Do ball pythons have bad days?

[siwueofk]

I've had my ball python going on 2 months. He's 3 months old.
He was nervous and hissy from the get-go.
I've been slowly and patiently working with him. In the beginning, he would ball up, then slither quickly away from me.
Now he will explore, occasionally he might ball up but he won't hide his head. He will occasionally hiss at me initially taking him out, occasionally he won't. He's also occasionally been very very sweet to me.

Today though, he was extremely hissy and jumpy. And I don't think he's turning blue either?
But every time he hisses at me, it breaks my heart a little.
Will his timidness ever go away?

My baby hognose on the other hand, very chill from day 1.

Oh also will add he's a good eater, husbandry is all on point too.

[Bogertophis]

Remember how big & scary we are to a little snake, & that in the wild, the only thing that picks them up is a predator, so instinctively, he's afraid & doing his best
to defend himself by scaring you away (lol). Be patient...some take longer than others to adapt...these are not domesticated animals, remember that. Captive-bred
is not the same thing...snakes are "wild" animals that didn't choose to live with us. We at least owe them a good explanation along with plenty of "TLC".

[siwueofk]

Remember how big & scary we are to a little snake, & that in the wild, the only thing that picks them up is a predator, so instinctively, he's afraid & doing his best
to defend himself by scaring you away (lol). Be patient...some take longer than others to adapt...these are not domesticated animals, remember that. Captive-bred
is not the same thing...snakes are "wild" animals that didn't choose to live with us. We at least owe them a good explanation along with plenty of "TLC".

True but I feel like today, we took 2 steps backwards???
I haven't seen him this hissy or jumpy in over a month.

I'll add that I don't think he's turning blue, but I also don't know anything, and it has probably been over a month since his last shed.

[Bogertophis]

True but I feel like today, we took 2 steps backwards???
I haven't seen him this hissy or jumpy in over a month.

I'll add that I don't think he's turning blue, but I also don't know anything, and it has probably been over a month since his last shed.

Snakes appear able to "feel" a shed coming before we can see any evidence, so there's that possibility.

Also, he could have a tummy-ache, for example. Recently someone mentioned about their snake being suddenly moody, then right after that the snake did 4 big dumps-
so apparently the snake had a "tummy ache" (& wanted to be left alone), since after that the snake went back to his own sweet self.

Something else might be going on: unfamiliar scents in the room maybe? other pets? kids teasing? things causing vibrations? (motors, bass/stereo, earthquakes, etc).

Don't take it personal...

[Bogertophis]

T.M.I. Anyway, our snakes have their own personalities, some are chill, some not so much. Until they learn to talk, all we can do is guess, & assume
they have a good reason for being moody.

As far as soiling their sleeping quarters, some snakes don't seem to pay much attention, perhaps because they are still adapted for living in the wild, so when they
"go", they don't stick around. Or to it? (ew!) It's the same reason they don't kill live rodents in their enclosure if they aren't hungry...in the wild, they just move
on, so they don't sense the danger from the rodent.

[siwueofk]

Haha nothing husbandry-wise has changed. But he did leave a poop in his hide, yet he was still sleeping in it??? Ew???
Yeah I'll just not bother him for a few days, hopefully we'll get back on track to him becoming a future sweet sweet little boi *fingers crossed so so so hard*

I was hoping he'd be chill from the start, but what do I know *shrugs*
My hognose seems to be chill right from the getgo though tbh.

Also regarding the shed thing, can totally relate, as a female, I am crabby up to 2 weeks before menstruation lol.

[siwueofk]

Well I'm a medical student, so it's not TMI for me lol, quite mild talk actually.

Boooo I was hoping so much for a chill calm snake.

[Bogertophis]

Well I'm a medical student, so it's not TMI for me lol, quite mild talk actually.

Boooo I was hoping so much for a chill calm snake.

Cool, we need more people in medicine, all areas. & I was only teasing, not TMI for me either, just remember we have all ages here, "family forum".

I can remember when my BCI was young (about 1.5 years old) she went thru a "phase" for a couple months...like "hormonal"? Who knows, maybe that's part of it too? Don't assume that your young snake will always stay the same personality. You can usually make a BIG difference...I've seen it for myself, many times. No better example than that BCI- got her as a nasty biter, a yearling that changed hands multiple times with others giving up & not wanting her. Within about 2 months with me, she stopped trying to bite, because she finally understood she was safe with me- there are methods. In all the years she was mine, I never got one bite from her, & she was "face-tame"(meaning I could touch faces with her, no problem ever). So no one can tell me that snakes can't learn, or that they can't overcome their instinctive fear. You just need patience & empathy. And sometimes the "tough cases" are just that much more rewarding, when you can finally "get through to them".

[rufretic]

I don't know about the bad day thing but it's normal for their mood to be a little off from day to day. The biggest thing here is that he's young, almost all hatchlings are a little defensive for the first few months. Like said before, they think we are going to eat them, it's their natural instinct to be defensive so they have a better chance of survival. It doesn't take years to overcome that but some need more time than others but all of my hatchlings have become very chill with handling. I've had a couple sub adults that were still defensive when I received them but you could tell they were not handled much and all chilled out after getting handled regularly, they just need to build trust and once they figure out you're not going to harm them, they lose that defensive instinct. Just continue to regularly handle him and give it time, he'll chill out for you.

[Ax01]

the only thing i would add is that these are nocturnal animals and they would be active at dusk and night. so be sure he is awake before taking him out.