My Bp has a serious aggro issues why? part 2

so today i went to go say hi and change his H2O i was greeted with a really really pissed off bp lol

i was slow and calm and "like i have every other time" but he was hissing and immediately got into striking pose. struck 3 times at my face with me just standing in one spot.


he Just shed ! complete shed and i never handle him after a feed ! for at least 48hr

he has never been like this just the last 4 days !

i guess my questions are as follows

has anyone elce had hostility after a shed?

i have him in a tub like you see all snake breeders have and now have 2 hides could he be pissed because its to small of a space?

Usually after snakes shed they may still be a little stressed out because of the whole entire shedding process, and the shedding may tire them out.

Sometimes when a snake has a small space they will become aggressive because they need a larger space to roam around. Post up some pictures of his container and I'll tell you if the space is too small or just right.

I wish that I could give you a definitive answer as to why, just make sure your husbandry is spot on then go from there. Are you keeping rodents near by?

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Sometimes when a snake has a small space they will become aggressive because they need a larger space to roam around.

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Actually quite the contrary.

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Originally Posted by llovelace

I wish that I could give you a definitive answer as to why, just make sure your husbandry is spot on then go from there. Are you keeping rodents near by?

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i clean as much as i can and no rodents ill post the enclosure

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...6/p1030224.jpg



now has 2 hides

Not sure how large he is, so can you take another pic of the enclosure with him in it?

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Originally Posted by BallPythonLOVER

Not sure how large he is, so can you take another pic of the enclosure with him in it?

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hahaha i wish i had a vidio of me trying to get him out like 30 min ago



he is in no mood to be leaving or have me opening his tub and taking pics.

i think it may have to do with the shedding i just watched a clip on youtube with a bp that just shed and is the same way
YouTube - the pissy ball python

In most case aggressive behavior is often due to husbandry issues.
From the picture here are the first thing I would address.

1# Humidity / Temperature gauge need to be replaced by a digital hygrometer and digital thermometer.

Analog devices are not reliable and can give you a false sense of security.

2# I would also recommend better hides, identical and tight, with all sides touching your BP’s body. (Security is your priority at this time)

If your BP is exerting an aggressive behavior now is not the time to upgrade to a larger enclosure.

You also need to limit your handling, handling your BP daily can cause stress, stress leads to aggressive behavior among other problems.

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Originally Posted by Jah-Riddem

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...6/p1030224.jpg
now has 2 hides

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Originally Posted by Deborah

In most case aggressive behavior is often due to husbandry issues.
From the picture here are the first thing I would address.

1# Humidity / Temperature gauge need to be replaced by a digital hygrometer and digital thermometer.

Analog devices are not reliable and can give you a false sense of security.

2# I would also recommend better hides, identical and tight, with all sides touching your BP’s body. (Security is your priority at this time)

If your BP is exerting an aggressive behavior now is not the time to upgrade to a larger enclosure.

You also need to limit your handling, handling your BP daily can cause stress, stress leads to aggressive behavior among other problems.

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I usually handle my female daily, except the day she eats and the day after. She isn't aggressive at all and has shown no aggressive signs to me when in and out of the enclosure. She's pretty sweet and the nicest snake I've ever owned from the frequent handling she gets. She never really seems stressed out at all when I handle her either. Maybe she enjoys the attention?:)

my bp was agressive when i first got it, maybe leave it alone for a week or so?? idk maybe its just mad all the time??

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Originally Posted by BallPythonLOVER

I usually handle my female daily, except the day she eats and the day after. She isn't aggressive at all and has shown no aggressive signs to me when in and out of the enclosure. She's pretty sweet and the nicest snake I've ever owned from the frequent handling she gets. She never really seems stressed out at all when I handle her either. Maybe she enjoys the attention?:)

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I am curious how many aggressive BP have you dealt with and helped by daily handling?

Again daily handling with a BP that is obviously having issues is not something that should be recommended and this was already stressed in the previous thread.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I am curious how many aggressive BP have you dealt with and helped by daily handling?

Again daily handling with a BP that is obviously having issues is not something that should be recommended and this was already stressed in the previous thread.

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Well, I've only have 2 BPs. The recent one I purchased (about 3 weeks ago) is getting used to handling pretty quickly. I'll take him out and have my female out too and he seems to enjoy it. He still is kinda weird around a group of people, but that's how Candice (female BP) used to be but she's all used to the handling.

Handling an aggressive BP daily for long periods of time will cause stress. But if he handles the snake about 10-15 minutes a day the snake will slowly get used to it and then once the snake seems to be getting used to handling he should try to handle the snake for a longer period of time, maybe 20-25 minutes. I did that with my mean King snake one time and he eventually got used to handling and I was able to take him out of his enclosure without gloves or a hook. He is mean now, but that's because I stopped handling him because he bit me.. My first snake bite was from him lol. He's gotten me 3 times now, but it doesn't really bother me. I still take him out, but he just strikes and stuff but I still try to handle him.

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Originally Posted by BallPythonLOVER

I usually handle my female daily, except the day she eats and the day after. She isn't aggressive at all and has shown no aggressive signs to me when in and out of the enclosure. She's pretty sweet and the nicest snake I've ever owned from the frequent handling she gets. She never really seems stressed out at all when I handle her either. Maybe she enjoys the attention?:)

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Well, they all have unique personalities! Luckily none of mine are aggressive, but they each react differently to being handled. To the OP, my female Delilah gets SUPER cranky during a shed, as she is right now... she's been in the opaque stage for the last few days, and just hissed when I approached to check her humidity. Then when she's done shedding, she usually gets really hungry and active - have you fed your snake since the shed?

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

Well, they all have unique personalities! Luckily none of mine are aggressive, but they each react differently to being handled. To the OP, my female Delilah gets SUPER cranky during a shed, as she is right now... she's been in the opaque stage for the last few days, and just hissed when I approached to check her humidity. Then when she's done shedding, she usually gets really hungry and active - have you fed your snake since the shed?

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no i fed 2 days before!

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Originally Posted by BallPythonLOVER

Well, I've only have 2 BPs. The recent one I purchased (about 3 weeks ago) is getting used to handling pretty quickly. I'll take him out and have my female out too and he seems to enjoy it. He still is kinda weird around a group of people, but that's how Candice (female BP) used to be but she's all used to the handling.

Handling an aggressive BP daily for long periods of time will cause stress. But if he handles the snake about 10-15 minutes a day the snake will slowly get used to it and then once the snake seems to be getting used to handling he should try to handle the snake for a longer period of time, maybe 20-25 minutes. I did that with my mean King snake one time and he eventually got used to handling and I was able to take him out of his enclosure without gloves or a hook. He is mean now, but that's because I stopped handling him because he bit me.. My first snake bite was from him lol. He's gotten me 3 times now, but it doesn't really bother me. I still take him out, but he just strikes and stuff but I still try to handle him.

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If you just got your 2nd bp a couple of weeks ago I would not have them out together as they should have been quarantined from one another for 3-6 months (varies from person to person). I would be very careful with the advice handed out as you just took in your 2nd bp. Most solid advice comes from years of experience and experimenting to see what works and more importantly what doesn't. Over handling a stressed snake will generally just make them more stressed. Short handling sessions are usually in order.

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

Well, they all have unique personalities! Luckily none of mine are aggressive, but they each react differently to being handled. To the OP, my female Delilah gets SUPER cranky during a shed, as she is right now... she's been in the opaque stage for the last few days, and just hissed when I approached to check her humidity. Then when she's done shedding, she usually gets really hungry and active - have you fed your snake since the shed?

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Of course. My BP is always ready to take a meal, but I don't feed when shedding. I feed the day the snake sheds or the day after. When I had a Milk snake I would feed him during shed, he couldn't shed his skin off and I tried 2 months trying to get it off but nothing happened and the snake died. I'm not sure if it was caused from me feeding it while shedding or the humidity wasn't right.. I'm not really sure. I even tried soaking in warm water, putting it in a container of damp paper towels. Everything. Idk what happened :P

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Originally Posted by waltah!

If you just got your 2nd bp a couple of weeks ago I would not have them out together as they should have been quarantined from one another for 3-6 months (varies from person to person). I would be very careful with the advice handed out as you just took in your 2nd bp. Most solid advice comes from years of experience and experimenting to see what works and more importantly what doesn't. Over handling a stressed snake will generally just make them more stressed. Short handling sessions are usually in order.

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I've only had both BPs out a few times. I've only let them touch each other a few times, but only for a few seconds. I understand that diseases and parasites could be spread from one another but both snakes are completely healthy. I don't have both out for long periods of time either. Just for 5 minutes at the most. I handle them individually daily, but when I spot clean the enclosures and change the water dish I'll have both on my bed, but separated on both ends of my bed and if they tried getting close I'd walk over and put them back in the spots I had them in.

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When I had a Milk snake I would feed him during shed, he couldn't shed his skin off and I tried 2 months trying to get it off but nothing happened and the snake died.

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Before other members that might be new to this hobby start panicking because of the above post, I will add that feeding during shed whether it is a milk, a king a BP or any other kind of snake will not prevent them from shedding properly nor will it lead to death.

This was purely a coincidence.

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Originally Posted by BallPythonLOVER

I've only had both BPs out a few times. I've only let them touch each other a few times, but only for a few seconds. I understand that diseases and parasites could be spread from one another but both snakes are completely healthy. I don't have both out for long periods of time either. Just for 5 minutes at the most. I handle them individually daily, but when I spot clean the enclosures and change the water dish I'll have both on my bed, but separated on both ends of my bed and if they tried getting close I'd walk over and put them back in the spots I had them in.

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Quarantine means they are not even in the same part of the home. When cleaning and feeding the quarantined animals would be the last ones taken care of so as not to transfer to your established snakes. Many people will not even wear the same clothes after handling QT animals. Things like mites will transfer easily from across a room...very easily. You may not see signs of mites at the moment, but you can't see the eggs.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Before other members that might be new to this hobby start panicking because of the above post, I will add that feeding during shed whether it is a milk, a king a BP or any other kind of snake will not prevent them from shedding properly nor will it lead to death.

This was purely a coincidence.

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Oh ok thanks. I thought that the snake grew while still in the shed so it couldn't shed the skin off, but now I'm figuring out that the humidity level might've had been too low. Well,I guess I wasn't that informed about what to do when a snake sheds during that time. That happened about 2 or 3 years ago.

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Originally Posted by BallPythonLOVER

Usually after snakes shed they may still be a little stressed out because of the whole entire shedding process, and the shedding may tire them out.

Sometimes when a snake has a small space they will become aggressive because they need a larger space to roam around. Post up some pictures of his container and I'll tell you if the space is too small or just right.

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This thread and the questions posed by the OP are about BALL PYTHONS. A species that prefers to live it's life in VERY confined spaces such as rat tunnels and abandoned termite mounds. These are snakes stressed by large open areas NOT by smaller more confined spaces. Perhaps a greater study and understanding of this species specific needs is in order prior to making blanket statements that are not based on fact or extensive personal experience.

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Originally Posted by BallPythonLOVER

I usually handle my female daily, except the day she eats and the day after. She isn't aggressive at all and has shown no aggressive signs to me when in and out of the enclosure. She's pretty sweet and the nicest snake I've ever owned from the frequent handling she gets. She never really seems stressed out at all when I handle her either. Maybe she enjoys the attention?:)

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You have 2 ball pythons over a relatively short space of time. Just because 1 female snake is not showing stress at this point does not mean this is the norm for this species. As well stress in these snakes can be silent and cumulative. You may not see the full damage of continued stress for months yet.

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Originally Posted by BallPythonLOVER

Well, I've only have 2 BPs. The recent one I purchased (about 3 weeks ago) is getting used to handling pretty quickly. I'll take him out and have my female out too and he seems to enjoy it. He still is kinda weird around a group of people, but that's how Candice (female BP) used to be but she's all used to the handling.

Handling an aggressive BP daily for long periods of time will cause stress. But if he handles the snake about 10-15 minutes a day the snake will slowly get used to it and then once the snake seems to be getting used to handling he should try to handle the snake for a longer period of time, maybe 20-25 minutes. I did that with my mean King snake one time and he eventually got used to handling and I was able to take him out of his enclosure without gloves or a hook. He is mean now, but that's because I stopped handling him because he bit me.. My first snake bite was from him lol. He's gotten me 3 times now, but it doesn't really bother me. I still take him out, but he just strikes and stuff but I still try to handle him.e eventually got used to handling and I was able to take him out of his enclosure without gloves or a hook. He is mean now, but that's because I stopped handling him because he bit me.. My first snake bite was from him lol. He's gotten me 3 times now, but it doesn't really bother me. I still take him out, but he just strikes and stuff but I still try to handle him.

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Firstly as you've been told you should be quarantining those snakes. Choosing not to do proper QT is a mistake and one that eventually will catch up with you and unfortunately it will be your snakes that suffer for your decision. Unless you have had them to an experienced herp vet, had fecal floats done or purchased them both from a top breeder you cannot state they are healthy. Even snakes purchased from great breeders are usually quarantined for a period of time and you will find that many breeders recommend this as a good husbandry routine.

Second point, what works for a colubrid won't necessarily work for a boidae. Again study of a species and their needs is in order here in my opnion. Apparently whatever you did with the King didn't work since he continues to bite you.

Please do not think I am picking on you or your posts, however, I think you are a bit inexperienced at this point to be handing out this sort of advice which others depend upon as either being based on solid fact or solid personal experience. We all had to learn the basics and most of us will tell you we still are learning daily. Enjoy the learning process.

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Originally Posted by waltah!

Quarantine means they are not even in the same part of the home. When cleaning and feeding the quarantined animals would be the last ones taken care of so as not to transfer to your established snakes. Many people will not even wear the same clothes after handling QT animals. Things like mites will transfer easily from across a room...very easily. You may not see signs of mites at the moment, but you can't see the eggs.

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True. The thing is, I have no where else in my house to put snakes rather than in my room so I had no choice but to keep the new BP in my room. Things have been going good so far, I don't notice any diseases with that snake or my other snakes that I have in that room. I did notice a few mites on him, but I eliminated that problem in a week. I sprayed his enclosure with JurassiMite and rubbed it on his entire body with a towel. That stuff really seemed to work within 3-4 days. So I've only had my snake for a month, and I'm still watching for more mites so I have him on paper towels. He's been on paper towels for a few weeks, so far, I notice nothing on him or in the enclosure (and in the water dish). I check him daily for any mites underneath the scales and ones that could be running around on him but I haven't seen any. I don't see any mites on my other snakes either, as I have been checking them daily as well especially my other BP.

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Originally Posted by BallPythonLOVER

Well, I've only have 2 BPs. The recent one I purchased (about 3 weeks ago) is getting used to handling pretty quickly. I'll take him out and have my female out too and he seems to enjoy it. He still is kinda weird around a group of people, but that's how Candice (female BP) used to be but she's all used to the handling.

Handling an aggressive BP daily for long periods of time will cause stress. But if he handles the snake about 10-15 minutes a day the snake will slowly get used to it and then once the snake seems to be getting used to handling he should try to handle the snake for a longer period of time, maybe 20-25 minutes. I did that with my mean King snake one time and he eventually got used to handling and I was able to take him out of his enclosure without gloves or a hook. He is mean now, but that's because I stopped handling him because he bit me.. My first snake bite was from him lol. He's gotten me 3 times now, but it doesn't really bother me. I still take him out, but he just strikes and stuff but I still try to handle him.

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A kingsnake and a ball python are two different species with two completely different personalities and what works for one doesn't automatically work for the other.

You just got the male 3 weeks ago and you're already having them out together? How long was your quarantine period of them? Washing hands between handling them, not allowing them to share anything (cleaning supplies, tongs, etc)?

Overhandling a stressed out ball python (which his is telling him in all the ways that it possible can, asking to be left alone) is NOT going to help it.

I know you are really trying to help out, but some of the advice that you have been sharing shows just how little experience you really have when it comes to ball pythons and their care. It might be best to keep learning a little more before giving out advice that doesn't make any sense if you understand a ball python's nature.

Tiffany, as I advised you - you are not a herp vet, neither are you set up to do your own fecal floats. Many diseases cannot be seen visually until the events are so severe it's often too late. Viruses and bacteria are not something you can ever see with the naked eye.

QT procedures are vitally important. Skipping them because you chose to bring in a snake when you didn't have room to QT it is your decision. However, we've seen people take this road before and we've read the posts as their snakes died slowly one by one or had to be euthanized. For me and for many experienced people here, skipping QT is just not worth the high price the snakes have to pay for this sort of shortcuts.

Your snake can in with mites? Then I have to assume you did not purchase him for a quality breeder. An even more vital reason for him to have been quarantined. Are you aware snake mites have a month long life/reproductive cycle? If the snake has only been with you 3 weeks he could very well still show another breakout of mites in the next week or so. Mites are an acknowledged vector for snake disease.

I hope you seriously consider what we are telling you about the safety and health of the snakes you keep.

Sometimes from my experience, animals just have bad days like humans, maybe he was just in a bad mood.

If you double and triple check all you husbandry, and they are spot on, I would just wait. Don't handle him for a while and see if he settles down. Some of my bp's are always pissy and some are nice, they all have different personalities. If this is a sudden change though, the other thing I would check is see if he has eye caps on? They are easy to miss sometimes and that always makes them unhappy and jumpy.

what kind of wood did you make your hid box thing out of! with the hole? if its pine trash it

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Originally Posted by BallPythonLOVER

True. The thing is, I have no where else in my house to put snakes rather than in my room so I had no choice but to keep the new BP in my room. Things have been going good so far, I don't notice any diseases with that snake or my other snakes that I have in that room. I did notice a few mites on him, but I eliminated that problem in a week. I sprayed his enclosure with JurassiMite and rubbed it on his entire body with a towel. That stuff really seemed to work within 3-4 days. So I've only had my snake for a month, and I'm still watching for more mites so I have him on paper towels. He's been on paper towels for a few weeks, so far, I notice nothing on him or in the enclosure (and in the water dish). I check him daily for any mites underneath the scales and ones that could be running around on him but I haven't seen any. I don't see any mites on my other snakes either, as I have been checking them daily as well especially my other BP.

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I always get my BP's from one good, small time local breeder and I still do at least a 3 month QT time, minamal. doesn't matter how healthy they look! Mites are hard to see and something like RI you can't see until its too late! Very important to do a proper QT.