Reptile & Amphibian Forums

so i just bought my friends 1 year old 1 foot 8" ball python, he said that he played with it and took it out of the kage that he sold it to me with out anyproblems, i just got it yesterday and i feed it a small live mice to kinda get it to come down.
it tried to bite me multiple times yesterday and it dosent seemed very firendly he told me to let it settle for 2-3 days before taking it out again, im wondering what i can do so the snake can be more friendly or what im doin wrong that the snake is so pissed at me...any answer will be helpfull and sorry but this is my first post...o yeh but the snake is freaking awesome offcourse part from the fact that it hates me.

Did you try and take the snake out right after you fed it? If you did,then it was probably still in feeding mode. It probably feels insecure as well, being in a new home and all, with new surroundings. With any new snake that i have gotten, i would leave it alone for at least 2 weeks, to let it get accustomed to its new surroundings before i would even feed it, let alone hold it. The only time i would open my snakes enclosure during that time would be to give it fresh water or spot clean any messes it made. Also, do you have a hide for the snake, one that the snake can squeeze itself into. The smaller the hide, the more secure a snake feels, IMO. Also, what size enclosure do you have the snake in?

Chrissy
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1.0 Ball Python-Siegfried
1.0 BRB-Pedro
1.0 Blair's Phase GrayBanded Kingsnake-Elvis
0.1 Paradox Albino Sand Boa-Cleo
3.1 Dodoma's
0.1 pug mix

hey thanx for the info, i think its a 40 gallon tank and there is like 3 places where she can hide, she seems to like to hide behind the waterfall, there is like a hollow place where she just chills, im going to take your advise and not mess with her until about 2 weeks, how many times should i feed it if i want it to get big. thanx for the reply it was found helpfull

A 40 gallon tank is WAY too big for an 8" snake.
Downsize to a 10-20 gallon until she gets quite a bit bigger.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

its 1 foot 8 inches long sorry if i miss posted that

its probably feeling insecure. Check your temps as well, just to check your bases. Aside from that leaving it alone to settle is a good idea. Also, I would feed normal food size 1 time a week for steady growth, but that's just my opinion. What your referring to is "power feeding" I think, and that I'm not familiar with. Good luck and don't take the hostile feelings to personal. If he was a friendly snake before, he's probably just freaking from the move and feeling more secure will most likely help him to calm down.
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

1.0 Basset Hound (Capone)
1.1 cats (San Quinton and Gracie)

HI Felk,

#1 Generally speaking I do not even TOUCH my new critters for 3-4 weeks after arrival. I let them become acclimated to their new environment. This is also what I recommend to my customers. (honestly FEW listen!!)

#2 I generally do not feed for 2 weeks after arrival. This assures that they are good and hungry also gets their nerves settled down.

Note: feed at 2 weeks feed attempt at 3 weeks and maybe 4 weeks, GIVE THEM TIME!!! Feed in the evenings with dim lights in the room and just enjoy the show.

#3 Most 20" BPs are quite aggressive. They are 100% defensive though. This will diminish more and more as they mature. For most of them it is over by 600-800g. I do have 2 that are still biters, but 2 out of 100 BPs is an acceptable number.

#4 YOUR CAGE IS WAY TOO BIG!!! Take a 16qt sweater box and put the snake in it, this should suffice until 800g or so then upgrade to a 28qt blanket box until 1700g or so. a 40 breeder is about right for an animal of 3000g. BIG BALL!!! They live in tiny rodent holes in the wild large enclosures make them insecure and defensive. Many will not eat in such a large enclosure.

OVERALL, just give your BP a little time to settle in. THe priority is a consistently feeding animal. Obviously he has fed once despite the stress so this is a relatively good sign!!!

HAVE FUN,
Lee Van Hyfte AGC