Ball Python problems

[AadanV]

So a while back I got a ball python and got a nice enclosure for it. Everything was well, it (I don't know the gender) would eat and I can take it out with no problem but when I would feed it I would put it in a different enclosure. I feed it frozen rats and I thaw them in hot water and it works perfectly. About a month ago I was trying to take it out and it striked at me, not gonna lie, it made me kind of scared to take it out now, which I know I shouldn't be afraid of a little bite. Its only about maybe 20-25 inches in length so I feed it small mice. Ever since it tried to strike me I read online that its ok to feed it in its enclosure but sense I feed it at night and I think the mouse scent stays in the cage since it takes a few strikes for the snake to find it. Now when I try to open the cage or if I turn on the light to my room it automatically thinks I'm feeding it and I'm hoping to try to hold it again one day. There is also another problem, when I feed it, maybe like 2 days later its already trying to see if I'm feeding it, it gets in its strike position and has its head constantly outside its rock. Does that mean I should start upgrading the size of the mouse, I mean when it eats the mouse you can notice a slight bulge but I think the mice at the store are such a big upgrade. If someone can answer both my questions on how I can start handling it again and also what I should be doing about the feeding situation, it would be much appreciated!

[Jellybeans]

All I can think to say is don't be scared of your snake and always feed it inside its enclosure.

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[fadingdaylight]

My experience is fairly limited, but I have noticed my BP does something similar, poking his head out of the hide, usually about 24 hours or so after feeding. I believe that they essentially go into something like a "hunt mode" where they continue to to look for food. To balance things out, I have developed my own form of "tap training". When I plan on handling the snake, I reach in and tap on the hide a few times, just a quick "tap, tap, tap". Then I lift the hide. This seems to throw him off the hunt. I also keep a bottle of hand sanitizer next to the enclosure, and I never reach in without using some, this way my hand are associated with a very different smell then food. Also, when I do go to pick it up, I take a second to kind of "pet" it. Approach from behind it's head, not in front of it touch somewhere on the body, gently, for a second or two, then scoop it up.

We are now at a point, after a few weeks of this, where I can tap on the hide, then literally poke my finger into the opening in the hide and touch the snake's body without being struck. Can't say that it will be this way for everyone and every snake, but it has worked for me.

In terms of food size, how much does your snake weigh? The common recommendation is for meals to weigh 10-15% of the snakes body weight. So a 200g snake would meet a rodent that was between 20-30g, roughly.

One last question, do you feed with tongs? I can't recommend them enough. Keeps your fingers a good 10-12in from the strike.

Edit - I do not handle at all for 48 hours after feeding, regardless of prey size, I prefer to ensure my snake has had time to get the meal digested well enough to prevent possible regurgitation. I generally keep my hands out of the enclosure during this time, unless I am spot checking temps quickly.