Mean Snake

I have just purchased my first ball python and he has got a temper. The first day that I brought him home, i put him in his cage to get acclimated. I came back a couple of hours later to check on him and he was sitting in his shelter with his head sticking out of the hole. If i would move just slightly near the cage he would try to strike me. I know that I am supposed to leave him alone for about two weeks to let him get acclimated, but i was just wondering, will his behavior change? Will I eventually be able to hold him without the risk of being struck. I know he was captive bred and he came from the same "litter" that my brother's snake came from, and that one is perfectly fine. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

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Originally Posted by ZeroGuitar00

I have just purchased my first ball python and he has got a temper. The first day that I brought him home, i put him in his cage to get acclimated. I came back a couple of hours later to check on him and he was sitting in his shelter with his head sticking out of the hole. If i would move just slightly near the cage he would try to strike me. I know that I am supposed to leave him alone for about two weeks to let him get acclimated, but i was just wondering, will his behavior change? Will I eventually be able to hold him without the risk of being struck. I know he was captive bred and he came from the same "litter" that my brother's snake came from, and that one is perfectly fine. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

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He is stressed by his new environment. Give him a week at least in a quiet room to get acclimated. He will be fine and so will you :)

I figured that that is what i have to do. Thank you for your help.

I wouldn't call him mean. Maybe defensive, unsettled, nervous, or hungry, but not mean :)

I think mean is more of a human emotion heh. His motivation for striking is probably one of the above, I wouldnt worry.

Yeah good point. I have another question. All that i have read says that the humidity level should remain around 50-60%. Mine is constantly at 40%. Everything says that this is bad as it could cause respiratory problems. I tried using a spray bottle to raise it, but it only stays at the desired humidity for about 10-20 minutes. What should i do to help it remain a steady level?

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Originally Posted by ZeroGuitar00

Yeah good point. I have another question. All that i have read says that the humidity level should remain around 50-60%. Mine is constantly at 40%. Everything says that this is bad as it could cause respiratory problems. I tried using a spray bottle to raise it, but it only stays at the desired humidity for about 10-20 minutes. What should i do to help it remain a steady level?

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Can you describe the enclosure? Also, what are you using to measure the humidity?

He is in a 20 gallon glass tank, about 30x12x12. It has a wire top where i have my heat lamps. The temp. is about 85-90 on one side and 80-85 on the other side. I have a hygrometer set in the middle of the tank. I am really worried that the humidity is too low and I can't keep it around 50-60% without constantly spraying it.

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Originally Posted by ZeroGuitar00

He is in a 20 gallon glass tank, about 30x12x12. It has a wire top where i have my heat lamps. The temp. is about 85-90 on one side and 80-85 on the other side. I have a hygrometer set in the middle of the tank. I am really worried that the humidity is too low and I can't keep it around 50-60% without constantly spraying it.

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First off, heat lamps suck the humidity out of the air. On top of that, using a glass tank with a screen top makes it hard (although not impossible) to keep the humidity up. What type of substrate are you using? You will want to get those temps to 92-94 on the warm and 82-84 on the cool.

I am using fir bark, which i have read is recommended. Do you have any ideas as to what I may be able to do to the tank to help it, besides lowering the temp. My brother has almost the exact same setup but he isn't having any problems with the humidity.

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Originally Posted by ZeroGuitar00

I am using fir bark, which i have read is recommended. Do you have any ideas as to what I may be able to do to the tank to help it, besides lowering the temp. My brother has almost the exact same setup but he isn't having any problems with the humidity.

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Lowering the temp is going to cause a whole different problem. Better to have the humidity a little low and have the temps where they need to be. Can you cover part of the screen lid or does the heat lamp take up the whole thing? Heat lamps are just not the best choice for Ball Pythons.

welcome to the site, read all of this. it covers glass setups pretty good.


http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=32800


i'm in richmond,va. what part of va are you in?


vaughn

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Originally Posted by kavmon

welcome to the site, read all of this. it covers glass setups pretty good.


http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=32800


i'm in richmond,va. what part of va are you in?


vaughn

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I forgot all about that. Thanks Vaughn! Rockstar...

There is a sticky for glass vivs you might want to check out. As far as you snake being "mean" it's likely just scared and defensive. Wouldn't you be if you were suddenly put in a strange environment and something that looks a lot like a predator was handling you and staring at you from above. Snakes don't think as much as they react instinctively and it's reacting pretty much as any snake would in that circumstance. Let it settle in with minimal contact and once you've gotten a few weeks of feeding into it, then gentle, short handling sessions.

I am currently trying to cover part of the top to see if that helps. What are my other options instead of heat lamps? I do also have a heating pad underneath of the tank.

Yeah that is what i am going to do. I will let it settle. Thanks for that link. I will check it out. By the way, I live just outside of Richmond. In Hanover.

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Originally Posted by ZeroGuitar00

Yeah that is what i am going to do. I will let it settle. Thanks for that link. I will check it out. By the way, I live just outside of Richmond. In Hanover.

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I think I had one of those last night :) :tongue2:

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Originally Posted by ZeroGuitar00

What are my other options instead of heat lamps?

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you could use flexwatt which is what alot of people on this forum use. you can get some at www.mgreptiles.com

One of our vivs is a glass type with a strip of mesh running down the centre of the roof part, it also has a ceramic heat lamp and guard. Our Boas used to live in there till they outgrew it. It is now home to my son's baby Boa. He sheds no problem in it. What we do is we have the water bowl near the heat source which provides humidity and when he's shedding we use a fine water spray (the type you can buy in any store for about £1) several times a day. If we need to up the humidity, we cling wrap over about 2/3rds of the mesh (not all of it and keep it away from the heat source) brings the humidity up just fine.

Thank you guys for all of your help. I have another question. Just out of curiosity, since I have never owned a ball python before, I was wondering how fast they can move? Should I ever be worried about him making a quick escape? I don't think that they can move that fast.

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Originally Posted by ZeroGuitar00

Thank you guys for all of your help. I have another question. Just out of curiosity, since I have never owned a ball python before, I was wondering how fast they can move? Should I ever be worried about him making a quick escape? I don't think that they can move that fast.

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I have a couple that can move pretty damn fast and some that are just lumps. They are nowhere near as quick as corns or milks but keep an eye on them anyway :)

That they don't normally move all that fast is pretty common. To assume they can't is setting yourself up for a snake stuck in the couch LOL. They can if they want move pretty darn quick! I swear sometimes when we are handling them they somehow sense any inattention on our part and make the fast dive for the bowels of the couch! LOL

:snake2: I'm not moving...I'm not moving.....:bolt: ....BWHAHAHAHAHAH...I'm a :snake2: in the :couch: !!!!!

I also get really nervous, being new to this, when he climbs up high and sniffs around the top acting like he is looking to get out. I am assuming this is completely normal.

Yep because he is looking for a way out :)
They are very much the escape artists. Make sure everything is very secure.

Where are you in Va?

Just outside of Richmond.

My snake was starting to get more comfortable, but now he just hides out in his shelter. Occasionally he will poke his head out, but he doesn't seem to be coming out anymore. Is this a normal habit for them. I tried to watch to see if he would come out at night, but he still isn't.

They love their hides. He's likely coming out when you aren't watching late in the night. As long as his temps are good and he's got hides on both sides that he fits into nicely I'm pretty sure he'll be using them as most do.