Excessive Striking?

[jacquelinex024]

I've had my ball python for over 6 months, and for the first 4 months of having him he was my pal. i handled him a lot and he was fine with it all the time. I moved him from my apartment back to my parents house 2-3 months ago and haven't handled him much since then. Now, whenever I open his tank to go and handle him he gets really aggressive and strikes at anyone who tries to reach in there. I don't know what to do to calm him down and make him my buddy again! Any help is appreciated

[blackcrystal22]

I've had my ball python for over 6 months, and for the first 4 months of having him he was my pal. i handled him a lot and he was fine with it all the time. I moved him from my apartment back to my parents house 2-3 months ago and haven't handled him much since then. Now, whenever I open his tank to go and handle him he gets really aggressive and strikes at anyone who tries to reach in there. I don't know what to do to calm him down and make him my buddy again! Any help is appreciated

He sounds stressed, describe his cage and get some pictures if you can.

[jacquelinex024]

He's still small, about 2 feet long, he's in a pretty big tank for his size its 36in.x12in.x24in. (LxWxH). He's got a log big enough to hide under and a bunch of other fake branches and rocks in there with a water bowl big enough for him to lay in. I feed him one medium sized mouse once a week, I'm thinking maybe I should upgrade to two and see if he gets any happier.

[omnibus2]

I think you need a smaller hide.

More importantly, he needs two hides that he can tightly fit into. Log hides are not good for bp.

[cinderbird]

He's still small, about 2 feet long, he's in a pretty big tank for his size its 36in.x12in.x24in. (LxWxH). He's got a log big enough to hide under and a bunch of other fake branches and rocks in there with a water bowl big enough for him to lay in. I feed him one medium sized mouse once a week, I'm thinking maybe I should upgrade to two and see if he gets any happier.

you may want to ditch the half log hides, they're notorious for being bad for BPs because they aren't secure enough.

Get him some hides that are enclosed on all sides that he can barely fit into.

www.reptilebasics.com has some good ones, or you can make your own out of plastic bowls or pretty much anything safe to use and easy to clean.

I'd also cover 3 sides of the tank with black construction paper or something on the outside to add to his security.

[blackcrystal22]

Smaller non-log hides and multiple ones, I suggest a smaller cage if you can too.. ball pythons prefer smaller tighter spaces.
You might want to up-size his prey item to a weanling rat IMO.

[seeya205]

One medium mouse is way too small for a six month old bp! You should give him two adult mice or a small rat! I think he is really hungry!

[trott]

Small tight hides and smaller enclosure if possible. Or you can try to make the current one smaller buy blocking some of it off and putting things in it. Half logs really arent that good.