Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently bought a CB Albino BP male. he is very skiddish. When ever something moves he pulls his head back. While I understand he is still new to his environment, I wonder if this is more usual due to the lack of pigment in his eyes causing (poor or blurry vision?) He has bit me once due to me moving my finger slightly while holding him, but he didn't bite down, I think it was reactionary strike. I have a normal that has a very calm disposition from day 1.

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Jeff Davis
1.0 Norm? Royal Python(Rescue)
1.0 Albino Ball Python (high contrast)
2.0 Shi Tzus
1.0 Pug
0.1 Lovely Wife

well i tell u what i have one that did the same thing when i first got him he would slap back if i entered cage he would strike 2or3 times while i was holding him but 2 mths later now he is perfectly fine fat and happy eats like a horse and no problems i think it s because the enviroment most of my others did the same thing when they were young.I did switch his hide to a tighter black plastic hide with a small doorway so it was dark inside.
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spider m
pastel f
graziani pastel m
high c albino m
het for albino m
het for albino f
cini f
orange ghost f
mojave m
het for piebald ringer m
rodent breeding setup
and still growing

The head reaction is normal, all Ball Pythons do it more or less frequently depending on how use they are to quick movements in their environment. I doubt the lack of eye pigment has anything to do with it.

I recommend tightening his cage up a bit. Add some clutter, a hide he has to cram himself in to (BPs love tight places), maybe a log or two. Then just hold him occasionally. About every other day seems to be good to start with, depending on your feeding schedule. If the snake often freezes or curls into a ball, I would keep the holding time short so you don't stress them out too bad.

He is a very pretty Albino. Congrats!
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

My albino took a long time to figure out. He wouldn't eat for a long time until I found out that he only eats white feeders. I guess he can see them better in the dark than any other color. It was really cool how I found out too. He showed NO interest in a calico mouse, and I figured that he just wasn't going to eat again, and I ended up with one white mouse left, so I tried again "knowing" it wasn't going to work, but as soon as I closed the bin I saw him go right for him. I tested this theory again the following week just to make sure, and sure enough, nothing for the black mouse, and went right for a white one....lol

Just don't handle him for like 4 weeks and he will realize that there is nothing to be afraid of, and then try a white feeder, and let us know if this works.

all balls can and will be jumpy
all balls will bite movement ...
albinos do see a little worse
and snakes don't see as well as they should to begin with
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albino is no different than any other color....
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......JY