Is he hungry, or just an aggressive baby?

[Sunny]

http://s1112.photobucket.com/albums/...t%3Dsyrup3.jpg
Acting all normal and chill.

http://s1112.photobucket.com/albums/...t%3Dsyrup2.jpg
Him tonight.

Hello! This is my snake Syrup, he is a 1.0 normal ball python. He was shipped to me on wednesday, and at first acted scared "balling-up" like they do. Then after 24 hours he had his head out of his hide in a striking position. So I figured Id offer him some food, and he ate it as soon as he figured out what it was lol (he had been fed live rat pinkies, and I threw in a f/t mouse fuzzy). So I let him chill for 48 and then I just checked in on him today and that second picture is how he was posturing. Is he hungry still? Or is he just aggressive? Hes in a sterrilite tub with an UTH and two hides on each end, the cooler side is 80* and the hot is about 90*. Hes chilling mostly on the warm side, just fyi. He isnt my first snake, and deff wont be my last. The last snake I had was an adult female and that was a good 4 years ago, so Im a little bit rusty. Thanks for your anticipated help.

[KMG]

I didn't read anything that says its being aggressive. Is it striking at you? Sounds like it is doing regular bp behavior. They often stick their head out and look out of the hide. The second pic just looks like he is coiled up. If it is not trying to strike you I wouldn't say its being aggressive.

[satomi325]

You should leave him alone for at least week before handling to allow him to settle into his new environment and minimize stress.

Can you describe your set up? What size tub? Sometimes if the enclosure is too big, babies tend to stress out.
But it doesn't look like he's displaying aggressive behavior per say. My big female does this when she's looking for food. But that doesn't necessarily mean your little one is.

[Sunny]

Hes in a 10 gallon tub, and Ive already mentioned the temps but again now its exactly 79* for the cool and the hot side is 92*. He just seems very aggressive (or hungry) I just dont really know wether to offer him another mouse fuzzy or not.

[Tfpets]

One of my younger ones is aggressive/defensive no matter what I do. If I pick him up I will get bit several times (not that I can even feel it). Unless your getting struck at or bit I wouldn't define his behavior yet. I would say just wait til his next scheduled feeding to give him another rodent and don't stress it. Even IF he were hungry, he's not going to starve. His behavior could be seen as curiosity of his new environment.

Edit: if you say he was already on rats, I would keep it that way! You don't want him to revert back to mice!

[ExotixTowing]

Have you weighed him lately?? To see if your feeding the proper size ??


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[ExotixTowing]

I can't see your pics... But. I Know my lesser is very protective of his space lol well that's how he wants to seem


He never strikes at me tho hissed a few times at first but thats normal

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[AdamF]

If he is young, and in new environment, he may be a bit stressed. If he took food, that's a good sign. Wait a week, let him digest and poop. As tough as it is to resist, leave him alone for a bit. Younger ones take time to adjust, and be ok with surroundings.

One other tip, I have found (applies to most animals) consistency in your routine is important. Try to approach, handle, feed, etc., the same way each time. Changes are what get animals skittish.

I have 5, and none of them ball-up on me ever, though a couple did when they were younger