The Devils Baby

[stano40]

Since starting with ball pythons this is the first time I have run across an aggressive bp, let alone being a baby bp.

My wife adopted this latest one, which would make seven in her herd of bp's,the latest adoption being from petco. She was told this one was brought back 3 times for being overly aggressive and has not eaten since being returned. I wonder in the month's time while this baby was being taken back and forth, has it ever eaten?

She asked to see the bp. (Problem 1) is the way petco handled the bp. They would use the hide on the bp to hold down the snakes head and then grab the bp from behind. To me that's a big no-no.

Well, Michelle brought home the bp and it was doing pretty good sitting in her hand while talking to the bp gently and rubbing the bp's body. I know that sounds silly but at first it seemed to calm the bp down.

That was a mistake, it lunged for her and missed her thumb. Figuring the bp was hungry she put the bp back in its house & tried a f/t fuzzy mouse (thawed in warm water). The snake literally struck passed the mouse, out at her and tagged her finger which drew blood. She left the mouse hoping the snake will go for it. I told her she should use tongs to feed El Diablo, she said she did.

Later she took the F/T mouse out and tried talking gently to the bp, but all it did was sit in its enclosure coiled up and ready to strike at her. It missed this time, I guess it's aim was off or it's getting tired. I told Michelle if it were venomous she would be dead a few times over.

This is where we are with the terror baby bp and looking for hints on maybe what to do to calm it down. Future plans are on using the bp for breeding. Michelle is new at popping hemipenes but believes its a male. She has a video on how to pop hemipenes and looked at this procedure on the internet.

We don't want to give up on the snake but if it's doing this now, being a baby what's it going to be like when it grows up.

Any advise would be helpful.

bob and michelle :med3eye:

[amercnwmn]

Sounds like he is stressed from all the commotion...you might just try to leave it alone for a few days..
What size is the snake? If it is under a foot and pretty thin, I would definitely try a frozen pinky at night and leave it overnight... Is the snake housed by itself? I would make sure he was, being a new one... You can also try the paper bag route...with a thawed pinky/fuzzy (depending on size) you can put them both in a paper bag in their cage and leave them and see if he goes for it....just keep trying with the mice, Balls are notorious for feeding issues as babies... I had PetCo tell me that a snake had fed, and it hadnt and it died a few days later...I learned real quick how to forcefeed with a syringe..

He probably hasnt eaten, did PetCo know?? If they dont know, then it is a safe bet to say he hasnt... have you weighed him? or does he seem to have lost any weight, look saggy? if he doesnt eat and looks saggy, I would take him to a vet or more expereinced snake handler (NOT PETCO) and let them decide wether he should be forcefed..

If you have to handle it, (like to go to the vet) you might try a small wash cloth over its head...I had to do that for a Red Tail I rescued that was starved. NOT PLEASANT TO GET A BITE FROM A 7FOOTER!!

Baby ball pythons can be a bit skittish, as you may well know... but mine has never bit me, come close, but not actually hit me yet..when you go to pick it up, make sure you go UNDER the snake's body, although it sounds like you know the right and wrong way to pick one up. Is it about to shed possibly?

An aggressive Ball is not totally unheard of, but it isnt the norm...The general rule is the more they are handled, the better they will be about being handled... In the meantime, welder's gloves work well..
good luck:sun:

[stano40]

My wife and I both agree and have come to that same conclusion of the bp being in a high stress mode from being passed all around so much.

Diablo had a couple of days by itself, but when Michelle opened the top it struck at her. She then opened a small snake bag it tried to strike at her, missed and went into the snake bag by itself.

Diablo weighs 116 grams and is approximately 18" long. We provided another small non-offensive hide for him. He's using the hide OK.

The bp is not dehydrated, eyes are opaque (going into shed), nice muscle tone and mass. Nothing saggy or mushy. He is housed by itself and will be that way for about a month.

bob

[Phoenix]

I don't like the way petco held him either, but it was probably not to get bitten before a customer. As for the bitting... he may just be stressed out and aggressive as a defense. As for feeding, I'd do the poke method (where you poke a hole in the head and brain cavity, getting someone the liquid to come out and pool in a bubble on the head. Gross, yes, but really gets the snake's attention due to the smell) just so that you don't have to pick it up again for a while.

Hopefully fed and left alone for a while, he'll relax.

Goodluck!

[kronic2005]

Being stuck by a baby bp is something you shouldnt hesitate about. Its actually good to let them strike you, they are very scared and dont know what you are. Letting them do this gives them a little taste. Their either biting you cause their hungry or very scared. To calm down bp's like this, you can't approach them from the front. You must always come behind the head, and pick them up halfway down their bodys, once their in your hands, make sure nothing is passing by their face, shadows, blankets, hands ... anything at all. They are very head-concious animals, they feel threatened that they are going to be dismembered lol. Once you do this alot, they should gradually calm down. but dont ever stop with approaching from behind and making sure their heads arnt going to get frightened by anything.

Hope this helps a bit. try it out let me know. Also, if hes not feeding, try live, that will really piss him off, throw a nice little pinky in there, it wont do any harm, as pinkies can barely walk and open their eyes. That should get him to eat. :mednormal

[Phoenix]

Also, if hes not feeding, try live, that will really piss him off, throw a nice little pinky in there, it wont do any harm, as pinkies can barely walk and open their eyes. That should get him to eat. :mednormal

Aside from the whole issue of live/dead prey... you might not want to 'piss' this snake off. If he's really stressed and eats something bigger than pinkies, the poke or bag method might be better for him. And if he doesn't eat it... well then you have the problem of a live pinky on your hands.

Again, I highly suggest the poke method. That way you don't have to piss him off, or pick him up, and it usually works.

Good luck!

[stano40]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, these are very helpful and we are finding new methods to Diablo's madness.

As far as letting him strike or bite you I think Michelle is doing that now and is tired of getting blood transfusions.

But he's alone in a secure place and we'll let him finish his shed. Then we'll try a couple of the ideas to get him to feed.

Again thanks and love to see new ideas.

bob and michelle :medeye:

[stano40]

Just thought I would let everyone know that diablo has finally eaten a small F/T mouse. We were very relieved to see that. He preferred to be in a secluded spot with no one watching.

Michelle is working with him daily, Diablo still strikes out but only if you make a mistake and get in the front of his face.

bob

[kronic2005]

I didnt mean piss off the snake, i just meant it would get him going, if he sees it wobbling about.

When i first got my bp, it would strike at everything, just like yours. She was about a month old when i got her. It took her about 2 months to fully calm down.
Now shes fine, doesnt strike at all, unless u bug her after she feeds.:skull:

How old is the bp?:eb: