Very moody BP - any insight appreciated

[Derteufel]

Ive had him for goin on 8 months. I got him when he was 3 months old. He was super docile up until 2.5 months ago. Over night, he turned into a maniac. He was shedding and all but his head and face had shed and I still picked him up the night before he went mad, and he was fine... then next day he was out of his hides and a female friend looked in at him and he just started striking everywhere. He couldnt see still but was like wildly jumping at whatever. his face finally finished (this was his worse shed) and is back to normal since but hes very moody. I test his moods by touching him. Sometimes hes totally quiet and just looks up and puts his face under his body but doesnt ball. Sometimes ill touch him and he will hiss so I pull back then touch him again and he will either be quiet or hisses louder. Then again... louder. Ok not today I think. Others hes totally for it. Hes been extremely active at night too, he actually thinks hes a spider (a real spider) he climbs the plastic in his enclosure like it were stairs. Sometimes hes cool, and then an hour later hes on a rampage. Hes healthy and is a healthy eater. I know its not recommended but he eats out of my hands. Even sometimes after he eats hes rabid. Sometimes he just lays there and doesnt care and others hes very aggressive. Never bitten me but I see and hear him strike as I walk by.

[aweve124]

My '07 ball has been moody in the last month and has even bitten someone (offensively, not defensively). He's calmed a little but still runs out from his hide ready to strike any time he hears a noise. I've heard a few people suggest it has something to do with the breeding season.

[Wh00h0069]

It sounds to me like he is stressed out. This could be caused by environmental issues, such as: improper heating, cage size, hides to large, and cage too visibly open. Fixing these issues should solve the issue. It may also be a good idea to use a hook to remove him from his enclosure. Once out they normally calm down immediately.

Good luck.

[bigballs]

Hes been extremely active at night too, he actually thinks hes a spider (a real spider) he climbs the plastic in his enclosure like it were stairs.

sounds like hes trying to find a way out of that enclosure. there must be something thats causing him stress that you need to fix husbandry-wise. like Eddie said, temperature, humidity, security, size of enclosure(too big/too small) double check everything.

also check for mites.

[Derteufel]

My '07 ball has been moody in the last month and has even bitten someone (offensively, not defensively). He's calmed a little but still runs out from his hide ready to strike any time he hears a noise. I've heard a few people suggest it has something to do with the breeding season.

He does exactly this. Ill be up at the top of his enclosure and make a noise and out comes his head "Who goes there! damm kids get off my lawn!"

[Oxylepy]

He's only 8 months old, it's not because of breeding season.

Check for mites, check all your husbandry, and give him about 2 weeks of alone time, then start handling him a little then ultimately regularly. My adult male has be viscious lately and I found the best cure for him has been handling more frequently as he doesn't hiss as much now.

[Derteufel]

Humidity and temp are good, it had heated up a bit during July but I was able to keep it pretty much constant. I suspected something stressing him but in the day hes fine, i mean hes not active, and not every night is he trying to climb the wallsbut when he does he gets places I cant beleive. He spends most of his time by the water bowl, just layin on the rim.

[Derteufel]

He's only 8 months old, it's not because of breeding season.

Check for mites, check all your husbandry, and give him about 2 weeks of alone time, then start handling him a little then ultimately regularly. My adult male has be viscious lately and I found the best cure for him has been handling more frequently as he doesn't hiss as much now.

i left him alone for a month while his face shed, took forever (ive since increased humidty slightly and the last 2 sheds where fine). then I resumed taking him out. At first he was jumpy but by the 2nd and 3rd day of handling him he seemd to totally calm down. Then one day, over night, back to crazy. hiisssss! He never hissed before, now he nearly growls. Then the next day hes totally fine.

[Oxylepy]

Perhaps it's how you are going in to get him. Or maybe you're waking him up and he doesn't like it. It could be that he's just become a grumpy snake, or maybe he has some internal parasites that are bothering him :/

[Derteufel]

I want to thank you guys, I dont mean to sound like im arguing.

Its the same enclosure since I got him, hes since about doubled in size about 26" long now estimated but the enclosure is fairly large. its fairly high, about 25" and is 22" deep and 36" long. Two hides one at each end, he fits snuggly into one and the other is a little larger. I really appears to me one night he just went berserk.