Bp always in feeding mode?

[Generationshell]

Having seen my bp after 10 weeks, I can definatly tell his behavioral changes.
One being that every time I would walk into the room he is in or open his tank he immediately was in feeding mode. Strike position, jerky movement, searching for something. Even after he was fed a nice medium rat a day before.

Why is he always in feeding mode now? Is it because one of the only times he is interacted with is when he is fed every week. So now he has associated ppl with bringing food?

I just don't like that behavior to be honest. I used to be able to just reach into the tank and touch his head, and now I can't or else he will strike at me.

[MitsuMike]

Hook train him. I was told that for my burm. When the top opens and a hook comes in and lifts his hide and pulls him out, it's handling time. When the tub lid is opened and no hook is there, it's feeding time. haha
Plus you can't expect an animal to just be all nice when the only time you open the tub is for food. Of course he is going to to think opening of the tub is food.

[Generationshell]

Well yea, its because I am away at college and my parents are the primary caretakers atm. They are doing a great job but they don't handle him but probably once every couple weeks. And I used to handle him a lot more.

[MitsuMike]

Well yea, its because I am away at college and my parents are the primary caretakers atm. They are doing a great job but they don't handle him but probably once every couple weeks. And I used to handle him a lot more.

Go in with a glove or something. Once he is out he will be back to normal. Its just the tub lid response that is the issue.

[Bones]

My snake is like that as well. He mostly always sits with his head poking out of his hide and his movements are jerky and fast. He acts like this even after I feed him. However, I handle my snake at least 2-3 times a week. I don't ever feel like he is going to strike.

How do you know that he will strike? Do you just feel like he will, or have you actually tried to grab him and have had him strike?

[Generationshell]

Well i just feel that he will. Because he is in an S position and making jerky movements. But I'm not for sure. He never did that in the past.

I'll be home in another month, and then 2 weeks later for 6 weeks.
But is there anything I can tell my parents to do to prevent this behavior?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

If he is fed appropriately this could very well be stress.

Stress can appear over time and be due to various reasons.

[Generationshell]

He is fed a medium rat once a week
And I make sure everything husbandry wise is up to par.
I have an accurite thermo/hydro with probe so I can keep track of everything. I have a regulator on the heating pad.
There are a lot of items in his 30 gallon tank, 3 hides, 3 sides of the tank are blacked out, foil over tank screen. Branches, logs, fake plants.I'm not sure what else there is to do. lol
Most of the time he is in his log (which is impossible to get him out of)
Goes into his warm hide sometimes, drinks water frequently. Comes out at night.
Just when people come in the room he gets alert.

[ballpythonluvr]

I have a bp that I rescued that does this all the time. I just put on gloves and lift the snake out of the enclosure. Once it is out, it seems to calm down.