Hello, got my first ball python

[Omunall]

http://www.youtube.com/user/Omunall

Got to feed her for the first time today, she's been enjoyable the past few days, but seemed hungry, so i recorded the feeding!

I have a question though. I pulled a newbie mistake (i'm used to lizard type reptiles lol) and didn't put something over the box, so she escaped while i left her to feed. She fed great, but when i found her, she struck at my wife, and then myself when i went to pick her up to put her in the enclosure.

Is this just a feeding response? I know i didn't smell like food, but i'm wondering if the ball python just get nervous after a feed, or if she just isn't used to us yet?

Thanks!

[mommanessy247]

its recommended very often here, that when you have a new bp you need to tell us about the enclosure your keeping the snake in when you ask the q's.
the info we need are:
where did you buy your bp?
what are the temp & humidity levels in your cage?
what are you using as a heat source?
what are you using to CONTROL said heat source?
what are you using to measure temps & humidity?
what are you feeding to the snake & is it live or frozen thawed? (when feeding live you have to watch what's going on because after the initial strike, the rat or mouse WILL try to fight back, often times doing severe & sometimes irrepaireable damage. if the snake doesnt eat the live rat or mouse within 20 minutes, or something like that, you have to take the rat or mouse out & try feeding again 1 week later.) & also,
do you feed in the cage or not? (this right here is important cuz feeding outside of the cage is stressful on them.) &
what are you using as hides? (this could be be a hide box, upside down bowl with a hole cut into it, etc.)
my advice would be to answer all these q's so that we here can get a better idea of how your taking care of your new bp. a picture of its cage setup is a definite +.
theres a rule of thumb, that the food item needs to be around the same size as the thickest part of the snake. any smaller & you'll have a snake thats still hungry. it's also said here & on the care sheets that after you feed the snake it's crucial to leave it alone for 2 days to digest the food. otherwise it will regurgitate the meal.
its also said here that after getting a new bp you have to leave it alone for at least a week to let it get used to its new home. also, do not handle it until 2 days after it's first meal.
oh & its also said here that "a hiding bp is a happy bp". if they're costantly roaming around their enclosure day & night, somethings wrong, they're stressed out & their environment is not the way it should be. read up on the caresheet. it cant hurt.
hope all this was helpful...good luck.

[rabernet]

To the OP - to answer your question - she probably struck at both of you - especially if she's a baby, because she was scared. To a baby - you're a HUGE heat emitting predator hovering over it and it wants to scare you away as best it can.

For what it's worth, you don't need to feed her in a separate enclosure. I don't, and I have no issues handling my animals on days other than feeding day.

[Seru1]

For what it's worth the two above me know what they are talking about!


Strikes are normal especially from babies (Something I am finding out myself)


Make sure you have lots of nice tight hides and clutter, a hidden BP is most certainly a happy BP. And if your using a glass tank make sure you cover 3 of the 4 sides.


Happy herping. The people here really know there stuff. I learn from them every day.

[BMorrison]

The strike could have also been because just after feeding it's best to give them a solid 48 hours to digest (can be a bit fussy w/ a big belly full!)

[Omunall]

Thanks guys. I figured her out though. She was onl striking because i guess i did smell like dinner lol. I went to change the water and she came up to my hand and just moved past it, but i had washed up very well before i went back near her.

After that she was in hunt mode for about two hours, so i threw her another mouse inside her enclosure. She ate, and retreated to her hide. She's sleeping well now, so i guess she was just wanting food lol! Young and a ravenouse appetite.