Biting Ball Python

[MsMissy]

We wash our hands before handling him and I do not wave the rodent in his face. I have a 55 gallon habitat and he was at one corner and I wave the food at the other corner. He has a hide over his heater and it seems maybe I should add one on the cool side where his water is located. I will try and post a picture this evening when I get home from work.

We do not own any rodent pets and the past two feedings have been F/T small rats. Prior to the f/t rats he was fed live from the previous owner once per month.

You definitely should add a hide <identical to the other> on his cool side. That is a very large enclosure for him... Might want to clutter it up. Vines, leaves, rocks etc. that will help him feel more secure as a hiding bp is a happy one. If the back and sides aren't blacked out, you might want to do that as well. I'm not sure if you mentioned... Do you have his heating pad on a thermostat so you can regulate the heat? Those things can get to 130+ degrees which will burn him badly even in a short period of time.

As for his hunger... He's definitely making up for inadequate feeding. Once a month is not enough. How big is he? Weigh that is.... If we knew that, we could give you a better idea of the prey size he needs to be all fat and happy after a feeding. The fact that he went for a f/t prey so quickly after only being fed live tells me a lot. That boy is HUNGRY!!!