Strange behaviour/gravid? ball python

[Bogertophis]

Thank you for the reply!
This is extremely embarrassing but I don't know when they were layed last year.. around the time I had hip surgery I'd assume. I was very unwell and left her alone because she's quite large I can't handle her with one hand and I had crutches and a cane for a while 😥
They HATCHED August 28th last year. Inside her normal enclosure on the hot side.
Everyone says congratulations but it was so stressful.. haha I gave them to a local breeder because I was not set up for them. So thank you for your sympathies. And she was unwell for a bit after although she got her appetite back the day they hatched! Which was good.
I had a look at the vet finder. Thank you! The closest is a bit over 2 hrs away..
I want to check her out more but when I lifted her hide yesterday she was pissssed. I have zero experience with aggressive snakes haha so I left her alone. She's been a golden retriever of snakes up until this.

I can see where last year was very awkward for you. I'd guess the eggs were laid in late June of last year- which reinforces what I was getting at- that right now she's stressed because she has no nest box & needs to lay- and THAT can contribute to egg-binding, so get her fixed up to lay eggs A.S.A.P. Seriously.

(re her loss of appetite last year, see my previous post- it's all about hydration hydration hydration!) Your snake is not "aggressive"- she's defensive, and needs a proper nest box.

[Shmalex]

I can see where last year was very awkward for you. I'd guess the eggs were laid in late June of last year- which reinforces what I was getting at- that right now she's stressed because she has no nest box & needs to lay- and THAT can contribute to egg-binding, so get her fixed up to lay eggs A.S.A.P. Seriously.

(re her loss of appetite last year, see my previous post- it's all about hydration hydration hydration!) Your snake is not "aggressive"- she's defensive, and needs a proper nest box.

Thank you for your reply!
So you're thinking she is gravid then?
Ok I'll get on that today. It's hard to find sphagnum moss in my city and I have just a bit left. Anything else that will do until I can order more?
And yes defensive is the right word. I'm nervous to handle her like that but I guess I'll have to get over it. Her water bowl already is quite large. I don't think I'd have room for a lay box, water bowl and regular hot hide even though her tank is 4 feet long. I have a clear tub with a lid I can make into a lay box. I assume I should cover it.
I had no idea a lay box was so important.. she didn't need one last year at all so I didn't even think about it.
Thank you

[Bogertophis]

Thank you for your reply!
So you're thinking she is gravid then?
Ok I'll get on that today. It's hard to find sphagnum moss in my city and I have just a bit left. Anything else that will do until I can order more?
And yes defensive is the right word. I'm nervous to handle her like that but I guess I'll have to get over it. Her water bowl already is quite large. I don't think I'd have room for a lay box, water bowl and regular hot hide even though her tank is 4 feet long. I have a clear tub with a lid I can make into a lay box. I assume I should cover it.
I had no idea a lay box was so important.. she didn't need one last year at all so I didn't even think about it.
Thank you

I'm not seeing her, (or your set-up), so I'm just going by what you're describing- and I would assume she is. You might try using a big ol' dampened towel around her- she'd probably love that, & it doesn't sound like you should be handling her at this time. And you could at least cover that end of the enclosure so it's more cave-like & private- see? That's likely why she's grumpy- she needs privacy, & some snakes are thought to wait too long to lay eggs if conditions are unsuitable, then maybe get "stuck" or some will lay them in a water bowl (since the sides make it feel more secure, & that's all they can find). Your job is to be a facilitator. I do have experience breeding some kinds of snakes, but not BPs. (A nest "box" helps keep the dampness where you want it, so the eggs don't dry out & so the female is comfortable, & feels safe.)

[Shmalex]

I'm not seeing her, (or your set-up), so I'm just going by what you're describing- and I would assume she is. You might try using a big ol' dampened towel around her- she'd probably love that, & it doesn't sound like you should be handling her at this time. And you could at least cover that end of the enclosure so it's more cave-like & private- see? That's likely why she's grumpy- she needs privacy, & some snakes are thought to wait too long to lay eggs if conditions are unsuitable, then maybe get "stuck" or some will lay them in a water bowl (since the sides make it feel more secure, & that's all they can find). Your job is to be a facilitator. I do have experience breeding some kinds of snakes, but not BPs. (A nest "box" helps keep the dampness where you want it, so the eggs don't dry out & so the female is comfortable, & feels safe.)

I saw the link on photo sharing. Seems very complicated for a tech illiterate like me haha but I'll have a go in a bit.
I already have a blanket covering that side of the tank and glass so it's dark and quiet. She's also in my spare room with no foot traffic.
I'm leaving her alone but I can see that her hide has been raise off the ground a bit so there is a space and I can sometimes see her body. Normally she lays in a big flat coil and the hide isn't raised so she's "sitting up" in a tall coil if that makes sense.
I'll put lots of moist bedding all around her to help her out. It is a tad lower than normal because I've been cleaning out all her extra pees lately.
Strange she'd find the environment unsuitable when it is the exact same as last year and her birth went fine.

Thank you for your help.
Any ball python specialist out there than want to chime in?

[Shmalex]

I'm not seeing her, (or your set-up), so I'm just going by what you're describing- and I would assume she is.

I had to make a whole new thread... Don't know why. But I posted a pic with her clutch, her in the bath after laying last year and my enclosure


(( Admin note: Photo thread merged with this one, see above post. ))