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    BPnet Royalty dakski's Avatar
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    Re: Suddenly agressive Ball Python, needing suggestions

    Quote Originally Posted by Bogertophis View Post
    She is probably hungry...there is a chart (hopefully someone will re-post) to show you what the prey should weigh for a given size snake, or you can compare
    the prey to the snake's (un-fed) body: the prey should be roughly the same diameter (not larger than) the mid-body of the snake. She is likely ready for medium.

    Always feed IN the snake's normal enclosure...there is no truth to that bit about avoiding aggression this way, if anything, it makes it worse since you are trying
    to handle a snake that is hungry, and then trying to put the snake back that is still pumped up (in "feed mode") & is very likely to bite you.

    Few snakes are actually aggressive, most bites are defensive (out of instinctive fear) or confusion about food...most bites are avoidable. Another thing that makes
    snakes MORE likely to bite is feeding live prey. Not only is it unsafe (sooner or later your snake will need the vet...rats bite hard, & can actually kill the snake, either
    directly or by injury & infection that doesn't respond to treatment) but it keeps your snake in a highly-defensive snake, never knowing when a live rat shows up
    that she must do battle with. Snakes fed pre-killed (f/t OR fresh killed by you) tend to be calmer pets, though it may take some time for yours to learn to relax now
    that she's used to live.

    Bad idea feeding another rodent only a few days after the first...likely to cause a regurgitation of both. Snakes need time to fully digest & replenish digestive enzymes.

    Chart below. I think as the BP's get older, every other week is usually okay for a feeding schedule. Adults will often refuse weekly feedings. However, some animals will eat and do well with every week. Read your animal.

    Additionally, FEED IN THE TANK, and I would try F/T as Bogertophis said. Feeding separate is a recipe for stress for the animal and bites for you.

    Aside from a very young colubrid, I would not feed anything more than once a week.

    Feed an appropriately sized meal weekly.

    Also, make sure temps and humidity are good and the enclosure is appropriate for a BP and there are plenty of equal sized hides. If temps are too low, or the snake does not feel safe on the warm side, etc. and you feed too close together, you are probably asking for regurgitation. That's very bad.

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to dakski For This Useful Post:

    Bogertophis (10-07-2018),Jeanie78 (10-07-2018)

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