Moody Python

[MariaLHodge]

My Python is aproximately 7 months old. I do not know if it is a male or female because they said she was too old when i got her and I'd have to take it to a vet. We have not yet done that but call him a boy.

He has always loved being handled and actually would fight when we put him back in his tank. Last week he began hissing at me when i go to take him out. I got him out once and he actually struck at me, but missed. i don't know why he would do this. Does it have anything to do with possibly being a female and being spring time? I want my friendly snake back!!!

[The Serpent Merchant]

Whoever told you that he/she was "too old to sex" has no clue what they were talking about...

In my experience sudden changes in behavior almost always are a result of improper husbandry...

Check out these threads to make sure that you are doing everything correctly.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...04#post1845904

Finally Ball Pythons do not "enjoy" or "love" being handled... most will tolerate it, but they would much rather be tucked away in their hides.

[liv]

What's the husbandry looking like? Balls get pissy when something is off in their enclosures. I'm sure it's just an easy fix and you'll get him right back!

[MariaLHodge]

Hot side is almost always between 87-92 and cool side around 80. I don't change anything at night so the temp is constant. Humidity I keep around 50 right now because he shed a week and a half ago. He has 2 hide logs, one on either side and One big Rock in the middle that he can climb in where he spends 90 percent of his time....

[liv]

Is he near a window? It's so much lighter outside now and the days are getting longer.. maybe it's too bright for him. You could try putting a dark towel/sheet over his cage and seeing if that helps at all.

[MariaLHodge]

Is he near a window? It's so much lighter outside now and the days are getting longer.. maybe it's too bright for him. You could try putting a dark towel/sheet over his cage and seeing if that helps at all.

Not near a window but on the other side of the room. He is ALWAYS in his rock, I don't ever see him get out of it. Not even at night. I'm usually up til midnight and he never gets out of it. i don't know what to think. it's just not like him to hiss and strike at me, he's never done that. could it be that he's a SHE and it's Spring? or no?

[The Serpent Merchant]

could it be that he's a SHE and it's Spring?

No...

How big is the tank?

How big are the hides in relation to the snake?

[I-KandyReptiles]

You say you use logs?

Bp's like small tight enclosed spaces. Maybe crumple up some newspaper to fill one side up so he just has an entrance.

[MariaLHodge]

It's a 20 gallon and he's just about 2 foot long. The hide on the cool side is so small he just fits under it, and the one on the other side is one size bigger. He loves being in his rock, and I don't have a problem with that. I have a problem with him hissing and striking. I just don't know why because nothing has changed....

[The Serpent Merchant]

ok, then what about feeding?

What are you using to heat the cage?