Strange Aggressive Behavior

[cnorgard]

I currently have a male ball python and we have had him for over a year now. We had adopted him from some "less than experienced" owner who, from his description, bought him and named him Spike or something ultra common because he thought it would look cool. When we got him he was in a filthy tank and hadnt shed or eaten in a while. We nursed him back to health, damaged scales, eye caps, nasal congestion... The whollllle 9 really. He was fine up until around last night, we tried to move somethings around in his tank and change out some water when we noticed he was wincing and drawing back dramatically to EVERY touch. My fiance tried to pick him up to get him away from our other python and he was hissing and flailing about, we put him back and took the other calm snake out instead. He proceeded to flail wildly some more and run into things like his hide, branch, and the glass wall of the tank. I dont know what is wrong with him but he settled down later. Has anyone else encountered this? I have searched repeadetly to find something that could make sense, hunger, pain, stress, disease, something but nothing yields really accurate results and im not placing security in the blank stare of the petcorporate employee. If you know what it might be PLEASE dont hesistate to tell me or troubleshoot. Ive regulated tank temp, humidity and he loves the other snakes company so Ive tried to rule those out. Please contact me if anyone knows. Thanks!!

[Kinra]

I can't really help you out with why he was acting different. It's possible that you just spooked him and he went into major flight mode.

What I do want to comment on is ball pythons are not community snakes. When they "cuddle" together they are actually fighting for resources. Yes they can be housed together, but most don't recommend it. They usually do much better when housed separately.

[heathers*bps]

For one, he does not love the other snakes company. Ball pythons are not a social animal and live a much happier and healthier life when they live alone. Separate your snakes. There is a small chance of it happening, but they can eat each other. Plus when one gets sick, double your expenses at the vet. It's really not the smartest way in keeping multiple bps.

Two, what is he/she eating and how often? What size is the snake?

Three, can you post pics of your setup?

There is a good chance you just startled him, but I think giving us his eating habits and pics of his setup, we might be able to help you better.

[Skittles1101]

For one, he does not love the other snakes company. Ball pythons are not a social animal and live a much happier and healthier life when they live alone. Separate your snakes. There is a small chance of it happening, but they can eat each other. Plus when one gets sick, double your expenses at the vet. It's really not the smartest way in keeping multiple bps.

Two, what is he/she eating and how often? What size is the snake?

Three, can you post pics of your setup?

There is a good chance you just startled him, but I think giving us his eating habits and pics of his setup, we might be able to help you better.

+10000

Even if your husbandry is spot on and there is NOTHING wrong with your husbandry, simply the stress of being forced to live with another snake could easily be the cause. Get another enclosure.

[Scaleyz]

Well so far everybody on here has hit the nail on the head. And given where he came from the whole 9 yards as you put it, he definately should not be housed with another snake, he is being stressed even more in my opinion by being housed with another snake. Even though you guys have nursed him back to health and he is doing much better, in the wild even though he isn't in the wild he is still an animal and they aren't those cuddly they wanna snuggle animals. They go by instinct and his instinct from being starved and suffering from the previous owner and now living with another snake may be a little too much for him to handle and that may be why he is showing this aggression. Unfortunately because of his previous situation it is probably best for him to live by himself, its also honestly not a great idea to house multiple snakes. Especially a snake that came from such conditions he may be harboring underlying ailments that because he is being housed with another snake he will pass to the other.

I hope this helps, good luck!

BTW I own 11 snakes and out of the 11 (4) were rescues and 2 of them had underlying conditions that had I housed them all together would have had a devastating effect on my entire population :{

[Mike41793]

Yea i agree with what everyone has said, you got to seperate them. Theyre not social animals, even in the wild.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Definitely don't keep them together. If you haven't had a parasite test done yet, now is the time (and if he comes up positive--you will have to treat both snakes).

As for his behavior...perhaps he's feeling better now. He may simply be a flightier and more nervous snake than your other one, and it will take time to tame him. He probably wasn't handled much in his previous home. When an animal is feeling poorly, it will put up less resistance, so his new behavior may just mean you have rehabilitated him successfully.

[pigfat]

For one, he does not love the other snakes company. Ball pythons are not a social animal and live a much happier and healthier life when they live alone. Separate your snakes. There is a small chance of it happening, but they can eat each other. Plus when one gets sick, double your expenses at the vet. It's really not the smartest way in keeping multiple bps.

Two, what is he/she eating and how often? What size is the snake?

Three, can you post pics of your setup?

There is a good chance you just startled him, but I think giving us his eating habits and pics of his setup, we might be able to help you better.

X 5 or 6 now?

[jfmoore]

Cnorgard, what is the sex of the other snake in that cage? It's the breeding season now, you know? Males combat other males. And even when caged alone, some can act touchy about being messed with by anyone or anything.