Wandering and hissing?

[sbit]

Okay, I'm a little concerned about my normal female lately. She hasn't eaten in 3 weeks (I know I know, but this is a first for her ) and has been unusually active. Honestly, usually she acts like that if she's hungry, but although she'll act interested she won't strike. She's roaming around right now and every once in a while (maybe once every half day or so) she hisses.

I checked her mouth and nose, and everything looks good. She does have stuck eyecaps from a previous shed and seems like she might shed again, she's a little bluish. Temps are 78-88F. Help?? :|

[martin82531]

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=189935


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[sbit]

I feel sort of vaguely insulted by the pat reply (especially since I provided info) but I'll bite anyway?

1. How long have you had your ball python? A little over a year
2. How old (or how big) is your snake? 18 months / 1500g
3. Does it eat on a regular schedule? Yes
4. How long since its last meal? Three weeks
5. What type/size prey is being offered? Medium f/t rats
6. How often do you offer food? Every seven days
7. What type and size of enclosure does it live in? 20gal glass tank
8. What are you using as substrate? If it has depth, how deep is it? Aspen, 2 inches
9. What type of heating do you use? Heating lamp
10. Do you use a thermostat to control temperatures? No (see above)
11. What do you use to measure/monitor temperatures? Digital thermometers with probe
12. What are the surface and ambient temperatures in the enclosure? 78F/88F (ambient)
13. What is the average humidity level? 60%
14. How many and what type of hides does the snake have? Two (cork round, fake rock)
15. Is water readily available at all times? Yes
16. Does the snake live alone or does it share the enclosure with anything else? Alone
17. How often and for how long is the snake typically handled? Twice a week, 12-25min
18. Does the snake have any medical history (old injuries or illnesses)? No
19. Do you have any other reptiles? Have you brought in any new reptiles recently? Yes, a male BP; he was in quarantine for five months and has been out of quarantine for two.
20. Is there anything specific or unique about your situation that we should be aware of? She has stuck eyecaps from her last shed, and the unusual behavior is recent.


:s

[medicinhed]

My male was doing that a bit. Sans the hissing. But he would look like he was restless. Had two failed feeding tries. He took a small rat yesterday. BPs are odd that way. You can't always tell why they go off feed. Maybe her last meal was slightly bigger? White rat vs black rat, etc.

Do you use a separate feeding tub? I have used a combination of a feeding tub and covering it 3/4 with a towel. And then monitoring it from the open side.

I've also tried hides with top openings so the BP can ambush.

The stuck eyecaps can also contribute. Especially if she can't see as well or if her vision is blurry.

[sbit]

My male was doing that a bit. Sans the hissing. But he would look like he was restless. Had two failed feeding tries. He took a small rat yesterday. BPs are odd that way. You can't always tell why they go off feed. Maybe her last meal was slightly bigger? White rat vs black rat, etc.

Do you use a separate feeding tub? I have used a combination of a feeding tub and covering it 3/4 with a towel. And then monitoring it from the open side.

I've also tried hides with top openings so the BP can ambush.

The stuck eyecaps can also contribute. Especially if she can't see as well or if her vision is blurry.

I wonder about that - she does seem hesitant if the meal is a little bigger. Maybe I'll try a smaller rat and see what happens. I usually feed in her enclosure, but she sometimes won't eat until everyone's gone to bed.

Interesting thought about the hides! She used to be a more eager feeder all around...maybe it's harder to hide/strike now that she's bigger. I have a bigger tank for her now, but I wanted to get a rat in her before I switched her to it...hmmm.

Thank you!

[barbie.dragon]

Try a smaller meal. My snake was doing the same thing minus the hissing. She usually ate 60-70g rats but I recently fed her a rat pup/weanling that was 35 grams or so. She ate it but hesitated a bit. But it might be because I moved her to a tub. Doesn't hurt to try!

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[sbit]

Try a smaller meal. My snake was doing the same thing minus the hissing. She usually ate 60-70g rats but I recently fed her a rat pup/weanling that was 35 grams or so. She ate it but hesitated a bit. But it might be because I moved her to a tub. Doesn't hurt to try!

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Interesting. I'll try a small rat in a few days - thanks!

[itchmynipple]

my BP is young, wasn't taking F/T so i got a live one the other day and it ate it as soon as it realized it was moving and making noises.


he is happy and back in his hideouts again

[medicinhed]

sbit. your 20gall is fine for a bp that age.

I used to have trouble feeding my brazilian rainbow boa but I learned to cover his feeding tub and walk away. He eats f/t as well as live. Trying to switch all my snakes to f/t but bps are finicky. Part of the charm.

[Badgemash]

I had a similar problem with one my girls, although she's always been a hisser and no eye cap issues. Turns out she's just a rat racist and will only eat light colored ones. I'm wondering if the stuck caps are stressing her out a bit, she may not be able to see the food properly perhaps?