Aggression

[ewelch]

My ball python has been very sweet and easy to handle but for about the past week or two he has stared to get more aggressive and today he struck at me. What should I do?

P.S. he is not in shed and I feed him in a different enclosure then where he lives

[ewelch]

My ball python has been very sweet and easy to handle but for about the past week or two he has stared to get more aggressive and today he struck at me. What should I do?

P.S. he is not in shed and I feed him in a different enclosure then where he lives

I should add that he is only about 5 months old

[Stewart_Reptiles]

How big is his enclosure?

What are your temps and humidity? How do you measure them? (digital or analog devices)

How often do you handle him?

What are you feeding (prey size) and how often?

[ewelch]

How big is his enclosure?

What are your temps and humidity? How do you measure them? (digital or analog devices)

How often do you handle him?

What are you feeding (prey size) and how often?

He is in a 40gL breeder with three hides. His temperatures range from 98-78 (they are measured analog), I handle him about 4-5 days a week, and I feed him live jumbo mice every 5 days.

[Monster Dodge]

I think your handling to much and I think your temps are all over the place.
First snakes dont "like" to be handled, they tolerate it. Second your ambient temps should be around 75-80. Your cool side should be around 80-82 and your warm side should be 90-91.

Also as an observation, I see more people post about aggression who keep there snakes in Tanks and that use heat lamps.... weird.

I use a rack set up with Flexwatt and I never expierence any kind of aggression what so ever.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Ok downsize to a 15 quarts tubs, get a DIGITAL thermometer/Hygrometer (analog are far from being reliable), provide 78/82 on the cool side and 88/92 on the warm side, and no more handling for a while.

The aggression is stressed related the cause can be found in your husbandry and happened over time.

He is in a 40gL breeder with three hides. His temperatures range from 98-78 (they are measured analog), I handle him about 4-5 days a week, and I feed him live jumbo mice every 5 days.

[yeroc1982]

He is in a 40gL breeder with three hides. His temperatures range from 98-78 (they are measured analog), I handle him about 4-5 days a week, and I feed him live jumbo mice every 5 days.

I suggest getting a smaller tank, also 98 is pretty high for a hot side for a bp. Id shoot for 90-91 for hot side, 80-82 for cool side. How much does the snake weigh?

[ShortStack]

Also as an observation, I see more people post about aggression who keep there snakes in Tanks and that use heat lamps.... weird.

I use a rack set up with Flexwatt and I never expierence any kind of aggression what so ever.

I'm taking a shot in the dark here, but I wonder if that's because of the clear glass vs. "frosted" plastic. Even though they don't rely on their eyesight as much as some other senses, maybe it's enough for them to tell a difference between the two and since BP's typically like to "hide", it makes them feel more threatened, so they are more aggressive? I know they say to cover 3 of the 4 sides when they are babies a lot of the time to help them be less stressed. I know this may be totally off base, but it's a thought.

[ewelch]

I think your handling to much and I think your temps are all over the place.
First snakes dont "like" to be handled, they tolerate it. Second your ambient temps should be around 75-80. Your cool side should be around 80-82 and your warm side should be 90-91.

Also as an observation, I see more people post about aggression who keep there snakes in Tanks and that use heat lamps.... weird.

I use a rack set up with Flexwatt and I never expierence any kind of aggression what so ever.

I included the basking spot in the temperature (its 98) his worm side is 86 (dropping to about 83 at night) at the moment and his cool side is 78 but it usually drops to 74 or 75 at night. I noticed that he started to get more aggressive when I made his enclosure more secluded (I covered the sides of his tank with black construction paper) before that he wouldn't even S-up at me.

[ewelch]

I suggest getting a smaller tank, also 98 is pretty high for a hot side for a bp. Id shoot for 90-91 for hot side, 80-82 for cool side. How much does the snake weigh?

I'm not sure how much he weighs but I would guess no more than 200.