Acting A Little Funny

[Vanthios]

As of late, I've been having some feeding and behavioral difficulties with my older BP. Since the 6th, he's refused to take any F/T I've offered him. He's gradually become a little more picky about how he takes F/T, sometimes ignoring it until the lights are dimmed a little more or when the rat is offered seconds after being taken out of the warm water. Today, when I lifted his hide to take him out and handle him, he hissed at me. My juvenile does this all the time, and I'm not really surprised when she does it, but my this BP hasn't hissed at me since I first got him in August. He's just about three years of age now.

The winter in Virginia has been a little harsher than normal. I run two humidifiers in my room constantly, but his humidity stays at about 40%. Could it be the time of the year and the less-than-ideal conditions that are causing him to not feed and be a little more aggressive? Is there anything I can do to get him eating again?

Thanks!

[BCS]

Hissing doesn't mean aggressive by any means. I find my aggressive snake do not hiss at all. Usually they are already in the striking position the second they smell me or anyone else who happens to come near their rack. My friendly snakes hiss when I startle them though. So this may be the case for you. Going on a hunger strike, especially if it is colder then usual, is normal. I wouldn't worry about it yet and if he isn't losing any noticeable weight then it is a good sign that he is just not hungry.

[Mr. Misha]

One of my females hisses from time to time and that's when I know to leave her alone. Be glad that you get a warning and not a bite. At the end of the day they're wild animal and definitely act like it. I think people tend to forget that.