiss can be fear, as in 'oh my god this scary hook moster that I've never seen in my life is coming into my house, maybe if I breathe out all the air in my lungs I can look smaller/flatter and it won't see me/try to pick me up and eat me.' They're not super smart creatures, but sometimes they can also tell if you're nervous, and it makes them wonder if there's something they should be nervous about too.

Also what 200xth said on the feeding, little guy might just be hungry and hoping you have some noms for him. Can you get a pic of the head position next time? Just to rule out periscoping vs. stargazing, they can look similar but they have different implications.

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Originally Posted by 200xth

Two thoughts.

1. Are you feeding him enough? You said 1 to 2 weeks...not sure how big the rats are, but there's a chance it's not enough especially if it's something that's too small and it's every 2 weeks. Just doublecheck that.

2. Star gazing. Is he possibly sick? Star gazing is one of the signs of respiratory infections. Check for the other signs (mucus around the mouth, clicking or wheezing when breathing).

Could be something else, but that's what came to my mind when I read your post.

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I believe I'm feeding him enough but you may be right. They are small rats that he's getting fed and I try to wait until he poops before I feed him again so maybe I should just be more consistent and just feed him once a week regardless of him pooping.

And I dont think he's sick, but his star gazing has gotten more frequent, which may be causing the "hissing" if it is something in his respiratory system.

Thanks for your help!

Thanks I will try the shirt idea!

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Originally Posted by Badgemash

Sometimes a hiss can be fear, as in 'oh my god this scary hook moster that I've never seen in my life is coming into my house, maybe if I breathe out all the air in my lungs I can look smaller/flatter and it won't see me/try to pick me up and eat me.' They're not super smart creatures, but sometimes they can also tell if you're nervous, and it makes them wonder if there's something they should be nervous about too.

Also what 200xth said on the feeding, little guy might just be hungry and hoping you have some noms for him. Can you get a pic of the head position next time? Just to rule out periscoping vs. stargazing, they can look similar but they have different implications.

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He has never seen the hook before so it may be fear! He may also sense that I'm being nervous as well. I just tried to pick him up again and he moved away (with the hook). I'll take a picture when I get a chance. Thanks.

Should I stop trying to pick him up after too many attempts? I know he's probably hungry but I don't know if I bothered him too much this evening.

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Originally Posted by SimbasMom

They are small rats that he's getting fed and I try to wait until he poops before I feed him again so maybe I should just be more consistent and just feed him once a week regardless of him pooping.

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You don't need to wait until he poops. He may not poop for a few weeks. A few of mine do that. Eat weekly, poop every 2 or 3 weeks.

I'd just feed him once a week. He'll be fine and he'll poop when it's time.

Also, make sure it's big enough. The rat should be about as big around as the snake is wide at it's widest point. Just out of curiosity, do you know how much he weighs now?

I feed all adults every Sunday regardless of if they have pooped or not. Our pet males get small rats same time as the breeders and if they are acting particularly alert and hungry I will give them a second, probably about once every 4-6 weeks they do that. As for the alert thing, is he alert hungry or alert curious? Some of my snakes, particularly Loki, Lulu and Zuni, are very curious and as soon as you open the cage they are half way out! As for the hissing, maybe you just woke him up and started him?

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Originally Posted by SimbasMom

Should I stop trying to pick him up after too many attempts? I know he's probably hungry but I don't know if I bothered him too much this evening.

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Nevermind guys, I got him out! (by hand) and he's eating now :D THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP !

I have no idea how much he weighs....i can try and weigh him. The rats he eats are good size for him though.

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Originally Posted by Sama

I feed all adults every Sunday regardless of if they have pooped or not. Our pet males get small rats same time as the breeders and if they are acting particularly alert and hungry I will give them a second, probably about once every 4-6 weeks they do that. As for the alert thing, is he alert hungry or alert curious? Some of my snakes, particularly Loki, Lulu and Zuni, are very curious and as soon as you open the cage they are half way out! As for the hissing, maybe you just woke him up and started him?

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Sometimes he's almost out of the cage curious, and sometimes he's backing up but alert. But I'll start feeding more frequently.

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Originally Posted by SimbasMom

So my and my boyfriend have a ball python. We've had him for about 3-4 years now. He's very healthy, eats every 1-2 weeks (live rats) and sheds/poops regularly. I've never been scared to take him out of his tank until just recently.:( My boyfriend is away so I've been taking care of the snake on my own and every time I try and take him out of his tank im petrified! He's been extremely curious lately. I always see him moving around the tank and whenever I attempt to take him out he comes close as if he wants to strike. We've always fed him in a separate tank so I don't know why he's being extra curious and treating me as a "threat" as of lately. I even just bought a snake hook to prevent my hand from going inside. Any suggestions or comments as to why his behavior is changing?

Also, I notice that he star-gazes...a lot. I know its normal for snakes to do but now im curious because he will sit with his neck up for a good 15 minutes straight in one position and I feel like thats not normal! The temperature in his tank is fine so I'm not sure what the issue is.

HELP!

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I think your mistaking his curiosity for aggressiveness. My girl can't tell the difference. He most likely is trying to get to you and go climbing! The guy that responded first bit it on the nose. :) pun intended

Ooh I didn't see that you got it my bad

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Originally Posted by SimbasMom

Sometimes he's almost out of the cage curious, and sometimes he's backing up but alert. But I'll start feeding more frequently.

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Well, some days I am in a good mood and some days I just want to chill at home myself. : )

Yeah I agree with 200xth and others. I don't wait until my guys have done their business. My slightly bigger guy has only pooped two - three times since I bought him on the 21st November and he is fed weekly :)

I'm glad you got him out and fed him without issue :) I would recommend feeding on a schedule and weights too would be useful to establish what sort of schedule he could be on :)