unusual question

[bsumpter]

I have an unusual question for anyone who might know how to help. I'm still quite new to herpetoculture so it may be nothing but I've read quite a few posts on here about "strange" behavior being linked to neurological disorders and I love this little guy so I'm kinda worried. Here's what's been happening. My bp doesn't have any problems such as stargazing or anything and he's as active as he usually is. The last couple nights he has (at least in my opinion) seemed overly agressive. He's been hissing quite a bit and drawing back as though he were gonna strike (at nothing)! Is this normal? If I'm being silly or simply ignorant I would gladly accept that to some of the other things that are going through my head. This guy is kinda like a second son so...

Anyway, I appreciate any help you could offer. Thanks in advance.

[Royal Morphz]

id say post a little about his tank /tub and its contents ie hides decor and water bowl is he due a shed/are his eyes cloudy just a few point that might help us help you lol

[OhBalls]

Sounds like he might be a bit stressed for some reason. Loud music, room traffic or any other noise/vibrations. Try giving him a snug hiding space (where he is touching on all sides) to make him feel secure. Leave him alone in a quiet space for a week or so.
This seems to work well for me. (Although one of my hets is ALWAYS ready to snap...constant PMS is my guess )

Best of luck and let us know how he does.

[bsumpter]

Well, as far as husbandry goes:

aspen substrate
warm side temp 93
cool side temp 81
40 gallon long tank
2 hides (one each temp zone) both are clay flower pots with holes cut out for him
no loud noises or foot traffic, just dark and quiet

I just can't understand why he's hissing so much. There's nothing around him to cause him to feel threatened. He doesn't look like he's due for a shed. Honestly, it's only been about 4 or 5 weeks since his last shed. I've only had him for a month so I'm not sure how often they shed, but it shouldn't be this soon, should it? I've read so much info on ball pythons that I'm just not sure what to believe because so many sites offer contradictory info. I really do appreciate everyones' help in this matter.

Also, I've heard that handling is the best way to get them used to being handled and I do at least once a day for a half hour or so until these last couple days. Quite frankly, I'm afraid to put my hands in the cage unless he's sleeping in his hide (to change his water and take temp readings with the ir temp gun) I don't know... maybe once I've been bit once it won't be so scary after. I still have that whole fear of the unknown thing going on. lol Thanks again.

[blackcrystal22]

Well, as far as husbandry goes:

aspen substrate
warm side temp 93
cool side temp 81
40 gallon long tank
2 hides (one each temp zone) both are clay flower pots with holes cut out for him
no loud noises or foot traffic, just dark and quiet

I just can't understand why he's hissing so much. There's nothing around him to cause him to feel threatened. He doesn't look like he's due for a shed. Honestly, it's only been about 4 or 5 weeks since his last shed. I've only had him for a month so I'm not sure how often they shed, but it shouldn't be this soon, should it? I've read so much info on ball pythons that I'm just not sure what to believe because so many sites offer contradictory info. I really do appreciate everyones' help in this matter.

Also, I've heard that handling is the best way to get them used to being handled and I do at least once a day for a half hour or so until these last couple days. Quite frankly, I'm afraid to put my hands in the cage unless he's sleeping in his hide (to change his water and take temp readings with the ir temp gun) I don't know... maybe once I've been bit once it won't be so scary after. I still have that whole fear of the unknown thing going on. lol Thanks again.

I would leave him alone for about a week and see if he calms down. Ball pythons are not problem handlers most of the time, and a week won't hurt anything.
How old is this ball python? He may be stressed out because of the amount of open space provided by the 40 gallon cage, especially if he is less than 2 years old.

You might want to get used to the idea that you own a snake, your probably going to get bitten once or twice. It's not painful, and it shouldn't really scare you that much.
Another idea if you can't reduce tank size, cover all but the front sides of the cage with black construction paper or something dark. Make sure to stuff his enclosure with fake plants and lots of decorations to make him feel more secure.

Just some ideas.

Also, you say he is hissing at nothing. This is probably not true, but rather he feels threatened that your standing in front of his cage, and that is what he's hissing at. He probably feels overexposed.

[whitesnake12]

How much do you feed him, What prey item are you useing?

One of my friends got a ball python about a year after i got mine,and from what i saw he didnt fed his enough for a 500gram 2-3feet he only fed 2small mice every 10days. if anything whent near him he struck and hissed, but that was more on the line of food aggrestion. For my snakes that size i feed a big rat pup they take it fine.

Depending on your snakes size wieght and age i sujest a 10-20 gallon tank with 2-3 hides one in the hot spot one in the cool spot and one in the middle. A water dish big enough to allow him to fully submerg.

You must think like a snake 'omg its godzila is she going to mess with me will she hurt me i dont like being watched' even though snakes cant think they can see something 50times bigger then they are and get scared,but if you were in a snakes body and a big godzila was staring at you and might want to pick you up and you dont want to you would do anything to get godzila away.

As with getting bit it is not a big deal babies rarely leave blood and most pepole dont notice the bites of babies, juvies, sub adults minor prike with a little sting, adults just an upgrade verison of sub adults.

[bsumpter]

How much do you feed him, What prey item are you useing?

One of my friends got a ball python about a year after i got mine,and from what i saw he didnt fed his enough for a 500gram 2-3feet he only fed 2small mice every 10days. if anything whent near him he struck and hissed, but that was more on the line of food aggrestion. For my snakes that size i feed a big rat pup they take it fine.

Depending on your snakes size wieght and age i sujest a 10-20 gallon tank with 2-3 hides one in the hot spot one in the cool spot and one in the middle. A water dish big enough to allow him to fully submerg.

You must think like a snake 'omg its godzila is she going to mess with me will she hurt me i dont like being watched' even though snakes cant think they can see something 50times bigger then they are and get scared,but if you were in a snakes body and a big godzila was staring at you and might want to pick you up and you dont want to you would do anything to get godzila away.

As with getting bit it is not a big deal babies rarely leave blood and most pepole dont notice the bites of babies, juvies, sub adults minor prike with a little sting, adults just an upgrade verison of sub adults.

Sorry but I guess I left some stuff out. My bp is about 9 years old. He gets a big fat rat every 9 to 12 days. Also, as far as the hissing goes, he was in the other room alone. He has his own room lol. I will definitely do the construction paper thing though. A friend of mine gave him to me because he just didn't do anything with him. I know for a fact that he took excellent care of the little guy because he had him for 9+ years so... and I never had a problem handling him when I was around but I don't know how he acted when I wasn't there so the whole hissing thing is just an unknown frontier to me. But I heard him hissing from another room and that was why I went into his room to begin with. I went into this whole thing knowing I would, at some time, get bitten. It kinda goes with the territory.

[whitesnake12]

Well I really dont know what might be going on. I have never came across anything like this in my 7years of ball python caring. I'm sorry I couldnt help more but everything I said is all that came to my mind. The best thing to do now is to call a vet that deals in exotic reptiles. Finding one is hard but its better then having to worry about your snake getting worst then he is, then to spend your time searching for something that can help him.

Good luck

[dr del]

Hi,

My male hisses to himself in his tub on occasion. No idea why though - I wondered if he could scent the ladies in the tubs near him but for all I know he could be singing himself a snakey lullaby.


dr del

[frankykeno]

My best guess here since it looks like he's well kept, well fed, not ill and so on is this is just an adjustment thing. This is an adult snake, who was in the same home for his (or her has it been properly sexed) home for it's entire life. Even if this snake is still in the same enclosure your house is a completely foreign environment. You are a completely unknown quantity still.

I've seen it called LONHS syndrome (lights are on but nobody's home) by the Barkers in their book, another place it was referred to as Maladjustment syndrome but basically they were both saying that adult snakes aren't mindless. They do suffer from a stress disorder when their lives are changed overnight. Sometimes that's expressed by refusing to eat or by being nippy or a whole host of other behaviours.

I've seen it myself with various rescues we've had and adults we've purchased. At first they act one way, then a month later another way and so forth until they finally settle back in to their basic behaviours. I'd just say give it time, stick to simple routines in all you do with the snake, that helps them understand that when you do A, then B will result. Don't let his antics drive you away, glove up if you need to but just go about your business of caring and feeding him.

Also some snakes just hiss a lot but don't much strike. I've a couple of adults here, that always hiss when you enter their space. That's it though, big hiss and grumble act and nothing else. I think that's just their way and they like to complain a bit LOL.

Of course, if you suspect there is any illness at play here, seek the advice of a qualified and experienced herp vet.