Mistaking my eyebrows for MICE

Hey guys first post on this forum.

My BP, Zyra, is a female normal about 3 1/2 feet long and about a year and a half old.

She has always been extreemly kind and gentle never struck at me and her and i had a very good trust system. She likes to sit on the back of my gaming chair while i stream and such.

About a month ago i was cleaning her cage with Zyra around my neck like she usually is. She crawled up to my head like she has before and stuck at my eyebrows and started to constrict. I was shocked but tried to remain calm to not simulate a struggling mouse. It took us 30 min to get her off without hurting her. Honestly it was extreemly painful. The constricting was the worst.

Then a week later i gave her space and wanted to destress her. She ate normally and again when i was cleaning her cage out this time she lurched at my eyebrow closly missing my eye this time. Constricted again but we had mouthwash as we were suggested to use from our breeder. She released quickly.

Does anyone know whjy she is behaving like this? She now seems extreemly aggitated anytime i take her out to clean or feed her.

I know she is right around the size to breed could that be it?

:rofl:Sorry but this is quite a funny read. How much does she weigh, how old is she, and what size prey/how often do you feed her?

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Originally Posted by Kibbleswhites

:rofl:Sorry but this is quite a funny read. How much does she weigh, how old is she, and what size prey/how often do you feed her?

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i dont know how much she weighs right now but she is a fatty. She is 31/2 feet long eats medium rats already. When we cant get medium rats she will go through like 4-5 medium mice. She feeds every week but we started feeding her every 4-5 days because she constantly looks like she is searching for food.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CpMtwPPUMAA7mnR.jpg:large

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Originally Posted by ellektrikk

She crawled up to my head like she has before and stuck at my eyebrows and started to constrict. I was shocked but tried to remain calm to not simulate a struggling mouse.

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You made my day with that story and I don't even mind spraying beer out of my nose as payment. The fact that she bit your eyebrows and constricted just means she's hungry. They don't constrict out of self defense unless given no other alternative. Try not to take it too personally, Zyra is a snake after all and limited in her ways of human communication. At least she didn't nail your eyeball.

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Originally Posted by ellektrikk

i dont know how much she weighs right now but she is a fatty. She is 31/2 feet long eats medium rats already. When we cant get medium rats she will go through like 4-5 medium mice. She feeds every week but we started feeding her every 4-5 days because she constantly looks like she is searching for food.

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She does look pleasantly plump. Alternatively, maybe she's found a way to communicate that she'd rather not be held.

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Originally Posted by John1982

She does look pleasantly plump. Alternatively, maybe she's found a way to communicate that she'd rather not be held.

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im completely okay with her deciding she would rather be in her tank. I just want her happy and healthy. And yes, she is rather..... fat lol she likes to eat.

Also im having a hard time keeping humidity up. I have moss in the tank and i spray it down 2-3 times a day but i live in the desert part of texas any extra ideas?

Do you have a screen top on the tank? Light or heat pad? Can you post a picture of your setup?

Wow...I *really* hate to laugh at your pain...but I've never known a snake to be eye-brow hungry. :) John is right though, if it was fear she's just bite and release to try and get away, they don't attack and squeeze as a defense because they know that won't work.

Are your eye brows white and bushy? Do you waggle them too much? :)


What kind of top is on the tank? If it's a screen one you can cover most of it with foil to keep the humidity in.

You can get protective goggles from the hardware store for a dollar or two. I'd suggest getting a pair to use until she gets over this.

Edited to add: The hard ones, not the soft plastic ones that her teeth could probably go through with minimal trouble.

Just tossing some ideas out...

Does she feed inside or outside of her enclosure? If she feeds out, she may be associating you taking her out with feeding time.

Are there any mice/rats in the house that she may be smelling and stimulating her hunger?

I've got some pretty thick eyebrows... now you've got me worried :D

I've always been under the impression that when you exhale, the carbon dioxide can trigger a food response for whatever reason. Can't remember where I read it. If that's the case, perhaps you should just keep her away from your face?

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Originally Posted by BPGator

Just tossing some ideas out...

Does she feed inside or outside of her enclosure? If she feeds out, she may be associating you taking her out with feeding time.

Are there any mice/rats in the house that she may be smelling and stimulating her hunger?

I've got some pretty thick eyebrows... now you've got me worried :D

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I feed her in a box separate from her tank. I used to take her out all the time, but now she only comes out for cleaning the cage and feeding.

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thats really interesting.

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Originally Posted by Alexio

Do you have a screen top on the tank? Light or heat pad? Can you post a picture of your setup?

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ClcnoLyUsAEsHAd.jpg

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Originally Posted by piedlover79

Wow...I *really* hate to laugh at your pain...but I've never known a snake to be eye-brow hungry. :) John is right though, if it was fear she's just bite and release to try and get away, they don't attack and squeeze as a defense because they know that won't work.

Are your eye brows white and bushy? Do you waggle them too much? :)


What kind of top is on the tank? If it's a screen one you can cover most of it with foil to keep the humidity in.

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the foil is a great idea. and nope eyebrows pretty normal lol
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CjVnIlDVEAAK52t.jpg

and it wont hurt her if she bites? Thats what i am the most worried about. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cmj-fL5VMAAqw8p.jpg:large

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Originally Posted by ellektrikk

I feed her in a box separate from her tank. I used to take her out all the time, but now she only comes out for cleaning the cage and feeding.

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She has been conditioned to eat when she comes out. Feed her in her enclosure and the problem should go away.

"Are your eye brows white and bushy? Do you waggle them too much? :) "


I was thinking the same thing Ellektrikk. Sorry but it made me laugh as well. Glad your ok and wasn't real serious. I would agree with Jordan, they get conditioned to certain things. If you feed in the tank and handle regularly she should stop and be normal.

Ill bet she is prepping for eggs. Regardless of whether there is a male around, she still may be hopeful. She is most likely going for your eyes, not eyebrows. Eyes emit a greater heat signature than skin. To her, it is the hottest part of your face. I would just feed her a good size meal every 5 days like you have been doing and expect her to be aggressive for a while. She will tone down after the breeding sensation is over.

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Originally Posted by blk02ssmonte

"Are your eye brows white and bushy? Do you waggle them too much? :) "


I was thinking the same thing Ellektrikk. Sorry but it made me laugh as well. Glad your ok and wasn't real serious. I would agree with Jordan, they get conditioned to certain things. If you feed in the tank and handle regularly she should stop and be normal.

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i was told that feeding her in the tank would condition her to strike at my hand when i went to pick her up:/

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Originally Posted by ellektrikk

i was told that feeding her in the tank would condition her to strike at my hand when i went to pick her up:/

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I have never found this to be the case with ball pythons. You should always feed on tongs and make sure your hands do not smell like rat. Also make sure the rat is warmer than your hand. You need to follow the same procedures every time you feed or handle and make sure those procedures are different. If you do this the animal is far less likely to become confused. There are times that feeding outside the enclosure becomes productive, but they do not apply to your situation.

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Originally Posted by ellektrikk

the foil is a great idea. and nope eyebrows pretty normal lol
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CjVnIlDVEAAK52t.jpg

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nice chair. I would have freaked out.

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Originally Posted by ellektrikk

i was told that feeding her in the tank would condition her to strike at my hand when i went to pick her up:/

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I've heard this rationale before, but it doesn't make sense. If you believe feeding in the cage will condition her to strike, why wouldn't moving her when you feed her condition her to strike as she knows you're going to be feeding her when you pick her up? I think that's more likely to condition them feeding in the enclosure, as you're not physically touching her when you feed in her enclosure.


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