Ball Python striking

[Lilcricketdummy]

Hello fellow ball python owners. My female BP is about a year and a half old and very healthy. However, the last couple of times I've brought her out of the tank for feeding time, she strikes before I get her into the separate feeding tank. She even bit me recently. Although she immediately let go, she has me a little concerned because I've never seen a ball python behave this way. I figured I needed to handle her more so I made sure I took her out to handle her more than just at feeding time. Each time I took her out she was fine. Today, I take her out to feed her and she strikes mid air while hanging from the snake hook. Before anyone asks, I will tell you how often and what I feed her. I feed her two mice, once a week. I also am able to handle her immediately after eating and I always wash my hands before handling her. Why does she continue to strike midair and is there anything I can do to curb this behavior? It's startling and not something I want her to continue to do once she's bigger. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[Albinoballpython]

I would Deffinally contribute more time to handing other than feeding time, if she is used to you only getting her when she will be fed she will assume your sent with food contributing to her striking. Make sure you do not handle the rats at all before picking her up their sent could cause her striking thinking you are food, or possibly it's a defensive strike and she is upset with the handling at the time. Whatever the case try to contribute more handling time other than feeding day.

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[Lilcricketdummy]

So, my plan is to handle her more in between feedings. At what point should I get worried?

[SRMD]

There are 0 reasons to put your BP into a separate tank when feeding, this is only going to stress your BP out. I have fed my BP in his tank for 3 years and he has never showed a single sign of aggression.

Try feeding your BP in their own enclosure.

[Albinoballpython]

As for the separate feeding enclosure, the idea to use one varies by people, personally I do not use one. It is good and bad, if you use substrate like repti bark or aspen in your home enclosure you don't have to worry about him or her eccidentally eatting it during feeding, but most people use it so their pet will be less likely to bite not associating opening of the enclosure with food, but you have to get him out to feed him and get him out to play with him or her so the association is the same in my personal opinion, and slapping them in a new environment to eat (stressing them out more) could cause them not to, and handling them to put them back in after they have eaten creates another issue which is biggest reason I don't use a separate enclosure. But it is all personal opinion it's what suits you best.

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[Albinoballpython]

Handle her more in between feedings and in a few months if the striking is still an issue you need to find another cause for the striking, she could be developing a temper as she gets older which some snakes do. It's something you have to keep working at, if she strikes you DO NOT PUT HER DOWN!!! do not give her what she wants, that will only make her associate striking when aggravated to getting what she wants, don't give her that bad habit.

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[Penultimate]

First of all, how much does your female weigh (in grams)? Two mice might be too small for her and she might just be hungry. When you handle her, do you use a snake hook? If you only use the snake hook to move her for feeding, she might be associating the hook with food. Also, I would stop feeding in a separate container. When you take her out to move her, your snake might be thinking, "Oh! I'm out! That means I'm going to be moved to my feeding area. Am I there yet? Am I there yet? Am I there yet?" In her excitement, she may become nippy because she wants to eat. Feeding her in her enclosure will not make her more aggressive. It will be harder for her to anticipate when feeding time is if she's fed in her enclosure, therefore she shouldn't be as nippy.

[SRMD]

The simplest solution to your problem, is to just feed your BP in its own home, not transfer it to somewhere it doesn't feel safe nor recognises.

[Lilcricketdummy]

I haven't put her down when she strikes yet. Good to know I have been doing something right.

[Lilcricketdummy]

I'm embarrassed to say I do not know how much she ways, but I'm pretty sure I'm feeding her the right amount. I think you all have a point about the snake hook, handling her more, and the separate enclosure. I'll give all of it a shot. I'm determined to be a good snake owner!