Ball Python strike position due to hunger?

[EAllen84]

Hey all - since I am fairly new to the world of ball pythons, I was wondering if any of you have had this experience.

My bp is a juvenile and I have been feeding a small mouse every 5-7 days. I just fed yesterday night at day 5 and the past two feedings (he is a good eater, never refuses) he stays in his humid hide in the strike position like he is still hunting.

He was being under fed at the pet store (pinkies every 7 days) so I immediately started on small mice. He's about outgrown those and has had 1 shed already under my care.

My question is: Is it common for a bp to stay in hunt mode for a day or two after a feeding? Or is it from growth/hunger? I don't want to over feed and cause him to get "hefty". As of now, I have not monitored weight gain but plan on getting a scale asap.

[Kymberli]

How long have you had him? He may just be afraid of the "big, scary human trying to kill him".

It is a bit difficult to cause a yearling/juvenile BP to become hefty from over feeding. I believe they have faster metabolisms than older BPs, which is why a 4-5 day feeding schedule is fine. Being that he was underfed in the pet store for an undetermined amount of time, you of course would not want to stress his digestive system by suddenly cramming him with constant large meals. However, he can probably handle prey larger than small mice. It'd be good to get a weight on him to be sure of what size prey he could handle. Have you compared the girth of the small mouse (at about its hips) to the girth of your snake at its widest point? If it is the same size or smaller than your snakes girth you may want to just slightly up the size of prey you offer.

Hopefully I am correct here, someone may correct me if I am wrong.

[EAllen84]

How long have you had him? He may just be afraid of the "big, scary human trying to kill him".

It is a bit difficult to cause a yearling/juvenile BP to become hefty from over feeding. I believe they have faster metabolisms than older BPs, which is why a 4-5 day feeding schedule is fine. Being that he was underfed in the pet store for an undetermined amount of time, you of course would not want to stress his digestive system by suddenly cramming him with constant large meals. However, he can probably handle prey larger than small mice. It'd be good to get a weight on him to be sure of what size prey he could handle. Have you compared the girth of the small mouse (at about its hips) to the girth of your snake at its widest point? If it is the same size or smaller than your snakes girth you may want to just slightly up the size of prey you offer.

Hopefully I am correct here, someone may correct me if I am wrong.

Thank you for this. I have had him since the end of April and the mice are right at the girth at his widest in size if not a teensy smaller. He has been really pleasant and doesn't strike at me. It's only when I go check on him through the evening, he is still in the same position in his humid hide. It's always after feeding for a day or two, then he goes about his business switching hides and being active at night exploring. I feel extremely fortunate that this cutie pet store snake has been such a good eater and settled into his new home nicely. I've heard such horror stories..

[Kymberli]

Thank you for this. I have had him since the end of April and the mice are right at the girth at his widest in size if not a teensy smaller. He has been really pleasant and doesn't strike at me. It's only when I go check on him through the evening, he is still in the same position in his humid hide. It's always after feeding for a day or two, then he goes about his business switching hides and being active at night exploring. I feel extremely fortunate that this cutie pet store snake has been such a good eater and settled into his new home nicely. I've heard such horror stories..

If he has been eating regularly since the end of April, then I'm sure he can handle larger prey. Eventually you will want to get him switched to rats, but considering he is probably quite underweight (as most pet store snakes are), I'd continue feeding mice as long as he accepts them. You would not want to risk him going on a feeding strike by offering a new prey item. Once he's put a bit of weight on him and begins looking healthier, you can try switching over to rats.. this way when he gets bigger, you will not have to feed multiple mice, rather an appropriately sized rat.

He's probably being a bit defensive for the couple days following a meal because that is the approximate time they require to digest their food. Mine do not move at all for the day or two following feeding night, then become active again once they have digested. I'm sure you already know this, but be sure you leave him alone for 48hrs after feeding to ensure he does not regurgitate his meal.

Hope I've been helpful.

[Alexandra V]

I've seen my snakes wait for me in a strike position if I put my feeding off for a day or two and they start to get hungry.

BUT what you might be seeing is the snake simply lying in an S-coil shape. Mine rarely ever lie without their necks in an S shape, but they aren't holding it tense, not like they're ready to strike. Could that be what you're seeing?

[ogdentrece]

To add on the alaxandra's point, I'd say the feeding 'S shape' is with its head lifted up, staring hard at something and moving its body forward to push its neck into an S, while its head continues to be still and continues stalking.

[Rat160]

My female Mojave juvenile does this all the time. At first I would try feeding her again thinking she was still hungry. She will regularly eat two rats but nothing after that and she will remain in the strike position. I think with her it just may be a territorial move. She has struck at me a couple of times but usually when first sliding out the tub I think I scared her. I don't know why she does it but I dont think its from hunger. I think its a more territorial thing. None of my other ball pythons do it. I hope she grows out of it when she gets bigger as I don't really care to keep aggressive snakes as I have little ones running around. And before I get a bunch of hate messages my little ones don't have un-supervised access to my collection.

[Seviper]

To add on the alaxandra's point, I'd say the feeding 'S shape' is with its head lifted up, staring hard at something and moving its body forward to push its neck into an S, while its head continues to be still and continues stalking.

Yes! Yes, that's EXACTLY what he does! When he moves far out of his hide, his neck is in a looser S shape due to him being so stretched out, and he only turns his head when the thing in question is a 45 degree angle to his side or more. Otherwise, his head is STILL. One time, I tried to feed him while he was doing the S thing. He moved to the opening which my feeding tongs were put into it, he struck towards the outside but immediately did a quick turn and got the mouse. With that put in mind, and what you've told me, it really does seem to be a feeding response. Like I've said, he is an OUTSTANDING eater. Outside of shed, he will never ever ever say no to food.

[Seviper]

I've seen my snakes wait for me in a strike position if I put my feeding off for a day or two and they start to get hungry.

BUT what you might be seeing is the snake simply lying in an S-coil shape. Mine rarely ever lie without their necks in an S shape, but they aren't holding it tense, not like they're ready to strike. Could that be what you're seeing?

When I say he's "doing the S thing", I mean he's raised up, head still, neck stiff in an S position, and he'll follow whoever went up the stairs and walks past his tub. His head only turns when the person is at a 45 degree angle or more. When I feed him, he follows the prey item, too, but won't turn his head unless the prey is some distance from his head.

Right now (I just left my room to check on him) he's totally fine! Just laying there with his head on the paper towel, not moving, completely dormant and docile.

[CALM Pythons]

My female Mojave juvenile does this all the time. At first I would try feeding her again thinking she was still hungry. She will regularly eat two rats but nothing after that and she will remain in the strike position. I think with her it just may be a territorial move. She has struck at me a couple of times but usually when first sliding out the tub I think I scared her. I don't know why she does it but I dont think its from hunger. I think its a more territorial thing. None of my other ball pythons do it. I hope she grows out of it when she gets bigger as I don't really care to keep aggressive snakes as I have little ones running around. And before I get a bunch of hate messages my little ones don't have un-supervised access to my collection.

LMBO: you made sure to keep the Lynch Mob at bay hahahahahahah