Pls help! my ball python bites!

[Angel99]

help guys! i had this ball python with me for 1 mth already,yesterday while im trying to change his bedding,he strikes me suddenly,leaving some scratches on my thumb.i shifted his hideout,which is a tissue box,and he strikes at the tissue box too.he seems so agressive all of a sudden,wat is wrong?before yesterday,i can still handle him,he just gets a little bit tensed up and no more.can someone help me with this problem....thanks!

[BoAddict]

MAYBE HE IS HUNGRY?

[Angel99]

dats wat i guess too...tonite is his feeding time...hope things will get fine after dat.thks!

[nicola_boulton]

mabey you had been handleling mice or furry animals before you out your hands in the tank???

[Tim_Cranwill]

Young snakes are born ready to strike at anything that confronts them. Just give it some time and some gentle handling and it should come around.

Here are a few more tips...
http://www3.mb.sympatico.ca/~cranwill/faq11.html
:)

[sapphire_moon]

I don't mean to be harsh, but you could tell everyone what you told me in chat!

first off, you told me that it's illegal to keep snakes where you are

You've had him for 2 months

you have him on NO HEAT and fed him 2 times
You said your heat was about 28-29 celcius (about 79-81F)

your giving him p/k (pre killed) mice

he has one hide

substrate is paper with bark on top of it (you didnt' say what kind, you just said tree bark?)

that tonight you are feeding him

and I told you

get a human heat pad (one that doesn't shut off after 2 hours) or a under tank heater (uth) and hook it up to a lamp dimmer or rheostat.

do NOT feed him until you get him proper heat (i didn't say this, but I would wait atleast a week with proper temps)

that the proper temps are hot side 32celcius-35celcius (90-95 F)

and the cool side is 27-29 celcius (80-85 F)

to provide 2 hides, one on the hot side, and one on the cool side.

To check for mites, little black bugs crawling around on the snake, especially around the belly scales, eyes, heat pits, and nose.

I also said to take the snake to a vet because 2 months without heat and being fed can be dangerous with out the proper temps to digest the food, the food can rot and create bad bacteria infection or worse, kill your snake.

That is when you told me you CAN'T take it to the vet because it is illegal to keep snakes where you are.

I don't want to sound like I'm "ratting you out" I am only concerned about the health of the snake.

[Angel99]

Originally posted by sapphire_moon
I don't mean to be harsh, but you could tell everyone what you told me in chat!

first off, you told me that it's illegal to keep snakes where you are

You've had him for 2 months

you have him on NO HEAT and fed him 2 times
You said your heat was about 28-29 celcius (about 79-81F)

your giving him p/k (pre killed) mice

he has one hide

substrate is paper with bark on top of it (you didnt' say what kind, you just said tree bark?)

that tonight you are feeding him

and I told you

get a human heat pad (one that doesn't shut off after 2 hours) or a under tank heater (uth) and hook it up to a lamp dimmer or rheostat.

do NOT feed him until you get him proper heat (i didn't say this, but I would wait atleast a week with proper temps)

that the proper temps are hot side 32celcius-35celcius (90-95 F)

and the cool side is 27-29 celcius (80-85 F)

to provide 2 hides, one on the hot side, and one on the cool side.

To check for mites, little black bugs crawling around on the snake, especially around the belly scales, eyes, heat pits, and nose.

I also said to take the snake to a vet because 2 months without heat and being fed can be dangerous with out the proper temps to digest the food, the food can rot and create bad bacteria infection or worse, kill your snake.

That is when you told me you CAN'T take it to the vet because it is illegal to keep snakes where you are.

I don't want to sound like I'm "ratting you out" I am only concerned about the health of the snake.


thks so much for ur concern....i brought my ball to my frd vet already and was told he is ok,no mites or illness was found.i even ask the vet abt the heating and i was told dat as Singapore has a very warm climate,the snake will do well with just the normal sunlight we had in SG.was also told dat too much heat will burn the snake,as for his behaviour,it was said to believe he is hungry.do not worry too dat i will kill the snake cos i will take good care of him.its just the behaviour dat is giving me headache.now dat im told there is nothing to do with heat and illness,i just need help on why is the ball python which is believe to be tame strikes all of a sudden. :)

[Bighead]

Sounds like dat is BS to me. If your vet said all that, he doesn't know the first thing about reptiles.

[Angel99]

thks Tim_Cranwill for ur website and nicola_boulton for ur gentle reminder.i will bear all this things in mind....thks alot!

[sapphire_moon]

the snake NEEDS a 32celcius-35celcius HOT SPOT, with a COOLER AREA to be able to cool down. not just 80 degrees.

no snake is ever tame, they aren't dogs :)

[Angel99]

Bighead,dat was wat my frd had told me too.my frd had an albino which he had kept for years in the same way.nothing has happen.

[sapphire_moon]

just because he has "keept it like that for years" doesn't mean he is doing it right.

I can run a car on low gas, low oil, and low everything else, JUST ENOUGH so that it gets going, doesn't mean it is right.

Nothing happens when you speed all the time either but one day BAM you get killed in a wreck, but you don't understand it becuase you had "Done it for years that way, and nothing has happened"

Edit:

Just because he has kept herps longer than you, DOES NOT mean that he is more knowledgeable than you. Find a REAL herp vet, or give it back, especially if it is ILLEGAL to own snakes.

:)

[Angel99]

Originally posted by sapphire_moon
the snake NEEDS a 32celcius-35celcius HOT SPOT, with a COOLER AREA to be able to cool down. not just 80 degrees.

no snake is ever tame, they aren't dogs :)


well...no harm trying on the heater,i will give it a try then...so other then the heat,wat do u guys think causes his behaviour?

[sapphire_moon]

handling, don't handle him until he has eaten 4 times in a row for you. (once a week, not all at once)

only get into his cage for cleaning, and to give fresh water.

and give him APPROPRIATE sized food items,
he should be able to take a 3wk old rat, As you will want him on rats they are nutritionaly better than mice, and the bigger he gets, the more mice you will have to feed, so it is alot more expensive.


Use a lamp dimmer or rheostat to keep the temps where they should be, and get a digital thermometer to put RIGHT OVER the uth (the uth should be on the OUTSIDE OF THE CAGE, the probe of the digital thermometer on the inside right over the uth)

As I said, have you found out if you can get a permit or liscense to keep this snake?


edit: don't feed the snake until you have the proper temps, it will NOT hurt him to go 1 wk without eating.

[Cruciform]

Sapphire, did you know that your city bans the keeping of constrictors over four feet in length?

http://www.ottawakansas.net/municode/Chapter%2003%20Animals.htm

Otherwise, they're a lot more reasonable than here :(

[HeatherRose]

Snakes need to thermoregulate, so a hot and cool spot are needed...it doesn't matter that where you live is warm.

The snake needs to be able to warm itself up and cool itself off at will.

Otherwise, it would be better off if I came over and ate it, than in the care of someone who won't even take the time to accept advice and give their snake the proper care.

[sapphire_moon]

I don't have any snakes over 4ft. Plus my blood won't be over 4ft by the time I leave. So no worries there.

[Angel99]

ok noted PuNkuPoNAsTAR n sapphire_moon,im going to get the heater n dimmer today but wat if i set up the heater n the dimmer and his behaviour still remains the same?can u guys tell me more abt why is he so agressive...any ideas?

[sapphire_moon]

If he's aggressive he probably feels threatened.
when you took him to your friends vet, did you take a fecal? if not get the freshest fecal you can and get it to this vet, he may have parasites/worms that are making him uncomfortable.

otherwise, the only thing you can do is handle him regularly and not put him down when he bites, or he learns that when he bites, he gets his way.

I'm sure someone has more information they can offer though.

[Angel99]

he has not poo yet...will get a specimen of his fecal to the vet asap.thks sapphire_moon for ur infos.

[iguanarob]

put your python in warm water for at least half hour to an hour. the warm water can stimulate the snake to go to the bathroom. also watch the snake and check on it frequently while its in the water. If the snake still does no go put it backs in its cage and try again the next day.

[reptile boi]

I think hes mean because he has bad husbandry. Ive seen some supposedly real agressive snakes before that were in bad husbandry, but once kept properly it calmed down a LOT!




Thanks,
Ben

[Angel99]

thank you folks for ur advise n infos.will take note on that :)

[jozef]

my snake is 164cm and i feed it like massive rats live. i hold the rat by the tail until the snake attacks him. i won't risk the rat bitting him. i hold all my snake twice a day so they don't bit. i have only been tagged once. that was when it was a juvenile.

[Zoe]

You may want to rethink feeding your snake "massive rats live." Holding him by the tail may stop him from biting some times, but a rat that size is agile, strong and can pack a hel.luva wallop. If the snake misses even slightly, he stands the chance of being bitten. I really suggest you switch to frozen thawed or fresh killed to remove any chance of your snake being injured.
Also, you don't need to handle your snake that often. It's probably doing more harm than good, as handling a snake that often causes stress (remember that snakes don't enjoy being handled). Handling your snake 3-4 times a week is probably more than enough to keep it tame.

Zoe

[Angel99]

Zoe,im feeding my snake fresh dead mice.i kill it before i fed to my snake,after some observation,i realise dat my snake is shedding so i tink his agressive has something to do with hibernating.he is not so tensed up now,getting calmer and has allow me to hold him although he is still jumpy and try to slid away from my hand,other then dat he is fine,he moves around inside his den alot so i guess he is fine now...thanks folks for your infos and advise.

[Angel99]

by the way,i lost my snow corn snake.....anyone has any ideas how can i lure him out?

[ChokeOnSmoke]

I think Zoe was talking to Jozef.
Make sure you have the humidity up if your snake is going into shed. Or you could put a moist hide in his cage. As for your snow corn you can try to lure him out with a mouse. You can put flour near the walls and look for its tracks. That will at least let you know if its in the room or not.

[YummyCdnMale]

I Notice not one person asked if the snake was in shed mode or starting shed mode. I agree EVERY snake needs a heat source and a hide on the heat pad and one on the cooler side of the tank! feeding your snake without it is just plain common neglect. If Sapphire talked to you and took the time to write all she has said i believe she is telling the truth and your very wrong how your caring for that snake! lets remember something 2 months ago was march and very cold what were you thinking with no heat source. Some balls strike when they are going to shed or in shed or near end of shed i think your snakes striking out of payback for the harsh conditions your keeping him/her in P.S the person keeping the other snake that so called said it was ok did he recently have 200 animals and reptiles taken out of his home? sounds like the type anyways if he she don't tame down i'll give you what you paid for the snake just so it has a better home!!!

[Angel99]

seems like alot of ppl dun really know much about singapore weather but anyway,its ok...i had already set up the necessary equipment.

ChokeOnSmoke,thks for ur advise,i will try on the flour method cos i have already try the mice method and it doesnt work. :)

[HeatherRose]

The WEATHER doesn't matter, the snake should have a cool AND warm spot.

They need to be able to cool themselves down, and warm themselves up, its how reptiles and coldblooded things work...