Will a BP Lash Out if Hungry?

[Patricia]

Our BP is young, about 8 months old, and we've had it for 2 months. This morning I reached in to remove crumpled newspaper that had fallen into water dish and was wet, and Patriot lashed out from inside a hide. He had never done that before! So I put my hand in again, and sure enough he lashed out from within the hide again. Came back from work mid-afternoon to find him roaming, so I'm assuming had been doing so ever since I left for work this morning.

Today is feeding day, and he was HUNGRY. Now that he's eaten, he's curled up back in his hide, with no more lashing out when I put my hand into the tank.

So, could that unusual lashing out mean he was hungry? Or might there be another reason? All has been quiet and well lately, with a full shed a week ago (ate once already after that). The only difference I can think of that may have bothered him is that we held him on Monday and Tuesday for about an hour each day, but not at all yesterday, the day before feeding day.

Any input is appreciated.

[unrezt]

Mine has done this on two different feeding days, its like they know, for that reason I have to put him in his feeding tank before I can even bring the food into the room or its hard to get him out of his cage.

[KelchUSMC]

It was feeding day, did you pick up the mouse that day? maybe had a bit of scent on you. Being so young he has a lot of learning to do, keeping feeding schedule and habits the same should help minimize that behavior as he grows. Also handling and so on...

[rabernet]

Sounds like you've conditioned him well for feeding day! The boy was ready for his yum yum!!!!

[Vypyrz]

Sounds like you've conditioned him well for feeding day! The boy was ready for his yum yum!!!!

Like a little kid on Christmas Eve thinking every little noise is Santa and jumping up to see...

[Kaorte]

Yep sounds like normal feeding day to me! All of my snakes are out and looking to munch on anything that moves on feeding day and ONLY on feeding day.

[Patricia]

Oh, whew, thanks! That's the first time he's done daytime roaming since we remedied that problem a few weeks ago, so I was worried that something was going on.

I fed him in a separate enclosure so as to be able to clear away damp paper towels in the tank, and even as I was lowering him in, he snapped up that mouse (f/t) even while I was still holding him! H-U-N-G-R-Y!

[nixer]

Yep sounds like normal feeding day to me! All of my snakes are out and looking to munch on anything that moves on feeding day and ONLY on feeding day.

mine do that every 3-4 days time or not

[frankykeno]

It's feeding time, he's in his hide ready to go, he sensed movement and a heat source nearby...WHAP! Pretty much normal stuff for a hungry snake, Patricia. I get jabbed at regularily on feeding day around here but rarely tagged (I'm fast for an old broad LOL). Think of it this way - you have a snake that's so well settled in with you and doing so well that it's developed a solid and strong feeding response and that's a good thing.

Remember when it comes to behaviours with these snakes to look at the bigger picture rather than an isolated incident. Usually that will give you a better grasp of what's going on, what the triggers might be or whether this is in fact a change of behaviour or just a reaction to stimuli.

[Patricia]

Remember when it comes to behaviours with these snakes to look at the bigger picture rather than an isolated incident.

I'm still too new to it all to even know what's a big picture vs. isolated incident. But ever since he ate, there's been no repeat of that lashing out. I just replenished the water dish and he's happily curled up in his hide.

Hey, good to see you around again!