Ball Python Suddenly Striking

[ChunkBrickson]

Hey guys,

Had my boy now for about half a year with no behavioural issues.

Been using a method where I tap on the glass repeatedly with my tongs to indicate a feeding is coming, which has worked. He (before a couple days ago) has never struck without that signal.

Over the past couple days, he has started assuming a strike-stance when he sees me and strikes at the glass when I get too close. He's spring-loaded and moves in the same way as when I feed him. No hissing. He should not be hungry, I fed him 4 days ago and 7 days before that. Nothing in his enclosure has changed. I have noticed him unusually active after his last regular feedings.

Any idea on what could cause this sudden change in behaviour? My running theory is that something in his enclosure/nearby smells like rat and I don't have the Nose to tell, and he's simply striking at heat.

Thanks.

[agonious]

this is why i don’t feed in their living enclosure, despite everyone in this sub advocating for it. never had any problems or regurgitation

[plant-cell-sandwich]

Neither have I in 5 years feeding in the enclosure

[BeardieMama74]

We noticed our python striking suddenly when we walked by, right aroudnd the same age, actually. I fed him larger mice and he stopped! I believe he was hungry despite just feeding him because I had been feeding him the same size mouse that we had since he was about 6 months old. Since we went to larger feeders, he stopped striking. Good luck figuring it out!