I'm pretty disappointed with my BPs thus far

[rabernet]

Everything you have described is normal. Really, the problem is just that you aren't used to these animals yet, and you haven't learned to read their body language or understand their behavior.

1) hatchling ball pythons are jumpy, snappy, flighty little things. They calm down after they are several months old, more or less. They'll have their 'adult personalties' when they're about 2 years old.

2) Ball pythons track prey by scent, heat signature, and movement. Their eyesight is bad.

3) Ball pythons are very shy animals, and tend not to want to eat if they do not feel fully secure. So, feeding inside the enclosure is recommended for this species.

4) They don't like to be 'petted', and most of them are pretty head-shy.

These aren't hatchlings. They are 4 years old.

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[jfreels]

I am a member of the other forum that this was posted at. They have a strong belief that feeding in the tank causes cage aggression.

On that same note, I still choose to feed outside of their enclosure. It's what I'm use to and I have never had a snake refuse a meal or regurgitate. I only have four though, so it's not much of a hassle at all. If I had a larger collection, I doubt I'd continue the practice.


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[angllady2]

I'd say most of the problem is your lack of experience and their stress.

I don't know what the circumstances were before they came to you, but it can take a while for snakes to get used to a new environment. I don't recommend trying to feed them in feeding boxes, it isn't necessary, and right now it sounds like it's causing you more problems than it is helping.

Give them both another week, and then when you get ready to feed them, make sure once the rat is thawed out, warm it up all over with a hair dryer for about 15 seconds, then grip the rats back end or tail with tongs and heat just the head for about 10 seconds. Give them a really clear heat signature to lock onto.

Being headshy is completely normal for a snake, since that is where a predator would grab them to disable them. A few of mine are extremely headshy, and I just understand that and respect it. I don't move anything quickly near their heads, and I refrain from touching their bodies too close to the head.

When your male fell, it undoubtedly scared him to death, which is why he was hissing and threatening so much. He probably had no idea what had just happened, and so he was trying to defend himself against a perceived threat.

Right now, you all just need some time to get used to each other. Take things slowly, go one day at a time, and they'll come around I'd bet.

Gale

[BLMinFL]

My boyfriend and I have 11 snakes and the only ones that we have taken out of their tank to feed are the ones that we have in with another snake. We feed most everyone in their tanks, but we do typically take their hides out so the rat can't run in there and hide (we live feed). Once the rat is eaten, we put the hide back in and they go chill for a few days.

I agree that they might just be stressed out. Keep in mind that BP can actually go off feed for a few months and not be affected. Give them some time to relax and try again.

[Shenzi Sixaxis]

It sounds like most of your issues are a result of your inexperience with ball pythons and some mistakes that you made (and we all make mistakes when we're first starting out - it's how we learn).

Don't bother to try to feed either one of them again until next week - no need to stress them or yourself out so soon after the last feeding adventure.

Wait a week and try feeding in their own home enclosures - they have the safety and security of their hides, and you don't have to move a prey driven snake still in feed mode.

Most likely. Books and articles only help so much.

That's what I plan on doing, as well as adjusting a drape I have over the closet to give them a bit more dark.

How can they have good humidity in a cardboard shoe box?
I suggest plastic tubs, they cost about $2.00 each for locking sterilite

I don't think 4 year olds would fit in there. I just feed them in there.
And actually, plastic shoe boxes are 97 cents or six for five dollars here.

I am a member of the other forum that this was posted at. They have a strong belief that feeding in the tank causes cage aggression.

On that same note, I still choose to feed outside of their enclosure. It's what I'm use to and I have never had a snake refuse a meal or regurgitate. I only have four though, so it's not much of a hassle at all. If I had a larger collection, I doubt I'd continue the practice.


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Not so much for me. It's a real possibility, but feeding outside allows me to observe and there's no chance of substrate ingestion. Even if it's a little bit, you don't know how a snake will react to it.

I'd say most of the problem is your lack of experience and their stress.

I don't know what the circumstances were before they came to you, but it can take a while for snakes to get used to a new environment. I don't recommend trying to feed them in feeding boxes, it isn't necessary, and right now it sounds like it's causing you more problems than it is helping.

Give them both another week, and then when you get ready to feed them, make sure once the rat is thawed out, warm it up all over with a hair dryer for about 15 seconds, then grip the rats back end or tail with tongs and heat just the head for about 10 seconds. Give them a really clear heat signature to lock onto.

Being headshy is completely normal for a snake, since that is where a predator would grab them to disable them. A few of mine are extremely headshy, and I just understand that and respect it. I don't move anything quickly near their heads, and I refrain from touching their bodies too close to the head.

When your male fell, it undoubtedly scared him to death, which is why he was hissing and threatening so much. He probably had no idea what had just happened, and so he was trying to defend himself against a perceived threat.

Right now, you all just need some time to get used to each other. Take things slowly, go one day at a time, and they'll come around I'd bet.

Gale

That sounds pretty good to me, though I'll likely use hot water for heating. Just what I'm used to, plus the water boiler boils water in about 30 seconds. xD

My boyfriend and I have 11 snakes and the only ones that we have taken out of their tank to feed are the ones that we have in with another snake. We feed most everyone in their tanks, but we do typically take their hides out so the rat can't run in there and hide (we live feed). Once the rat is eaten, we put the hide back in and they go chill for a few days.

I agree that they might just be stressed out. Keep in mind that BP can actually go off feed for a few months and not be affected. Give them some time to relax and try again.

Interesting. You keeping BPs together? I'd like to know how that's working. Over on CS.com, you mention you keep snakes together and it's pretty much "don't do it or gtfo off these forums".

That's another thing I was thinking. I remember reading a post here that someone's new BP hasn't eaten in the 1-3 months (can't remember how long) they've had it. These two are at a good weight though, so no worries about that.

[ice#1]

i prefer to give any new snakes in my collection at least a month to settle in before handling (i just feed them and change there water out till the month is up)

[Shenzi Sixaxis]

Makes sense, considering BP's are one of the shier species.

[OhhWatALoser]

I am a member of the other forum that this was posted at. They have a strong belief that feeding in the tank causes cage aggression.

Really? I would think you would get enough people together, that myth would be found not true lol.

[jfreels]

Really? I would think you would get enough people together, that myth would be found not true lol.

I believed it too, until I joined here and RTB.net. Even though I still feed outside of the enclosure

Their stance is that they could ingest loose substrate which will cause impaction and kill the snake. I also do remember people saying it caused cage aggression too. My wife remembered reading that too.

[sarahlovesmiike]

If a ball python can digest an entire rodent, they can digest a bit of substrate.