?s and concerns, as a bp owner for three years and no feedback but books

[atlantica]

Mitch and Princess are about 3 to 4 1/2 years old. They are around 3 feet, and they live together in a VERY large aquarium (i'm guessing about 75+). I feed them separately. In the last few months, they did their first mating. I don't really expect a clutch, but I am hopeful and prepared in the event one is produced. Since I got them, they have ate live prey. I have been breeding mice for the last 4 months, and they seem to be thriving. I know the snakes never have a problem eating them.

However this is where the concern comes in. I cannot handle them, because the mouse tanks are in the same room as their aquarium (this is completely speculation but they were very friendly and easy to handle before i began this breeding project). I have been bit twice trying to handle them, well after they have finished shedding and digesting. I think i need to move the mice to another location and then maybe they will be more docile, but given the circumstance this is impossible and it is killing me. Will they forget my scent if this goes on for too long and be hostile indefinitely?

The other thing that is bothering me is their defacation. Usually, they have very solid poop, and it is taken care of without too much fuss. About a month ago, I was cleaning out the tank, and found some really foul smelling, dried diahhrea type splatt of poop. I didn't think too much of it, but this morning i was woke up by a harsh splatting sound. I went to the tank and Mitch was forcefully spraying feces out. It was dark brown, mostly liquid with some solid, and reeked like i've never smelled out of a snake. After he finished getting rid of that, he was opening his mouth and coiling his upper neck. I thought he was retching. Since then he has been acting normal. What is going on with my babies?

I am open to ANY advice that will help. I don't know if this is normal or not. I've never heard of anything like this and I am very worried.

[Shelby]

What your snake was doing is definitely not normal. Make an appointment with a reptile vet ASAP.

Please... separate your snakes, especially since one may very well be sick.. you don't want two sick snakes, do you? In spite of how cute they may 'look' together, snakes are stressed when they have to live with another snake. It is not unknown for ball pythons to eat each other either.

Keeping mice in the same room shouldn't make them aggressive, just make sure YOU don't smell like a mouse. That means wash your hands REALLY good after touching the mice (I made the mistake of not doing that once. oops)

They won't stay aggressive because of the mouse smell.

[atlantica]

they have never attacked one another, but i know they should be separated. I have considered giving them up because i don't feel i can adequately take care of them where i live. Space is very limited right now, but i don't Want to give up just yet. I kept them housed together for the last 3 years, because when i got them they were living like that.

they eat well on a regular schedule, but every time i open the tank lid, they go into attack mode (especially Mitch).

I will make an appointment as soon as i can. Herp vets are kind of rare in cabot, arkansas area, but i can't risk losing one or both of them. Have you ever heard of this happening before?

[Shelby]

No, I haven't, but I certainly don't know of every snake ailment in existence.

Do you open the tank much other than when it's feeding time? Because they may associate you opening the lid with dinnertime.

[daniel1983]

I keep my mice and my snakes about 4 ft from one another. I have 4 ball pythons and approximately 50 mice at the moment. I have never been stuck by my bps....but I do have a very strict procedure for the way I handle. I always wash my hands and disinfect with antibacterial hand cleaner before and after handling both my mice and my snakes. The only time that I have even been struck at by any of my bps is during feeding time. This is completely understandable....because I use my mouse smelling hands to set the mice in the bps enclosure. What kinda procedure do you use to make sure the mouse smell is off of your hands?

Other than that input....Seperate the two snakes and schedule a vet appointment.

[daniel1983]

Also, I noticed you said you live in Cabot, Arkansas....that is just outside of Little Rock, correct?.....that is about 4 hrs from me. If you feel that you can no longer care for you snakes because the vet bills are too expensive and you don't have the space to house them, send me an email and I will gladly drive to pick them up, get them proper vet care, and give them a good home.

[iceman25]

they have never attacked one another, but i know they should be separated. I have considered giving them up because i don't feel i can adequately take care of them where i live. Space is very limited right now, but i don't Want to give up just yet. I kept them housed together for the last 3 years, because when i got them they were living like that.

they eat well on a regular schedule, but every time i open the tank lid, they go into attack mode (especially Mitch).

I will make an appointment as soon as i can. Herp vets are kind of rare in cabot, arkansas area, but i can't risk losing one or both of them. Have you ever heard of this happening before?

If u cannot care for em, Daniel will give them a good home I do not know much about Little Rock, but If you can get to the Fayetteville/Springdale area you should be able to find a couple of vets who treat reptiles. I forgot the name of the place cause its been a while. Also call up the U of A in Fayetteville and ask for the Biology department. I'm sure some herpetologist will be pleased to help you out. Here is the University information no: 479-575-2000.
Good Luck to you!

[atlantica]

Thank you for giving me a good reference for a home. I am honestly not ready to give up though. I will try some new accomodations and the way i set up everything for a little while. Hopefully that will cure the problem. It is not a money problem that worries me. I am ready and willing to pay any price as long as they get the medical attention they need, but i did want to get some insight before i took them to a vet again. There was a herp vet here in cabot about 2 years ago, but they have since closed or moved. I'm sure there has to be another one reasonably close, I don't mind driving.

usually i just wash my hands with antibacterial soap. Maybe I should wash my arms too, they do go inside the mouse tanks. As for frequency on opening their tank, I used to open it every couple of days (when they weren't busy with their snaky lifestyle stuff) but since i got bit twice the only time i open it is to clean, water, and/or feed them. That might be the problem there.

[Shelby]

I always wash my arms too.

Often times, a snake will bite when it's in the cage, but once it's out, it will settle down quickly. You can either get yourself a nice pair of work gloves, or buy a snake hook to guard yourself from a bite while you get them out.

[iceman25]

Also if you get a chance read through our Ball Python care sheet. It contains lots of valuable information and would be useful with your future endevours!