what am i doing wrong?

frankadank · 04-21-17, 12:27 PM

alright so i need some advice and answers. i've had my female bumblebee ball python (hatched 10-04-16 ) for almost 2 months now. so far thinks been going alright just not that good. she's still afraid of me and will get into striking position when i go inside the tank or get infront to mist it down. she's eating good for me has every week and even already switched over to f/t for me, i started out live. well she tries to escape at night a lot and fails because i have it locked, but she still tries and always flops over.

her housing is dialed in for the most part. shes in a 20G long on cypress, has 2 hides one on each side, good size water dish, a log hide in the middle along the glass, a UTH on a thermostat set at 94, a CHE also on a thermostat, a 24 hour 75watt night bulb to help warm up the cold side due to it being in my room in the basement at around 60-65°, i made a plexiglass top to hold humidity which is around 45-65 i mist 2/3 times daily and also have 2 bowls of spahgnmoss on each side to help, i have the back and 2 sides wrapped in a scenery to help her feel secure and wrapped in insulation to help with the temps, the hot hide 92-94 and cool hide 85. she has shed already but in pieces but nothing stuck. i just added the plexiglass so i hope that helps with her shed.

is she trying to escape because she's still afraid or is something wrong? she's still defensive when i get her out and strikes often but not within the past week or so. one night i let her nip me than i took her out after to kinda show her that's not going to do anything. only took her out for 5 mins and she did start to explore. handling sessions started after 2 feds and only about 5/10 mins 2/3 times a week. i just want her to mellow out and start trusting me but i guess it's a matter of time and patience. does anything sound wrong/ needs fixed? are females more defensive? whats a way to help build trust?

Scubadiver59 · 04-21-17, 12:40 PM

Nothing that I can see...just be patient with the handling.

My Corn and King still take off unless I'm feeding them, but my BP tolerates my presence and has never struck.

regi375 · 04-21-17, 12:45 PM

I've had my snake for almost a year now and she still tries to get out. For my ball python, I keep it a little cooler on the cool side, around 75. Not sure how others weigh in on this however. Also, it seems like you're doing a lot to raise the humidity. What are you using to measure it? You may want to question it's accuracy. I live in the same state, and all I have to do is mist my BP's cage every once in a while.

**Andy_G** · 04-21-17, 01:08 PM

All of this sounds normal and it's how snakes aee generally.

trailblazer295 · 04-21-17, 01:27 PM

I would handle her less then 3 times a week. Seems excessive especially with a defensive snake. How long after feeding do you handle? When you pick her is she in the hide or open exploring? I would handle once a week and slowly increase time.

frankadank · 04-21-17, 03:36 PM

thanks for replying everyone. and after feeding i wait 48 hours she's usually out exploring but sometimes i do get her from her hides cuz she'll spend most the time in there. i have 2 separate humidity gauges one digital on the hot end and a analog on the cold side. without the 75watt the cold side drops to like 68 which is too low. i might try a 50watt cuz the cool side might be a lil warm. but i also think she's justing being hard learner. still doesn't trust me fully

frankadank · 04-21-17, 03:37 PM

i'm hoping the short handling sessions would help with the defensiveness and trust building

Tiny Boidae · 04-21-17, 04:30 PM

You're doing everything right, so just relax and let the snake set the pace as far as trust goes. They tend to get better with age, as babies have a lot more predators to worry about than adults, so it's just about working with them until then. I know it's hard to remember this sometimes, but most snakes are prey as much as they are predators, and they can be very timid around a creature much larger than them. I don't have much to add, as everyone has given great advice, but if you haven't already, I would recommend getting some fake vines or better yet aquarium plants to stick in her cage. I give my animals a lot of ground cover so that they can move from one end of the enclosure to the next without feeling like they're breaking cover. I either buy a bunch of fake vines or I buy small, plastic aquarium plants in bulk and throw them in there. It gets to the point that my animals are out and about either as much or almost as much as they are hidden in a hide, as they feel secure. It might help. Good luck with her though!

jjhill001 · 04-22-17, 05:04 AM

92-95 hot and 85 cold sounds a bit warm to me. Either way its a snake go in grab it. If it bites just take the bite. It will slowly learn thats not gonna cause you to let it go and that you aren't dangerous.

Snake bites from little snakes are gonna draw a smidge of blood but overall are no big deal.

**Andy_G** · 04-22-17, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjhill001

92-95 hot and 85 cold sounds a bit warm to me. Either way its a snake go in grab it. If it bites just take the bite. It will slowly learn thats not gonna cause you to let it go and that you aren't dangerous.

Snake bites from little snakes are gonna draw a smidge of blood but overall are no big deal.

I'd agree, but only by 2 or 3 degrees. Any lower anf you'll probably have a poor feeder

frankadank · 04-22-17, 01:08 PM

i rechecked and the cool hide is 80-82. and i have let her snip me to show that, that won't do anything and she hasn't really striked since. thanks for your input guys. some fake plants might be a good next move. just anxious and want her to trust me. are females more aggressive in some people's experience?

**Andy_G** · 04-22-17, 02:37 PM

No they aren't.

Scubadiver59 · 04-22-17, 03:38 PM

Are we talking about snakes here...or homo sapiens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankadank

i rechecked and the cool hide is 80-82. and i have let her snip me to show that, that won't do anything and she hasn't really striked since. thanks for your input guys. some fake plants might be a good next move. just anxious and want her to trust me. are females more aggressive in some people's experience?

regi375 · 04-22-17, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scubadiver59

Are we talking about snakes here...or homo sapiens?

Not even going to make a comment on that for the benefit of my continued health...
My BP is a female, and she isn't anymore aggressive than my other snakes. She's incredibly shy, and it'll take some getting used to before they warm up to you.

jjhill001 · 04-23-17, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regi375

I've had my snake for almost a year now and she still tries to get out. For my ball python, I keep it a little cooler on the cool side, around 75. Not sure how others weigh in on this however. Also, it seems like you're doing a lot to raise the humidity. What are you using to measure it? You may want to question it's accuracy. I live in the same state, and all I have to do is mist my BP's cage every once in a while.

Plus if he is in a basement I would think it'd be higher humidity overall.