BP striking at the light from a flashlight?

[Generationshell]

I am currently away at college and my parents are taking care of my ball python. They do a pretty good job as far as feeding him, cleaning his cage, making sure humidity is right, clean water...etc. But my dad said that the other day he heard a lot of racket and went to my room and looked around w a flashlight. He then shined it on my bp and the bp struck at the light. Which concerns me considering I have never seen my bp strike at anything other than a rat. Did my dad just spook him really bad? Or is the lack of handling as often sorta making him more aggressive. I just don't understand why he struck the light instead of balling up or hiding...

[OhhWatALoser]

I just don't understand why he struck the light instead of balling up or hiding...

Thats how they defend themselves, he obviously felt threatened. he didn't have time to hide, so he did what he had to do.

[hilton 313]

thats a little of both he is not being handled often so he feels treatned so you need to have him handied more and he'll grow out of it

[Generationshell]

Hmmm I wish I could have been there. I used to handle him twice a week and now its only once every 3 weeks. Idk if that could have any effect on him. Well my dad said that the racket he heard was from my bp bumping his hide against the side of the tank. So maybe the snake was scaring himself with the noice of the glass hitting the hide and then the flashlight on him made him just snap. lol poor thing. Needs a bigger hide.

[Lolo76]

I have a Stimson's python who strikes at the camera flash, but never strikes at me otherwise... so I guess some snakes are light-sensitive, and it makes them nervous enough to lash out. I wouldn't worry about it, unless there's a complete behavioral change overall. How's your setup?

[CoolioTiffany]

Agreed with first post,

Though the snake didn't strike because it hasn't been handled often, the snake is just fine without being handled. Snakes prefer not being handled anyways, so most likely he got spooked since the light flashed on him while he was cruising around at night.

[Generationshell]

Great as far as I know. 30 gallon tank. Blacked out on three of the walls. Paper towels as substrate. Heating pad set on 105. Have a probe on heating pad. Humidity consistantly 70-80% Temps stays around 88-90% Got a lot of things to climb on and about 4 hides. So to me hes living the good life haha

[CoolioTiffany]

Great as far as I know. 30 gallon tank. Blacked out on three of the walls. Paper towels as substrate. Heating pad set on 105. Have a probe on heating pad. Humidity consistantly 70-80% Temps stays around 88-90% Got a lot of things to climb on and about 4 hides. So to me hes living the good life haha

105F is too warm, should be set between 88F-94F. How are you reading 88F-90F for the temps if the heating pad is 105F with paper towels as the substrate?

[Generationshell]

Regrettably I do know 105 is too warm however that is the lowest I could get it on. And I make sure he isnt getting burned regularly so for the time being it will have to do. I use an accurate thermometer/hydrogenate. Actually i really messed up on the 88-90. Thats not right at all. Its usally varies from 78-84. Sorry I could barely remember the name of the thermometer. its been a long day.

[CoolioTiffany]

If any way possible, try purchasing or get your parents to purchase a ReptiTemp 500R. It's the cheapest thermostat and it will control your temps pretty well and get them where they need to be by switching the dial. http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=75

The snake could overheat or burn at any time being on the area where the UTH is, and if the UTH is not controlled by a thermostat, temps can easily reach over 120F. It's happened to me a couple times before, but gladly I caught it in time so none of my snakes were overheated or burned. 78-84 for ambient and cool end temps is just fine, but that hot spot needs to get lower as soon as possible so the snake doesn't get overheated or burned.