Ball python exhibiting very weird behaviour all of a sudden, please help!

[dr_awesome12312]

Hi, this is my first time posting here and could really use some help. I've had an Enchi Ball python now for about a month and a half, since I got her she's shown normal behaviour until tonight. I had just gotten back in and was going to handle her for a little while, I hadn't had the chance over the last few days since she'd just been fed and I was busy, but when I went in to look at her she looked really scared and defensive. I just put it aside and waited for her to calm down a bit then went to pick her up, as soon as I started lifting her she brought her head right back into her body, obviously scared, so I left her and she went back into her hide shortly afterwards. I had assumed that she might've been about to start shedding but then a couple hours later, I was just chilling at night when I suddenly heard 4 thuds or bangs with some kind of sounds right afterwards, I didn't know if it was my radiator or her so I checked her and she was rubbing her head on everything, then had a drink of water, and went back into her other hide like nothing had happened. I seriously don't even know what happened, or if the bangs and thuds were even her, but they sure scared me. I should also mention while she was drinking I had a good look at her while I could, and couldn't see any evidence of mites or infections, and her scales looked normal, so I don't know if this is part of the pre-shedding phase or if there is something really wrong. If it helps her vivarium is kept at 28-29°c on the cool side and 32-33°c on the hot side, each side has a hide and I've provided a lot of cover with leaves and things. Her humidity is constantly kept between 60-65%. If someone can help me I'd be really grateful, I'm a very anxious person and I'm seriously concerned about her now. Thanks

[cuddlykhajiit]

Hi, this is my first time posting here and could really use some help. I've had an Enchi Ball python now for about a month and a half, since I got her she's shown normal behaviour until tonight. I had just gotten back in and was going to handle her for a little while, I hadn't had the chance over the last few days since she'd just been fed and I was busy, but when I went in to look at her she looked really scared and defensive. I just put it aside and waited for her to calm down a bit then went to pick her up, as soon as I started lifting her she brought her head right back into her body, obviously scared, so I left her and she went back into her hide shortly afterwards. I had assumed that she might've been about to start shedding but then a couple hours later, I was just chilling at night when I suddenly heard 4 thuds or bangs with some kind of sounds right afterwards, I didn't know if it was my radiator or her so I checked her and she was rubbing her head on everything, then had a drink of water, and went back into her other hide like nothing had happened. I seriously don't even know what happened, or if the bangs and thuds were even her, but they sure scared me. I should also mention while she was drinking I had a good look at her while I could, and couldn't see any evidence of mites or infections, and her scales looked normal, so I don't know if this is part of the pre-shedding phase or if there is something really wrong. If it helps her vivarium is kept at 28-29°c on the cool side and 32-33°c on the hot side, each side has a hide and I've provided a lot of cover with leaves and things. Her humidity is constantly kept between 60-65%. If someone can help me I'd be really grateful, I'm a very anxious person and I'm seriously concerned about her now. Thanks

How old is she?

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[dr_awesome12312]

Shes around 7-8 months old

[cuddlykhajiit]

Shes around 7-8 months old

So still pretty young, they tend to be pretty defensive at a young age. I don't know what to think about the banging though. Glass or plastic tub?

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[dr_awesome12312]

So still pretty young, they tend to be pretty defensive at a young age. I don't know what to think about the banging though. Glass or plastic tub?

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Shes in a Wooden viv with glass front panels. When I heard the banging it sounded like something hitting the wall, but I do have a radiator in my room which occasionally makes sounds like that, but this sounded nothing similar to that.

[Bogertophis]

I would assume that she is trying to shed & raise her humidity to about 70% immediately; either provide a humid hide, or mist her home, & add some moisture to her substrate if appropriate.

BTW, what kind of substrate are you using for her? Make sure her water bowl is refilled with fresh water.

Shedding: in case you aren't aware (?), snakes get cloudy (milky) looking, then if you happen to miss that phase, they go "clear" (meaning they look quite normal, as if they've already shed- because their own body secretes some moisture to facilitate shedding, between the old & new layer of skin, before they actually shed). It's only after that they actually shed their skin- & there's no exact length of time that it takes. *Learn to watch for the 'signs'.

I would assume that the bangs you heard were her trying to start the process of shedding & it sounds to me like she is too dry & having some trouble.
They start the process by rubbing their face/head on things, & if they're having trouble, they can be quite pushy, depending on what's in her home.

No guarantee, as none of us are seeing your snake, but this is my hunch, & I've been living with a whole lot of snakes for over 3 decades, lol.

*Also: snakes in the process of shedding typically act very nervous & defensive. And if you offer them food, they'll act AFRAID of it too.

BTW-

[dr_awesome12312]

I would assume that she is trying to shed & raise her humidity to about 70% immediately; either provide a humid hide, or mist her home, & add some moisture to her substrate if appropriate.

BTW, what kind of substrate are you using for her? Make sure her water bowl is refilled with fresh water.

Shedding: in case you aren't aware (?), snakes get cloudy (milky) looking, then if you happen to miss that phase, they go "clear" (meaning they look quite normal- because their own body secretes some moisture to facilitate shedding, between the old & new layer of skin, before they actually shed). It's only after that they actually shed their skin- & there's no exact length of time that it takes.

I would assume that the bangs you heard were her trying to start the process of shedding & it sounds to me like she is too dry & having some trouble.

No guarantee, as none of us are seeing your snake, but this is my hunch, & I've been living with a whole lot of snakes for over 3 decades, lol.

I use Earthmix by Arcadia because it helps keep humidity up quite a bit, there are vents on the back of her viv for cable access and such (fairly small ones, so they don't affect temps, but they make humidity drop quite fast, I use a humidifier with fresh water to keep it at a constant level), and its actually quite good timing because I was going to clean her out tomorrow and swap out the old substrate for new humid substrate. I've been handling her over the last few weeks and shes showed no signs of milky eyes or dull colours, unless its only happened during the last week and I missed it because I haven't seen her as much, but I doubt it unless they can go through the process that fast? last time she took a good 2-3 weeks. Should I boost her humidity up to 70% for now just to be safe?

[Bogertophis]

I use Earthmix by Arcadia because it helps keep humidity up quite a bit, there are vents on the back of her viv for cable access and such (fairly small ones, so they don't affect temps, but they make humidity drop quite fast, I use a humidifier with fresh water to keep it at a constant level), and its actually quite good timing because I was going to clean her out tomorrow and swap out the old substrate for new humid substrate. I've been handling her over the last few weeks and shes showed no signs of milky eyes or dull colours, unless its only happened during the last week and I missed it because I haven't seen her as much, but I doubt it unless they can go through the process that fast? last time she took a good 2-3 weeks. Should I boost her humidity up to 70% for now just to be safe?

You "should" (at least with some experience?) be able to tell if she's in shed by shining a small-beam bright flashlight across her eyes (from the side, in a dark room)- this will help show if they're clear or milky (as with a shed cycle). The other ways I can personally tell (but they're harder to define for you) are the general texture ("feel") of the snake's skin, the way their skin folds (the appearance, especially on their neck), and the fact that sometimes you can also see a "double-edge" on their belly "scutes".

Can you post some close-up pics of her?

I'm not actually seeing your snake, but from everything you described, I would bet she is trying to shed. It's on you to verify or know if that's the case. All snake enclosures need some air circulation, but if the vents in your viv allow too much air flow, you can always tape over some of them (only on the OUTside, of course) to help keep in the humidity. If your snake is light color (or albino), it's even harder to see the signs of them being in shed- especially if this is your first snake. Yes, I would boost her humidity now, unless you enjoy snakes going "bump in the night". She sounds like she'd enjoy even a makeshift "humid hide", & if you provide it, I predict that you'll find her in there.

Incidentally, the reason snakes show fear when in shed is because they're more vulnerable to predators that want THEM for dinner, when they're busy trying to actually shed, or when their vision is impaired. Same goes for while they're eating- which is why they're ambush predators that hunt under cover of darkness.
Their instincts help keep them safe in the wild.