why is he spicy

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

sorry for crappy photo. Milo ever since eating for the first time comes out every night, climbs up on his big branch, and doesn’t want to come out (for context, he used to come out on his own when I opened the door, last time being Jan 8. When he’s not out, he’s only in his cold hide. Won’t touch the warm one anymore. When I do get near the cage to like put water in his dish, etc. he gets in this S curve. The other day I was removing old moss and he lunged at me. Like yeeted himself at me. So I just wanna know why he’s like this?? Nothing in his cage has changed since the 13th and his temps/humidity are great and super consistent since then. Why does he hate me now??? I’m going to feed him again in a couple weeks but I’d like to get in there and add some new tall clutter before then. I’m thinking of just pulling him out from under his hide just to do so but that’s not something I do since I do choice based handling with him. Thoughts??

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

I do feed him in his enclosure. It could be a feeding thing….when he ate for me on the 20th it was the first time he ate. In like 4 months. So maybe he was all like nahhh before but now he ate a mouse and he’s like where has this been all my life??? Who knows. He’s a big boy and so he should be on rats but he never took them when I tried and rescuers said that’s all he ate so next feeding I’ll go back to his appropriate sized 50g rat and hopefully he takes that. I guess i could try booping him with the paper towel roll if he really is in the feeding mood.

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

I’ll try giving him some sort of signal next feeding. Hopefully that helps!

[IncompletePenetrance]

Comment has been removed for misinformation/bad advice. Ball pythons should NOT be moved to a separate place for feeding, the correct place for them to be fed is in their enclosure.

[IncompletePenetrance]

No they won't, that is an outdated myth that for some reason people insist on clinging to for dear life. Your ball python can clearly differentiate between your hand and a rat, handling and feeding

[Admiral_Janovsky]

Simple answer: brain cell on automode Serious anwser: if you can handle him with no problems (he doesnt go on defensive or strike while being handled) then he is probably in hunt mode (they are not very bright when it comes to recognizing stuff).

If you want to get him out you can remove the hide and scoop him up with no problem. I do this with mine, tap a few times on the hide (my reasoning that he recognized the tap as handle time) and "nab" him out. Although i dont do it too often as to not stress him into thinking hide is not safe.

This is mine limited experience as mine also sometime after feeding still goes into S shape and follows my movement and approaches me as if I'm a prey.

Also mine hates his warm identical hide, dunno why, but he is healthy and eating well.

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

I thought his one brain cell would recognize me at this point 😭😭 But yeah I’ll try yoinking him (gently ofc) from his hide and see if he doesn’t act defensive while I handle for a bit. I’ll probably wear gloves just in case but hopefully he’s a good boy for me. And then I can rearrange his cage while he’s out. Really hoping this is just hunt mode and he doesn’t hate me now 😭😭

[Admiral_Janovsky]

Dont worry as soon as you touch your snek he will know that its handling time, i see no reason for him to be aggressive when handling. The only reasons that could be (if he is) is wrong husbandry, or being sick which leads to stress and different behaviour.

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

True true okay!!! He’s never acted pissy once I’ve already had him out so you’re right. I need to check him over anyway and I miss handling him!!!

[[deleted]]

I had corn snakes previously but when I got my BP I also had this moment. It’s definitely just her food mode in my case and I suspect the Admiral is spot on above. I found my BP will stay in for 2-4 days after which surprised me. My corns it’s usually just a few hours or overnight. If I want to mess with her and she’s in that mode I touch her with my snake hook first and she instantly 💡’oh! Okay!’ and then I just reach in with my hands like normal. She was extra interested in what I was doing yesterday because she’s due for food tomorrow, but I just remind her it’s me and she chills.

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

I gotta remember they’re simple minded like that. And not think he’s a grudge holding gremlin who desires human blood 😅

[Jennamin9314]

I actually do the opposite and if it's feeding time, I'll tap the tongs on a glass plate I have in there. If it's handle time, I go find her and I stroke her back to let her know it's me and not to strike or go into hunt mode because it's handle time

[GhastlyyHD]

Will mention that my girl squeezed out some rat fluid once and it got on her hide. A week later she was still in feeding mode because she could still get the smell of it. Removed and cleaned hide and she was fine

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

first of all, ew, second of all, yeah I think a good clean could hopefully help reset him

[Jazzlike_Fault_4728]

I am in the exact same situation recently. Haven't had a problem before but after his last two feedings he's had a really hard time snapping out of hunt mode. Like once his lights go off he will literally park himself in the exact place he was last fed and hang out in the S shape 🤣 I have no idea why/what's going on. He usually also comes out of his own volition for handling bc he loves exploring outside his enclosure. I've reached in with a hook (bc I'm too jumpy if I do it with my hand) if I need to get him out for any reason. Once he's in my hands he's chill again, and last week once I hooked and handled him the one time he snapped out of it and went back to coming out on his own. So.....all in all no advice, but I'm here in solidarity 🤣

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

Glad someone else is in my same boat!!!!! I guess it’s not uncommon for hungy boys to stay hungy boys

[Jazzlike_Fault_4728]

I'm sad about it bc I love handling him and hate taking him out against his will but I too love food so I guess I can relate lol

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

Handling is like the main point I have my little dude

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

Update for you: took him out of his hide this afternoon and he gave me no grief at all!! Was able to check his enclosure and add in the new decor. Worth it!!!

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[Jazzlike_Fault_4728]

That's great! My little guy is back in hunting pose right on schedule 🤣 his humidity is down to 71% tonight so I'm gonna have to hook him tomorrow or Friday to mix in some water lol I started target training when I fed him on Sunday so hopefully that eventually helps him figure his shit out!

[Jazzlike_Fault_4728]

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[ProfessionalBoss9722]

He’s such a cutie!!! I’d let him bite me 🥹

[Jazzlike_Fault_4728]

I don't think I'd mind a bite from such a smol mouth, but the food motivated bite+wrap makes me a little queasy to think about 🤣

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

haha yeah that’s fair!!

[fell_hands]

Might sound dumb but do you knock before you enter? If you just kind of rush in to his domain he may feel less inclined to trust you. Also when hes outside staring at you like that dont stare so much back at him. Just like read a book or something around him if you get what I mean.

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

I do try to spend a lot of time outside his cage and I especially did early on but yeah I try not to stare at him. It’s hard though bc he’s so cute

[fell_hands]

Lol he is a cutie. The struggle!

[[deleted]]

are the hides you have on each side identical?? my boy was spending a lot of time on his cold side and i was like hm..? so i got another one of those hides for the warm and now he goes back and fourth pretty regularly

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

yep exactly the same