In fact, it may actually help the snake feel a bit more secure while he is dealing with all of the changes going on in his life. And she constantly tries to get out… Then once I let her shes calms down and just seems to ‘want’ to hangout. Do you have any thoughts, or suggestions that I’m not thinking about? I’m so sorry I didn’t respond sooner, but I’m not sure I could have helped much. The “white drops” are urates – essentially the snake equivalent of urine. Hey Ben, I’ve had my ball for about 10-11 months now. They’re easy to spot against a white enclosure wall, but they’re very difficult to see on the dark portions of a snake’s body. Hey, I got a Spidernet Morph Juvenile Ball Python a couple of days ago, and while she seems comfortable, or at least I think she is, she keeps doing this weird massaging thing at random intervals whenever my mother or I hold her, and occasionally she’ll rub her face against my mother like a cat, and will only stop when she’s being pet. I am a little nervous with him but im fairly comfortable holding him. They are about 3 1/2 feet long and have plenty of room to sprawl out if they want. My balled python was trying to get its mates attention for at least an hour then out of no where it looked as if he was smiling then he went crazy and hissed puffed itself up a couple times then poo shot out of my snakes bum is this normal I think not but I dont know much. Eradicating mites is complicated because the mature females are constantly leaving your snake, moving into the environment and depositing eggs. If the skin is bunchy and wrinkly, soak the snake in water a couple of times a day, and leave a humidity box (plastic container 3/4 filled with damp sphagnum moss, with an access hole cut in lid or side) in the tank for it to use. And I have had him checked for mites. I asked her what she considers “a lot of weight,” and she said “10%”. Her behavior around feeding time may vary widely, with her one day seeming ravenous for more than her usual share of food, and the next day suddenly not showing any interest in food at all. You can be yards away, and he'll still be striking. Ok my ball python was in feed mode you know following the scent quickly out her hide and she went into the S striking pose, and I could barely notice, but her head was vibrating, ever so slightly. Almost every single one was suffering from more than one health problem. I’ve been researching all over and I keep convincing myself he’s unbearably stressed. 1) “Color” doesn’t really matter, as ball pythons see largely in shades of grey. Shawna. I have no idea how to help him feel safer at night and not afraid of me. Mites essentially look like a moving speck of black pepper. Hello! I just recently got my first ball python, she was pretty underweight when we got her a month and a half ago but has since almost gotten back to a normal weight. Behavior Around 2-3 weeks after the ball python begins to ovulate, she will shed her skin. Care & Feeding. But unfortunately, ball pythons who are sick, mite infested or dehydrated often shed in multiple pieces or fail to shed completely. Hey could I ask for some advice I took in a ball python that was poorly kept and have taken it to the vet to be checked out. The vet had nothing. It doesn’t necessarily sound like a problem, but you’re correct to seek help whenever your snake does anything weird. I live in Florida so the weather outside is honestly pretty close to the climate in her enclosure, so I will have her outside with me for like an hour and she seems content. Learn everything you need to know about the ball python behavior & health in our guide: The typical health and behavior of a species are important considerations for anyone seeking a pet reptile. She is active at night and seems happy when I hold her (I only do this occasionally to get a better look at her) but when she is in her tank and I look at her to check in her she seems scared because she breathes hard. Death from mites is rare, but it is possible. After successful mating Ball Pythons show clear signs they are going to … 1) The water was too hot We have had him for about 3 months now and the previous owner who had him since he was small I’m assuming said he was feeding a medium size rat every 3 weeks. Just discard the rodent and try again in about a week. Open the habitat and touch your snake gently on the back. Perhaps you can move the habitat to an area with little traffic from family members, in order to minimize movement and motion that incite it to strike at the glass after feeding. If your male is a normal-looking animal, you’d have to breed him to a snake that has a co-dominant or incomplete dominant trait to produce morphs in the first generation. I just bought my ball python about two weeks ago , and for some reason I think he might be a little frighten of me I’m not sure because he hiss or anything but when I come around he just freeze in one position he won’t move & that makes me nervous to pick him up because I’m not sure if I go to reach for him he might strike at me . They all work some of the time: Try switching between rats and mice Try feeding later at night (some ball pythons don’t care if its light or not, others will only feed at night) Try a live smaller rodent* Try a smaller food item. It is really hard for people who eat 3 meals a day to relate to an animal who may go 6 months without a meal. When we replace him sometimes he convulses, as if he’s trying to shake something off. Best of luck! Thanks for reading! I got him home and his house set up and tried feeding him and he refused it so i left it there over night and he still hasnt ate is this normal for a new snake not to wanna eat. Her “backwards” behavior pattern is a little concerning, but it may just be that she’s a little cool and trying to keep warm. Thank you so much in advance and any tips help since this is my first ball! In either case, beginners are wise to immediately seek veterinary assistance when confronted with mites. At any rate, we’d recommend getting Noodle to the vet ASAP to see what’s going on. Hungry ball pythons often lay motionlessly, with their head poised and ready to strike. First of all, I think your husbandry regimen and practices are fantastic. However, the “wobbling/shivering” and head elevation may be a bigger deal. 14 hours dark – 10 hours of light. He’s kept and bred a diverse array of reptiles and amphibians over the last three decades, but he’s always been particularly fond of snakes in the genus Morelia and monitor lizards. On behalf of your snakes, I want to thank you for trying so hard to give them a high quality of life. Copyright 2018-2020 © All rights Reserved. I always fed him inside his own tank, but since he was constipated (due to ingesting substrate with a meal) I tried feeding him in a separate bin last night. Sometimes, snakes will extend their head upward to check things out or attempt to climb. Best of luck! Hey, Joe. Just double-check your temperatures: Sometimes, snakes will exhibit this kind of “pacing” or “escape” behavior when they’re too hot. 4) Yes – if possible, I would keep them in “their” tank. When a snake is hunting to feed, this causes a release of certain hormones that cause it to become excited. A lot of new owners worry that their new ball python has an eye infection, but eye infections aren’t terribly common in snakes. Snakes sometimes get a bit “physically tense” (for lack of a better phrase) right before eating, and you may interpret this as vibrating. (Picture a fat person’s extra skin) sorry best way I can describe it. one thing I haven’t been able to find any info on is this. Hey, Sam. 3. Do not use a microwave to defrost frozen rodents and do not prepare them in the same area that you prepare food. I think I’m familiar with the behavior your describing. Rats don’t walk by every day. It seems to me that your snake seems to really enjoy the “hunt” and “kill” of its mice and that keeps it fired up after consuming its prey. Now I have the space heater, my temperatures are completely right, And I cleaned out his tank and every item in it and switched out his substrate. As a pet, the ball python is undemanding and if adaptive to captivity, will do well with basic care. I just bought my hatchlin ball python yesterday and the pet store said that it was feeding day Ball Python Diet Key Takeaways: Ball Pythons of all ages have a very straight forward diet, as they solely require whole prey food, like mice or rats, for all of their nutrients. #1: First of all, you can ‘scent’ a rat with mouse or its substrate, so that it has the smell. Am I doing something wrong? That does not sound good. Leave her alone as much as you can, stay on top of your husbandry (as you have been doing), keep a good eye on her, and offer food once every three or four days until she starts eating again. I believe consistent, reliable access to prey and supervised nutrition is in the best interest of promoting the animals welfare in captivity. I just got my ball python yesterday she’s green and black and is about a foot and a half long but she’s always very active during the day pushing at the top of her cage and is always sliding across the side glass what would this mean. It’s tough to know for sure what’s going on from afar, but snakes will often explore the screened lid and lean against the glass. Thank you. I just recently purchased my first ball python (have had it for 2 months) and he used to be pretty active at night. Just watch for signs of dehydration, such as wrinkled skin, poor sheds, and “indented” eye scales. What Do Ball Pythons Eat? Needless to say, these snakes were very difficult to maintain, and they’d make horrible pets for most first-time owners. Mating & Pregnancy. Ps during the day he sleeps well, occasionally switching from warm hide to ambient hide, but not climbing at all. Most nocturnal snakes are the same way. 3) A 3-week feeding schedule may be adequate, but typically, it is wiser to offer smaller, more frequent meals. pinky mice (def time to size up) but she still hasnt pooped and shes been hiding in her humid hide a lot more balled up and not move she would stay there for days i checked on her and she hissed at me a lot and looked as if she was gonna bite me in her ”s” pose i put her back in her tank she stayed balled up for a bit tthen she started exploring her page but immediately after goes in the SAME SPOT for hiding i havent really seen her drink water either only 2 times im not sure if everything here is normal or what but please help. Additionally he has water bubbles coming out of his nostrils & Now he is holding his mouth wide open w/saliva dripping. Her warm side is around 85 degrees and cool side about 75 with the humidity between 40-50. Sorry it took us so long to respond! Additionally, snakes are more likely to hide before shedding than any other time, so everything sounds normal. I would recommend that you get her to begin eating regularly before handling her. -He has two rock hides, along with some cage furniture/fake leaves Typically, they’ll cause a few minor breaks in the skin, which will ooze a trickle of blood. This is understandable – nobody wants to be bitten by a snake. Hey, Daylin. If your ball python looks pregnant, but has not mated, she may have retained sperm from previous pairings. So can you tell me any signs I should look for, or is it harming her to be in a small tank. Ball pythons are usually healthy and easy-going animals. It doesn’t sound like a problem, based on your description – snakes do make hissing sounds from time to time. Hi We remove him from his viv to manage some basic husbandry, 10 minutes at most because he’s in a bioactive set up, so its just to move things about and remove anything the clean up crew missed. If they look good, I wouldn’t worry. At first I thought it might be the fact that he doesn't want to be handled. Snakes can occasionally go a while between poops, but given everything you shared, I’d recommend having your vet look her over just to be on the safe side. You’ll notice your ball pythons performing a few common behaviors over time, including those explained below. And obviously, give him at least 24 to 48 hours after feeding to digest before you handle him. Like how do I know if they are dehydrated or just fine? Temps were 80°/72° until yesterday (now 90°/80°). This means that a simple “chest cold” can quickly prove fatal in snakes. 3. We just got him yesterday. Below are some facts about him/ his environment: -He eats every 7-10 days, without any issues. The past couple times, though, he’s sniffed all around the mouse for at least 2-3 minutes, before taking it very slowly and politely instead of striking. Some of the most notable locations in which ball pythons store fat include the rear portion of the head and the sides of the tail base. He flicks it out but not all the way. Seriously, I hope others read your comment and learn from you. Your snake is a male that’s thinking about lady pythons. You seem like you’re really trying to provide your pet with a wonderful life, and you’re being observant about his behavior. His tank temps are 94 and 75 on the cold end. I’ve never experienced thos one with my previous ball. However, if the breathing issues continue, or you start to see a discharge, go ahead and get to your vet. When snakes sleep, do they say “Sssss” or “Zzzzz”? It’s hard to say without seeing your snake first-hand or the size of the rodent you offered, but it does sound like he’s hunting. Hey, Marcus. My male BP is 9 months old, and he’s always been the most chill and docile snake. -if he pokes his head out during the day time he’s extremely chill/not coiled in defense towards me. Do you think we should separate them even though they do look for each other? -He has had three perfect sheds, his last shed was two weeks ago (while he was constipated) He’s fine physically but eating is an issue as sometime he will and sometimes he won’t strike. However, it is important to note that ball python bites are rarely very painful, nor are they likely to cause much damage. Instead of separating them do you think they just need a bigger tank? Instead, just hold him in your hands and let him crawl around like he wants to. Is that normal? Although she’s very socialized, it is her first few days living with us and I thought maybe the body vibrating has to do with stress. But snakes don’t always stick their tongues out all the way – sometimes they only stick it out partially. Can this be a sign that medium size are too big? (Some reports mention their ball python being off feed for over a year.) Obesity can cause health problems for ball pythons, so it is important to keep your snake at the proper body weight. Blowing bubbles from the nostrils or mouth, Staying near the heat source more often than usual. Is your ball python a spider morph by any chance? You may have just ended up with one that is particularly chill. Right after he is fed (two adult mice), he strikes at any moving thing. I’m having problems reading my snakes behavior.I got this male ball python a week ago. So, you’ll often have to utilize special medications that will kill the next generation of mites, or you’ll need to go to great lengths to eliminate the mites on your snake and those living in the environment. Should I feed him another rat ?? Accordingly, you’ll need to help your snake remove the retained skin and rectify the problem that caused it. They use this unique attribute to find their food. I can only remember caring for one snake out of thousands that had a legitimate eye infection – and that was a water snake, not a ball python. That’s probably not great to hear, but you sound like you are taking excellent care of your pet, and she’ll likely have a great chance of recovery with your vet’s help. I did check to make sure he ate the mouse, and it was not just rotting in the cage. 5. Shedding difficulties can cause a snake to retain the scale covering its eye. Noodle sometimes rubs her snoot on the glass for a few minutes or on the water dish, she isn’t shedding, she just shed a month ago and there is nothing left stuck on her. Like he doesn’t have much control of his muscles… he is falling off of stuff because he can’t grip that well. I hope this helps you out with your python. Ultimately, as long as he’s healthy, doesn’t seem to be troubled by you handling him, and is free of mites, I wouldn’t worry about it. I’ve never heard of a snake’s eye caps (spectacles) becoming “fused.” You are correct that you shouldn’t try to remove retained eye caps, but I’d recommend re-examining your husbandry practices if your snake is experiencing chronic shedding problems. But, if she’s healthy, I wouldn’t worry about it. While I find it kinda cute that he seems to be so polite, I was wondering if you’ve ever experienced this and if it means anything is wrong with him. But you have to understand that snakes occasionally do things we don’t understand – that’s OK. As long as he’s acting healthy and eating normally, there’s probably no cause for concern. I asked if that was permanent and they said yes but shouldn’t harm her or shorten her life. He seems to be healthy, without any tick infestations and respiratory infections. She still acts scared when I take her out so I try to leave her alone most of the time. Fasting is a normal behavior. Let us know how things went with your snake! I guess he must be too anxious to eat, but the time is so long so I’m afraid that he would stave himself to die. How will a ball python act if he dont have enough room in his cage to streach and move about. Doesn’t drink from her water dish (prefers her humid warm hide) and was instructed to soak her in lukewarm water 2-3 times/week for hydration- but the vet didn’t see signs of dehydration. We use natural sunlight spectrum bulbs in our room. I have my Ball Python for around 8 months and the temps are good around 90+ on the warm side (undertank heat mat with a thermostat) and she has coco/wood chips substrate. Yes:If you’re absolutely sure it is, this is not the problem. I’ve always just thought she was very curious but I’m also a new snake owner. It’s probably also a good idea to seek out a second opinion from another vet. Hey, Ben Males are more arboreal than females, the latter which spends more time on the ground [10][11]. Her scales may also seem to glow more than usual. His temperature is 90 degrees in the hot spot, around 75 degrees on the cool side, he does go to and from both ends. At least, captive-bred ball pythons do; wild-caught ball pythons are an entirely different matter. I recently got a male ball python (2-3 months according to the breeder) and he’s been pretty chill. When we take him out hes moving around with my partner but when i get him hes basically motionless. I’m a new ball python momma here and just curious on some of her behavior! We call him noodle because well he moves like one and is not very good at periscoping and tends to fall when doing so. Hi i have a question have u ever had ur python crawling on your arm abd put their eye and face close to your skin and open their mouth twice? I try to put her back in her enclosure (which ive made SURE has/stays at the right conditions-temp/humidity/etc.) Sorry it took us so long to respond – I hope we can still provide some help. In fact assist feeding may cause more harm that good. My husband had this happen tonight she did bit him but it was not normal us? But it probably wouldn’t hurt to head to the vet to double check everything anyway. shed in multiple pieces or fail to shed completely. > Further Reading: Does a Ball Python Bite Hurt (and Why Would Your Pet Bite)? She is very chill and curious when meeting people. You will notice a sudden swelling of the abdomen when she ovulates. Hey, had a question regarding retained eye caps. Thank you for any help/advice you can give. It sounds like his enclosure may be too warm. Hi there, Michael. The “rubbing” behavior you describe is actually pretty common. If you increase its feedings and your snake still is acting aggressive after a meal, then I think you must just accept it for what it is and try to avoid the triggers (movement) that causes the snake to strike. But, as always, if you’re concerned, reach out to your vet. Mature adult ball pythons will often thrive and maintain good body weight when fed once every two to three weeks. My ball python is 8 months old (I got him when he was about 3 weeks old). I know it can be hard to find a reptile vet in some areas of the country, but in those cases, you may want to try to track down a reptile-oriented vet who will at least provide phone consultations. Birds chirping, cats and dogs looking for mates so I naturally thought maybe he is too, but some opinions on this would be most hopeful. But the thing is, they seem to do it at other times too. 1. Hi, Diana. Separate housing just makes it easier to care for them, and it’ll help prevent accidents at feeding time (which can be very dangerous). Ball pythons often flick their tongues while moving about to learn about their surroundings. and its not that she doesnt like her enclosure.. Once she has time to settle in/forget about life on the outs-she is totally normal and content until she wants to hang again. As long as your snake has enough room to lay comfortably and change position as necessary, I wouldn’t worry about habitat size if you’ll be getting him a proper habitat in a few days. It’s hard to tell from afar, but it sounds like he’s just exhibiting the typical issues that are common in spider ball pythons. The easiest place to see them on your snake will be his ventral side, especially the portion under the chin (check in the crease running down the center of your snake’s lower jaw). Do you have a cat that likes to sit in front of the enclosure? She actually shedded yesterday and it was a full shed. I have checked if he has any mucus and I’ve listened to his breathing and everything seems to check out fine. I called the vet and she said my snake was healthy, no signs of mites, RTI, but the vet simply doesn’t know why she’s stopped. Lucy is 15 years old, she has not gone into hiding for two days now and has been basking under the lamps. We’ve been together for a little less then a year. Unusual breathing sounds are pretty common before and during the shedding process, but strange sounds that occur after your snake sheds can be more troubling. Best of luck! I have just recently bought my first ball python she was captive bread by a local breeder and i have red alot and wanted to educate myself to the fullest as this was going to be my first snake it has been a very fun journey learning all the stuff I’ve read and have found snakes in general to be quite fascinating however some of the things ive read in other places and even here dont exactly match the behavior of my snake like at all……for example i know pythons in general are pretty nice in nature for the most part and as u stated before they bite you will know they are uncomfortable…….mine doesn’t seem to get uncomfortable by just about anything young children other pets in the house like a dog she has not snapped drew back into the s form or nothing no matter what she has encountered since ive had her. It doesn’t sound like an issue, but you should always contact your vet if you’re worried about your pet’s health. When he comes out of the cage and in my hands/arms, he does this thing where he rubs his head and neck on me. Why is my baby ball python head tilting upside down and side to side? She’s not moving but like she’s sleeping? You may want to simply call your vet first and talk the issue over. He also had a couple water bubbles come out of his nostrils and overall is acting very uncoordinated like he can’t keep his balance. I worry that he may hurt himself due to witnessing him slip and bump his head on the side of the glass, will he be alright? Stress will often cause ball pythons to refuse food, so make sure that you are leaving her alone for the most part until she starts to eat regularly. I have done a lot of research before, and still am doing a lot. I’ve noticed he holds his head up slightly for about a minute or so at least once or twice a day. It sounds to me like one of two things happened: She has been in the family since a baby. First of all, it’s really cool that you have a 20-year-old ball python! Thank you in advance. Just bought my first BP, seems mostly healthy for a 3 month old, maybe a little under fed, but other wise healthy. Why do you think he is doing that? Kudos to you and your boyfriend! Does he just not like me? Do you think it would be best to keep them in THEIR tank or is it OK to send them away for a week? He is super friendly and happy, hasn’t gotten the eating thing down yet but been taking him to vet regularly to get fed but the last couple days since noticing the spurs he has been all over the place. But we applaud you for being such an attentive owner! That said, some ball pythons do prefer rodents that look more like wild rodents. Around 80% of the newly purchased baby ball pythons won’t eat right away from you. However, recently he’s hardly come out of his hide (on the cold side). If feeding your snake live rodents, do not leav… Female ball pythons can store sperm from males for several months. Of course, this aggressive striking behavior could just be a peculiar and unique behavior of your snake. Calm ball pythons move about slowly but purposefully. We’d recommend using his body weight and growth to guide your feeding schedule. I would caution you that snakes don’t always exhibit obvious signs of stress, and it does sound like you may be handling him quite a bit. Only at night, he would be out of the hide and wonder in the tank. Do not assist feed an adult ball python that has gone off its food for less than 7 months. There are a variety of health problems, including everything from mites to respiratory infections to parasites, which may cause a snake to refuse food. Also, note that the shedding process makes snakes a bit nervous, so it is possible that she is already getting ready to do so. There are No reptile vets in my area & I am really scared I’m gonna lose him if I don’t get him help.

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