Second opinions needed, please!

[Jukeboxhero]

Hello! I adopted my BP, Roswell, from a reptile rescue almost 3 years ago. It was probably about 3 months old or so. It's lived in a 40 gallon long since then, I use aspen for substrate and it seems healthy (sheds fine, very big appetite, etc).

What I'd like opinions on is:
1) I used to hold Roswell a couple times a week for the first 1 1/2 years, then I got engaged and only took it out for tank cleanings and feedings for the next 6 months. I have gotten bit by it during that time (only because it was feeding time, my bad those 3 times), but am hesitant now only because I went to handle it recently [when it shouldn't have been hungry] and it lunged towards my face. I was talking to my husband while I was focusing on Roswell, so could that have been too much noise or something? I talked to Roswell when handling it when it was smaller, so I don't know what the matter might be...

2) Because of that last attempt I get jumpy whenever I hold Roswell and it faces my hands or arms. I end up just letting it attempt to slither back into its tank in my hands so it can remember being held doesn't mean being attacked.

Sorry for the large post, but I would love any advice! Especially for how to not be jumpy. I know being bit doesn't hurt but it's the anticipation of it possibly happening that throws me off. Thank you in advance!

[Moose84]

How often are you feeding this snake and what are you feeding it?

Also, did you notice prior to it lunging at your face what position the snake was in? Was the snake tense and rigid and in a defensive pose? Ball pythons aren't typically snakes that will just lunge from a random position. When they strike, most of the time the owner/handler should have seen it coming..

[Bogertophis]

Snakes rely on instincts & when you don't hold them for a while, you may need to get re-acquainted...yours may be fearful now, or possibly really IS hungry?
Most likely, when you open the cage now he just assumes it's dinner time. You might try tap-training, if he's really not hungry, but keep in mind that most snakes
eat more heavily in the summer...this is instinctive for breeding & to prepare for leaner months ahead, so try to signal to him that it's not dinner being served.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ing-Guidelines

Snakes are deaf & our voices aren't likely an issue...they feel vibrations from low (bass) notes to some extent, but voices not so much...more like a stereo, etc.

[Bogertophis]

[Jukeboxhero]

I do feed Roswell 1 or 2 adult mice (depending on how big the mice are; they aren't consistent sizes) every 10 days. I could tell it was tense when I initially picked it up, but it seemed to have relaxed after holding him still in both hands. I never heard of them being more hungry in the summer so I may start to feed it every 7 days. It never fasts in the winter, though, so would that cause Roswell to get too fat?

He does seem to come out and look around when I'm in the same room during the day. Could I be making it cranky by waking it up by accident? I don't bump its tank or mess with his stand.

[Reptilius]

With Roswell being 3 years old, 2 Adult Mice is way too little food.
You should be feeding at least a Medium size Rat every 10 days or so.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Jukeboxhero]

I don't know its gender or weight so I have been feeding it food comparable to it's girth. I'll feed it an extra mouse until these are finished, then upgrade him to a small rat, then to a medium rat.