Quote Originally Posted by Shenzi Sixaxis View Post
All snakes get fed in two spare boxes, though I am tempted to try feeding the BPs in their tubs. Both are shoe box size (literally what you buy shoes in, not the plastic tubs). So with only two boxes, I only had the BPs out. I also don't feed more than one at a time unless someone's being slow (usually one of my corns).

I use these to handle rodents except for when I'm getting them out of the bag to thaw, but I'm anal about getting sick, so I know I washed my hands after that.

And that's what's odd. The first time the male bit me, I was lightly petting him to let him know I was there and going to pick him up, and when he turned around he was right against my finger. However, this time, I'm sure my hand was no closer than 6 inches. I couldn't smell any rat or mousey scent on either hands before I cleaned up, but even if there was a scent that the BP could smell, why would he go after my hand and not the rat? I did have the rodents out thawing for about 30 minutes before feeding, so that might have been it, but I'm not sure.

I'll give them some more settling time and see if that helps. I figured 7-10 days would be enough, but I guess not. This is just coming across as weird to me.
Because your hand was giving off the better heat signature, near enough to the rat, that it made perfect sense to your boy that you were more likely the warm intended meal, not the cold lump that smelled like a rat.

There's no need to feed them in separate enclosures from where they are housed. I only have one that I feed f/t to (all my others get live). All are fed in their enclosures, and I've never been mistaken for a rat or been bitten on days that weren't feeding day (ie, they are not cage aggressive as a result of feeding in their enclosure). The one boy that feeds f/t takes it off the tongs. I can tell if I don't have it properly heated, because I see him zoning in on my hand, well PAST where the rat is just in front of his face. So I will gently close up his tub and make sure I touch the nose of the rodent to a heat lamp to really get a good heat signature going on the rat.

It sounds like most of your issues are a result of your inexperience with ball pythons and some mistakes that you made (and we all make mistakes when we're first starting out - it's how we learn).

Don't bother to try to feed either one of them again until next week - no need to stress them or yourself out so soon after the last feeding adventure.

Wait a week and try feeding in their own home enclosures - they have the safety and security of their hides, and you don't have to move a prey driven snake still in feed mode.