BP Freak Out = Owner Freak Out

So I've just had a very unsettling experience with my adult male BP. I've had him about 5-6 years and I would place his age around 7-8ish or so. I got him as a subadult.

Anyway, of all the snakes I own he is usually the sweetest, most handleable snake I have. I never worry about a raging feeding response or aggressive action when opening his enclosure. Any time someone wants to hold a snake I hand him/her Mr. Stippey.

Today I went and did my daily snake check. Stippey last ate on 1/3/08, started turning pink on 1/12/08, completed his shed today 1/22/08. I took him out of his enclosure, gave him a lookover to check for any retained eyecaps, generally just making sure his shed was clean and he looks good. I put him back into his enclosure and all hell breaks loose.

He starts thrashing, flipped over his 10" dog bowl of water like a fry cook making pancakes. I'm stunned, as my normally docile snake has just turned into a maniac. I'm terrified he's going to hurt himself, and he certainly knows what's going on because he's following my heat signature in strike position between thrashes. He's on a mission to get out of his enclosure and take off a finger in the process. I throw a towel over him and pull him out and put him in a pillowcase and tie it off, thinking he's less likely to hurt himself that way.

He settled down after being in the pillowcase, but thrashes again once I touch and/or pick up the pillowcase.

During all of this, all I can think is of how strong such a "small" constrictor is and how I'm glad it's a ball python as opposed to an angry burm, retic, or conda.

Anyway, I'm shocked that there is such an abrupt and drastic change in his behavior, a VERY good reminder that they are wild animals.

We have a great vet nearby, and if he is like this tomorrow morning I'm making him an appointment.

Any thoughts on what could have triggered such a drastic change in behavior? His environment/enclosure has been consistent for 6 months or more, which was when I moved all my snakes into a dedicated room. Been feeding regularly, and was observed locked with one of my females on 1/8/08.

I'm puzzled?!?!??! It's like someone turned on a light switch of fury.

Oh my gosh, I can't imagine how scary that must have been. I have no idea what it might be, but I hope you get things sorted out. I don't know how I'd react if my puppy-dog-sweet Harlett suddenly acted out that way.

Like you said, it really does show that they're wild animals. Sheesh.

Good luck with everything.

I have no clue what could cause him to do that but it sounds really scary...Hope he is alright.......good luck.:)

Hungry or Mating drive? those would be my two best guesses:)

You mentioned a lock in 1/8/08, so might be the smell of the females, or if he was in shed and skip a meal probably he is hungry. Also if in any way you were working with the rats or any other pet (dog, cat, birds..) and you pick him maybe the smell on your hands or clothes make him think in feeding time.

Hope he settle down soon and start to act normally.

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Originally Posted by Repti-Rob

Hungry or Mating drive?

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Originally Posted by dracovolans

You mentioned a lock in 1/8/08, so might be the smell of the females.

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Us girls and our mojo, just drives them boys crazy.

Seriously though, can a mating drive incite this type of behavior? I guess I was never aware, or neglected to educate myself, that my male bps might become highly aggressive during breeding season.

Woah. I had one snake that acted like that (for a brief time) but it was a WC female. She would flail around and whip her tail around trying to get free, and even musked me once!
It is hard to say why your snake did that. Maybe it did have something to do with breeding season? Maybe your snake had an inkling that another male was around (were there any in other tubs?)

One of my adult ball pythons acted strangely yesterday also. He's usually really relaxed and laid back but when i went to pick him up he freaked hissed really loud and flew into his hide. It freaked me out and i just left him alone. I got him out today though and he's just as docile as he usually is. Good luck with yours..

WOW! Interesting to say the least. I'll be keeping an eye out for an update. I hope everything is ok with him.

The likelyhood of me ever picking up Foster has now diminished! LOL

I think when it comes to unusual behaviour while it's smart to pay attention and see if it's a reaction to something specific, it's also best to step back and watch for a pattern forming. Sometimes animals, especially highly instinctual ones like snakes, just do things for no reason apparent to a human being. I'm not saying to ignore this but I wouldn't freak out too much. Just closely monitor the snake, make sure everything really is okay in his world, go about your business and see if this re-occurs or anything else manifests itself.

If you have any concern, however, that this is a health related issue, please consult with your herp vet as you see fit.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

I think when it comes to unusual behaviour while it's smart to pay attention and see if it's a reaction to something specific, it's also best to step back and watch for a pattern forming. Sometimes animals, especially highly instinctual ones like snakes, just do things for no reason apparent to a human being. I'm not saying to ignore this but I wouldn't freak out too much. Just closely monitor the snake, make sure everything really is okay in his world, go about your business and see if this re-occurs or anything else manifests itself.

If you have any concern, however, that this is a health related issue, please consult with your herp vet as you see fit.

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Good point. The main reason I was alarmed is because it's so uncharacteristic of him. I checked on him this morning and I can touch him without him thrashing but he goes into strike position.

He's been aggressive once before when he had a slight burn on his head years ago (newbie keeper error), which makes me think that maybe something hurts or he's not feeling well.

I'll keep an eye on him, thanks all for the ideas and advice.

Was he asleep when you checked on him? If he was, I can see that hair trigger snapping when you open the tub, then you pick him up to grab him and the stress just builds and lets loose because he thinks he's in extreme danger.

We have to remember, always, that they are not domestic animals, and to approach them with caution. It's always a good idea to wake them up before we handle them. Either by tapping on the cage, stroking their back with an inanimate object or the like.

If this isn't the case, and he continues to show aggression, you may have to consider some sort of injury or enviromental cue.

I personally would leave him be except for any needed reason to pick him up. Give him a week to unwind, and start from there.

I hope the best for you :gj:

I have 2 girls that are really skiddish when being put back into their tubs. They don't really like to be handled but aren't bad when I do need to move them around. They're tame and aside from being a little restless they're not too bad when held.

I always try to make taking them out of the tubs and putting them back in a slow easy process with the two of them, but no matter how gentle I try to be they go bananas once they're in the tub. They pretty much dart to the corners or to the nearest hide.

I really think they feel I'm going to eat them :confused:

You mentioned breeding - sounds a lot like what my pissy dominant males do when they feel challenged around the females. I have one who will try really hard to bring himself to eye-level with you and he always looks like he's on the verge of a strike but never does.

I actually find it rather entertaining, but i wish i knew how to calm him down. Instead, all i can do is leave him alone and let him get it out of his system.

If he's not showing signs of injury or illness, and everything's okay with his environment, it's probably some extra sensory stuff going on (scent you can't detect, etc.) and you'll just have to come back later. I'm betting he is fine.

Interesting thread...mine was a bit testy yesterday too! But not quite as scary. He had just shed and it was feeding day, so I went ahead with the feed. You'd think he hadn't had a bite to eat in the last three months or something. Struck at the enclosure as I scented the room - I put the prey in and closed the top and he struck at the top! I just figured he worked up an appetite with all that shedding.

Breeding...I have seen it make a sweet snake mean and a mean snake sweet. I have a 1900g female that you can't touch with a 10ft pole during the off season. While she is involved with breedings she is an angel. Some get more aggressive during breeding season. Bottom line is it sounds like you know your snake pretty well and I think you will pin-point the problem.

i also have a 7 year old male that i take to presentations and trust. he is very docile. i am cycling for breeding this year and he is a different snake. one time i had him out and he started doing exactly what you are describing. he is just trying to "combat" me. its normal behavior, tis the breeding season.

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Originally Posted by extensive

i also have a 7 year old male that i take to presentations and trust. he is very docile. i am cycling for breeding this year and he is a different snake. one time i had him out and he started doing exactly what you are describing. he is just trying to "combat" me. its normal behavior, tis the breeding season.

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Wow. This has turned out to be quite the informative thread. Thanks all for all the replies.

I left him alone for a while. I checked him out today, and he was a little twitchy but nothing like he was before.

I watched a male "combat" video, just to see what that behavior is like. The posturing Stippey exhibited, raising his head high, etc. was very similar. Interesting. I'm curious if he'll behave like that again.

Now I'm no longer alarmed, but certainly intrigued!

maybe he wasnt in the mood to be handled?

As an update to this thread I thought I'd give a status report. All those souls that suggested his behavior was because of breeding...I think you may have been right.

I took him out the other night and placed him next to a big normal girl for some comparison shots. After about ten minutes, I picked him up to put him back in his enclosure and he started his thrashing. It wasn't to the level it was the night of my initial post, but darn tootin it was the same deal.

I'd taken him out several times to check on him periodically since my initial post and he was fine. Although after sitting in the tub with a female for a while it appears he wasn't keen on going home alone.

Thanks for all your input everyone, quite helpful in figuring this one out.