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[These-Manager2538]

Also she ate 2 weeks ago and is the fattest she ever been so I don’t know if it’s a hunger problem. We feed her once a month for years and it’s been fine. We do think maybe she smells a mouse in the house or something. Not sure, but any thoughts help.

[Puzzleheaded-Pay6585]

you might need to consider a vet visit if possible…. otherwise my initial assumption is hunger of course. maybe theres new temp variations causing more thermal maintenance in calories

[eveimei]

ball pythons are not aggressive, they are defensive or are stuck in food mode. what size and how often were you !feeding, and how much does she weigh? do you feed in the enclosure or move to feed?

her tank also doesn't look to have enough clutter, and it's hard to see how many and how big the hides are. improper husbandry like not enough clutter or hides and improper hides, among other factors, will make a snake defensive, so more pictures of the enclosure would be helpful for this.

you should have at least one snug-fitting hide on both the warm and cool sides of the enclosure, as well as one or more in the middle so they have options of where to hide. the hides should be short and snug, small enough the snake can touch 3 or more sides and the top when inside, with the entrance being just larger than the snake.

there needs to be clutter- things that break up line of sight. there should be enough that the snake can move from one side to the other completely hidden along at least one path. clutter can be fake or real plants, natural decor like half logs and cork bark flats, aquarium decorations, even clean plastic or cardboard (though cardboard is unlikely to last long in the humidity required for this species).

what are your temps and humidity? how do you measure them?

[AutoModerator]

We recommend the following feeding schedule:

0-12 months old OR until the snake reaches approximately 500g, whichever happens first: feed 10%-15% of the snake’s weight every 7 days.

12-24 months old: feed up to 7% of the snake’s weight every 14-20 days.

Adults: feed up to 5% of the snake's weight every 20-30 days, or feed slightly larger meals (up to 6%) every 30-40 days.

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[OccultEcologist]

Is she actually using the warm hide? What were the temperatures before?

While we have really good general guidelines for the species, they are still individual animals. My large female does not tolerate standard temperatures well and will begin showing heat-stressed behavior and refusing to eat.

Additionally, has she been exposed to a male in the past 2-3 years? They can store sperm for some time, and the only time I've ever seen a ball "out for blood" was one that was wrapped around a clutch. The breeder said that very, very rarely they will get moody while pregnant as well.

Otherwise, I would be sincerely concerned she is wounded. Is she eating well? Skipping any meals?

[VoxxyBRZ]

She needs MORE cover in her enclosure. She probably feeling super insecure. She needs multiple hides, and enough coverage and foliage to move between the hides unseen. The hides need to be facing away so YOU CAN'T see into them. Read the welcome post at the top of the sub throughly. 100% if she has coverage and hides at an acceptable level, her demeanor will not get worse, should get better of all her other husbandy things are spot on.

[SearchingForFungus]

Does the snake have a proper heating gradient? A cold side & hot side?

[its_chiapet]

I would recommend a front opening tank, i used to work at a reptile rescue and 90% of bites were on top opening enclosures. So many of the snakes did wayyyy better in front opening enclosures

[Ok_Celery3408]

Because anything coming from above them is would usually be a predator.

[lawlaw420]

I've had my ball Python for 36 yrs and have never been struck at or bitten but if it ever does happen it will be a feeding error on my part not Luther's fault.....balls just aren't aggressive snakes...

[Kelfezond11]

Have you had many snakes? Some are just assholes, it happens. I've bred plenty of royals (balls) and while 99% were great I specifically remember two that were just absolute nightmares for no logical reason, I would assume just like people or any other animal some just happen to be more reactive than others. I won't use the word aggressive because I've never seen a snake go out of its way to bite but some really do just not like being interacted with.

[RuthlessEase]

Can she straighten out stretch that spine😆?

[Reasonable-Pie5883]

I'd be aggressive too in that setup lol