Ball Python Traumatic Experience

SfGamer · 10-20-14, 10:08 PM

So I am a teacher and acquired my 7 year old ball python from another teacher on campus about three months ago. I was told he was a biter. Well after learning more about him, I found out that he was biting because he was only being fed one small mouse every other week! I started feeding him three medium mice a week...two on Thursday and one on Friday. Well one Thursday I did not feed him and fed him on Friday. Right before I was going to feed him, he bit and latched on to one of my students. (This was after school.) I tried getting him off like I was told by the reptile store, which was to squeeze his jaw and pull out and up. He was pretty stuck and began to constrict around the students arm, so I unraveled him. After several minutes I was able to get him off by squeezing his jaw. I was kind of freaking out and felt like I squeezed it pretty hard. The student and I were fine, but I think my snake is traumatized. He his for several days under his half log. I ended up bringing him home and he still seems to be in attack mode all the time now. He comes out of hiding when he hears noise and moves very quickly sometimes snapping at the glass, although he has gotten better with the snapping part and it has been about four days since I moved him to my house. I have not held him since. Suggestions? Can they remember that kind of trauma?

**Aaron_S** · 10-21-14, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SfGamer

So I am a teacher and acquired my 7 year old ball python from another teacher on campus about three months ago. I was told he was a biter. Well after learning more about him, I found out that he was biting because he was only being fed one small mouse every other week! I started feeding him three medium mice a week...two on Thursday and one on Friday. Well one Thursday I did not feed him and fed him on Friday. Right before I was going to feed him, he bit and latched on to one of my students. (This was after school.) I tried getting him off like I was told by the reptile store, which was to squeeze his jaw and pull out and up. He was pretty stuck and began to constrict around the students arm, so I unraveled him. After several minutes I was able to get him off by squeezing his jaw. I was kind of freaking out and felt like I squeezed it pretty hard. The student and I were fine, but I think my snake is traumatized. He his for several days under his half log. I ended up bringing him home and he still seems to be in attack mode all the time now. He comes out of hiding when he hears noise and moves very quickly sometimes snapping at the glass, although he has gotten better with the snapping part and it has been about four days since I moved him to my house. I have not held him since. Suggestions? Can they remember that kind of trauma?

Yes they can "remember".

I'm glad you got him off with no ill effects. Be sure to check with your student that there's no irritation on the bite site as there may be a tooth embedded.

The store gave bad advice. You should run the head under water if it's that bad. For most bites like this the snake will realize that the arm isn't food and let go on it's own.

As for the snakes behaviour you will just have to wait it out. Continue to care for the snake as normal and hopefully over time it will calm down. Some people will say "work with it" and I suppose it's a viable option but for myself I just let them be. Over time they realize that I'm not a threat and calm down for me to deal with them quite easily.

Also, try feeding the snake a small rat. Much easier feeding one item once per week than 3.

Madness420 · 10-21-14, 01:05 PM

get a snake hook and/or some leather gloves... that will allow more interaction with less chace of getting bit.

shaunyboy · 10-21-14, 05:56 PM

imo,the striking at the glass means your snake is nervous and biting defensively,once it settles into it's tank and has had regular handling,it should calm down

make sure there's plenty hides,fake plants,etc to give it cover and places to hide and feel more secure

re getting a snake to release when biting
the best way is to hold its head under the cold tap and let a trickle of cold water splash onto it's head,they let go pretty quick that way

the way the shop guy taught you,risks damaging teeth,jaws,etc

cheers shaun

SfGamer · 10-22-14, 07:14 AM

Thanks all. Since I posted this I added a plant to his enclosure and he seems to be a happy guy now. I took him out while wearing gloves and he is quite calm again. Thank goodness! Thanks for your advice!

Pirarucu · 10-22-14, 08:20 AM

How large is it as of now?

SfGamer · 10-22-14, 11:08 PM

He's about 3 feet. He's small because he was underfed.

**Aaron_S** · 10-23-14, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SfGamer

He's about 3 feet. He's small because he was underfed.

My adult male ball pythons are only about 3 feet. He's not undersized in that way. How much does he weigh?

SfGamer · 10-23-14, 11:22 PM

I am not sure about his weight. I have learned more from this forum than what I have learned from the reptile store! Sounds like they have been giving me the wrong information! How do I weigh him?

**Aaron_S** · 10-24-14, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SfGamer

I am not sure about his weight. I have learned more from this forum than what I have learned from the reptile store! Sounds like they have been giving me the wrong information! How do I weigh him?

Get a scale. Put said snake on the scale.

I have a kitchen scale that weighs in grams. I place a bin on it and use the "tare" function to zero it then put the snake in the tub.