Hello everyone,

I am new here, and I have a big problem.

I have two adult ball pythons, one is believed to be a female and one a male. They stay in separate enclosures. When we got the female, we put her into an empty 55 gallon tank we had in storage. She was very happy and content there. She was gentle and sweet and a good eater, she never got sick or had any problems. We had her for 2 years before we got the male, whom we housed in a 40 gallon long tank we got very cheaply at a yard sale.

Both snakes were very calm and well behaved. They were content and ate well. We handled both a few times a month, and never had a bit of trouble from either, although we were careful to keep them apart for fear of problems. They lived happily in their big tanks for another 2 years.

The thing was, those 4 foot long tanks took up a great deal of room in our home. After visiting a number of ball python care sites and repeatedly reading that they did not need so much room, we moved them into 30 gallon tanks that are approximately 18 inches shorter than the tanks they were in before.

They fussed about for a few days and then seemed to settle down, or so we thought. Within 8 days however, both snakes became extremely aggressive and nasty. They lunge and snap at the slightest disturbance anywhere near their tanks. They prowl incessantly, and rarely rest. They have the same water bowls, the same hides, the same heat, the only difference is the smaller tank size.

It has become almost impossible to change their water, we have to pen them in their hides, which does not improve their mood any. Feeding time has become a nightmare, and forget cleaning the tanks. And worst of all, our gentle female, who has never bitten or snapped at anyone in 8 years, suddenly bit my husband for no apparent reason.

This of course served to upset him and make him even more reluctant to care for the snakes. It has been almost 3 months since the move, and their mood shows no sign of improving.

The tanks and stand we have long since sold at a flea market, and the chances of getting two tanks of similar size and a stand at a price we can afford are slim to none.

Has anyone here ever had a similar experience with snakes suddenly becoming aggressive after such a move? Is there anything we can do to help settle them back down? I would hate to have to give them up because we can no longer care for them, but I'm at my wits end here on how to get my gentle babies back.

Any advise or comments are appreciated.

Gale