Aggressive/Defensive behavoir

[a_chute]

I am debating about switching over to tubs actually, but I was also going to build a four-five tank/tub rack out of my old dresser over the summer.

[Ben.Smith.512]

Heck ya. I built a plastic homedepot rack for mine. There are plent of guides online and its fairly cheap if you do not buy like boaphile or animal plastics.
Also look at a uth and a good thermo controller like vivarium electronics or helix its all worth the investment. Pm me if you need any help.

[aLittleLessButter]

that box is waaay too big. ball pythons like to hind in things barely big enough for them to fit in. They get a sense of security in feeling the sides of the hide wrapped around them. He is most likely striking out of fear because he feels vulnerable. Take some small bowls and cut holes in them or even a tissue box. Also as someone else said, take wads of newspaper and clutter up his cage a bit then give him a week without bothering him. Let him get comfortable. Also like stated already, don't bother taking him out to feed. Let him hunt in his own enclosure.

[a_chute]

I am really excited to make the new setup but I thought about doing it where it has Plexiglas sliding doors.

[Tigerhawk]

If you follow the above directions you should be fine. Please feed him in his enclosure. I just had a little not so fun time.With one of my six foot female boas. I was moving her to a different container, so that I could clean her cage. The problem is I had the feeding container in the snake room. I think it had just enough sent of rats to put her in feed mode. Well she turned it up a notch. Believe me its not fun when you just know you are going to get it bad. It worked out just fine, I avoided a bite this time. The point is it's best to feed them in there own enclosure. It's less stress on them and safer for you. Even if it is a small ball python.

[a_chute]

Here is his Amun-Ra's setup for right now. He has Aspen bedding and a smaller hide. I'm waiting for the lake and river to flood so that it brings some nice drift wood up so I can use some for a really nice hide and scratch. I disinfect the wood by baking it in the Oven. Is there anything else I should I should do?

[MontyAndMelissa]

I had the striking issue with my BP, she would strike at me every time I went to pick her up (this was a few months after I'd rescued her). I took her out and put her in a dark pillowcase that I essentially used as a snake bag. I got tagged putting her in there, but it's not a huge deal. Once I had her in the bag I weighed her and went by the "10-15%" bodyweight rule. You weigh them out, figure out what 10-15% of their body weight, and feed them a prey item of that size. I had been feeding her two adult mice every two weeks. After figuring out the correct weight of what size prey she needed, I found out I should have been feeding her a medium rat once a week! Needless to say she was being under fed. I don't remember which members had told me the 10-15% rule, but it worked wonders.

The pet store near my house has been out of medium rats which I had spaced to once every two weeks when her aggression went away. So I went up to large f/t rats once every other Thursday. Now she is happy and healthy.

I also feed in tank to avoid stressing her out. That's all about personal preference though. I noticed she was more aggressive in the feeding box than in her own home.

[MontyAndMelissa]

Here is his Amun-Ra's setup for right now. He has Aspen bedding and a smaller hide. I'm waiting for the lake and river to flood so that it brings some nice drift wood up so I can use some for a really nice hide and scratch. I disinfect the wood by baking it in the Oven. Is there anything else I should I should do?

You should have two hides. One on each end of the tank, which should be different temperatures. You should have a cool and warm side. Other than that it looks good. Also, be careful if you plan on getting wood from the wild to put in your tank. Some woods are poisonous to ball pythons. Make sure that you look up which could be harmful, and if those types of trees grow in your area, you might be better off getting the fake wood from the pet store.

[a_chute]

Most of the trees around are oak, cherry, and hedge and I always take it to my mother and her bf to check it to make sure it is a safe wood to use for them. I am trying to find another small sized container to trim to set on the cool side for him. I also get my mice/rats from a local ball python breeder and I just tell him the snake's weight and he gets me a sized meal so I dont have to worry if if will be too large and too small. I'm worried about feeding in their tanks due to the bedding getting stuck to their food and the possibility of being swallowed. I'm also worried that they may develop a feeding response.

[MontyAndMelissa]

Most of the trees around are oak, cherry, and hedge and I always take it to my mother and her bf to check it to make sure it is a safe wood to use for them. I am trying to find another small sized container to trim to set on the cool side for him. I also get my mice/rats from a local ball python breeder and I just tell him the snake's weight and he gets me a sized meal so I dont have to worry if if will be too large and too small. I'm worried about feeding in their tanks due to the bedding getting stuck to their food and the possibility of being swallowed. I'm also worried that they may develop a feeding response.

I was worried about the same thing. One owner here did tell me something interesting, if they can digest bone, they can probably digest substrate. And they're masters at getting stuff out of their mouth.

As far as the feeding response goes, as long as you handle them more than just feeding them, and you set a strict feeding schedule, you should be fine. I feed mine a large rat every other Thursday around 5 pm. Although they can't tell time, they can see routine. If I pick up the tongs and take out her hide, it's feeding time. If I only lift the hide up, and don't take it out completely, I'm just holding her. Most people with rack systems feed in the snakes living enclosure. Moving them to eat can just stress them out.

When I got monty I had the same fears, because she had been fed in tank. So the first feed, I took her out and put her in a feeding box, and she ended up regurgitating. I think it's just unneeded stress. Although in your head, moving them makes sense, to them it doesn't.