Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello I recently purchased my first Ball Python, and she seemed to adjust well after the first week to her new home and was very docile and pleasant to handle. However during her first feeding, she became very aggressive and after she was done eating her mouse she jumped out of her cage and attempted to attack me. I was a little nervous after seeing this side of her so left her alone for 3 days and she seemed to be back to normal.
But, after feeding her this week in her feeding box, she became aggressive again and I had to move her back into her cage with a home-made snake hook. Once she was in her cage she tried to get out and attack me, but I put the top back on to fast. It's been 3 days since she fed and she still is aggressive when I try to pick her up. she either rears back to bite me or goes to the other side of the cage when i enter the room. Is this normal behavior for a ball python? Why is she so aggressive when I feed her? Thanks alot in advance for your help.

Hi: welcome to the forum and to the wonderful world of BP keeping!

Couple of things:

1. she sounds as though she as a great feeding response. That is a great asset, believe me!

2. She should not be running to the other side of the tank when you enter the room! I say this because she should not even be able to see you enter the room. What am I getting at? Well, she should have a tight fitting hide box where she hides and she shouldn't even visually see your entering of the room. I may be incorrect, but from your description of the scenario, I am picturing that there is no hide box. For myself, the way my hide boxes are set up (tight fitting and secure), my snakes don't even get to see me enter the room. If you need help on how to make a hide box, there are many web sources you can read up on. The FAQ of pro exotics has a great hide box theory. Please read that.

I personally use cereal boxes and construct my own hide boxes. These boxes fit the BP just right. The BP can feel the side walls (they like to be able to touch all sides of the wall to feel well enclosed and secure). My Male be is 35 inches and weighs 860 grams and a cereal box cut in half fits him just right!

cheers.

P.S. please have agreat bp day!
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Longtang. I like snakes and rats.

Hello and thanks for the advice!! However, I am using a hide box, and its just at night when she is out that I enter the room and she goes and hides or goes to the other side of the cage. I am using a half log right now but I will try out the cereal box and see which she likes better. Is it normal then that tries to attack me after she has fed? I doubt I smell like a mouse b/c I use tongs and never touch them with my hands. Thanks again.

Hi steve:

I don't have that many ball pythons and I don't have that many years of experience, so I really can't say much about the aggressive behavior after feeding. Personally, I haven't encountered aggressive behavior like that from my collection.

I do have a couple of thoughts:

1. maybe she is still hungry after being fed.

2. It is good that you have a hide place. There are many ways of doing it. Here is a link to a way of using the bases of plant pots. www.proexotics.com/FAQ_answer_making_clay_hide.html There is a small ten second clip that shows you how to make a hide box that is ideal using planter bases. It is just another option to the cereal box. Choose the one you like. (by the way, sorry for assuming that your snakey didn't have a hide box )

3. Sometimes snakes are irritable when they are about to enter shed.

4. Some babies need regular handling sessions to calm them down, but only do this after your snakey has gotten over the stressful period of transitioning to a new home, which brings me to point 5:

5. The stress of moving to a new home is causing her to be defensive. Give her two weeks to settle in and then start on some limited daily handling sessions.

As I said, I am not the most experience of persons. These are just some of my thoughts.

sincerely.

Please have a great BP day.
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Longtang. I like snakes and rats.

Thanks again for your advice, you've answered alot of my questions and I will definitely look into your suggestions

If given the choice betw a Half log and a real good hide box, my BP will use the home-make cereal box hide 100% of the time. He won't even go to the half log. And this has nothing to do with temp gradient because no matter where I would place the half log, he would for the cereal box, I am sure.

Make one single entrance to the cereal box. The box should be all enclosed except for one entrance hole. Your will be surprised how secure they will feel. It will give you and your snake both the peace of mind for which you both seek.
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Longtang. I like snakes and rats.

MY BP uses half logs and feel very secure in them.

Hey Steve (nice name) ,
I just posted a message very similar to yours (Didn't notice your post). My recently purchased ball is also quite aggressive. Is yours captive bred? I have some weird theory that captive bred balls got over the natural behavior of coiling into a ball and hiding in exchange for striking at whatever bothers them. My ball has a half cut corner log that he can go into and he fits quite snugly in, he also has a modified flower post as hiding spots, he seems very secure in his house. I'm not too helpful in answering your question, but it is good to know there's someone else out there with a similar situation.
- Steve

for the tmes u fed her maby she was just hungry and attacked u because U smelled like a mouse. But 4 the 3 days later I dont no, but if u do get attacked and they do not let go then spray them with Wiskey I no it sounds wierd but if u have a small bottle of it and spray ur BP with it then they will let go.