SMH...How Do I regain the control?!?!

[ssg150102]

so my bp has turned into a mean little rascal!!

This is the last BP i bought and i've had him for almost 2 months. I bought him from a breeder and he's a hatchling.

I respect his space so i was only handling once a week. just to weigh or clean his tank. he went into shed about two weeks after i got him, and then he stopped coming out of his hide. he was very bashful so he rarely poked more than his head out of his hide, and if he caught me even looking at him he'd retreat back into it.

well about two weeks ago i reached into his tank to grab his water bowl and change the water and he struck at me. i noticed when i removed the top he just sat there looking at me, which he never did before, i didnt think much of it though. so he struck at me, and he goes on the defensive anytime i reach into his tank now. he doesnt use his hide as much as he use to anymore either. still uses it a lot, but not as much. well now if i touch him he hisses at me! he's just a regular jerk to me now!

should i do something to calm him down? i have another bp that ive used the kind of hands off approach with and i have no problems with her. so i dont know what this guys problem is. should i handle him more? should i correct him when he is aggressive, like puppies?

im a little afraid of him now because i never know what he's going to do. but i dont want to be. lol. its embarrassing.

[Herbie'sMom]

How is your husbandry? Is he feeding ok?

Don't be scared to get bit - it doesn't hurt. That being said, he's a baby and babies are feisty. They are still learning that you aren't a big bad predator that's going to eat them. Give him time, handle him on a regular but not too frequent basis and in a few months, he should calm down.

[ssg150102]

hes in a 10g tank. 2 small hides. the tree stump kind. warm side 88-90, cool side 80-83. i have to work to keep the humidty up in his tank. unlike the others. somedays i can spray mist once and itll be fine, others i have to mist multiple times a day. when it drops it drops in the 30s, but i try to keep it in the 50's. i dont have that problem with the others. he uses both hides. he isn't a regular eater. he eats every other week for some reason. med f/t mice.

[Albert Clark]

It all sounds like typical hatchling behavior. You should consider moving him into a smaller enclosure or cluttering up the 10 gallon with more objects. Also, if you stay with the 10, try covering three sides of the tank with dark construction paper to add more of a sense of security for the bp. Most of all , feed him as soon as possible and then make sure he gets fed every three to four days. 10 to 15% of his body weight should be the guideline for his meals. He will calm down as he gets older and feels more secure and well fed.

[Herbie'sMom]

What are you using to heat the enclosure? Is it a UTH? If so, are you regulating it with a thermostat? *If not, UNPLUG NOW until you can get one. You don't want to burn your snake.*

How snug are the hides? You want them so they are JUST big enough for your snake, especially for a baby. It makes them feel more secure. If your hides are those half log types, either butt one end up against the glass and cover that part of the glass on the outside with paper to make it dark, or get two different hides. Ball pythons want to feel secure and having that opening on both ends could stress him out.

Does your cage have a mesh top? If so, you can cover some of it with tinfoil to help humidity.

As long as your husbandry is spot on, I would say your snake is just being a typical nippy baby and will grow out of it.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[ssg150102]

heated with UTH w/thermostat. i have the thermostat set for 88 degrees, but the probe on the inside measures from 88-90. he has the little tree stump hides, theyre really small. he's nice and snug in there, although he may be outgrowing it. i'll cover the sides and see how that works. as far as feeding him again though, i feed him every week but he's rejecting every other week like clockwork, and i read you should wait 7 days to offer again. so if i offer again should i go with a smaller size mouseif i'm going to offer that often? none of the LPS sell rats small enough for him, frozen or live. and all i can get is f/t mice.

[Herbie'sMom]

Your set up sounds good. Glad to hear you have a T-stat.

If he's rejecting e/o feeding anyway, I definitely wouldn't offer a smaller size prey item. Just continue what you are doing - he will eat when he's hungry. I would consider ordering some f/t rats online if you can't get any locally. Maybe the change will jump-start his feeding response. You could also try rubbing the prey item with some tuna juice to see if that helps, but I wouldn't worry too much right now since he is still eating for you on a regular basis - just not the one you think he should be (darn snakes!).

My best advice?

Patience, patience, patience!

Best of luck!

[Yodawagon]

If you try tuna juice, make sure you get the kind in water not oil. I had to scent my hognoses pinkies years ago. I bought a small can, drained to water into a zip lock bag and froze it. When the pinkie was nice and warm, I just rubbed it with the tuna juice ice cube.