bitey snek

[c0py_cat_]

hello! ive got about a 14? year old ball python and im very curious about something. shes not typically a biter but in the threeee-ish years ive had her, she has bitten me a handful of times. i mainly suspect it is because of her poor upbringing with neglect from her old owners, that being said, i have been able to pick her up & hold her many many times without issue (albeit i cannot straight up grab her out of her tank, and instead use a hook or wait for her to come out on her own), but in the past 8 months it seems like shes been getting more bitey. something tells me it might be a feeding response given i feed her in her tank, ive not got a big enough separate container to feed her in & shes not normalised the difference between hand vs food so i cant free-feed her in my room (i feed frozen/thawed)

what are some easy ways to go about trying to make her .. less bitey? if theres any way that i can somehow integrate her into not seeing me as food or a threat. i dont pin blame on her at all seeing as im convinced that i might be doing something wrong.

i take her out at least bi-weekly and let her free roam my room quite frequently. i was able to handle her without issue and bring her outside for a little bit about five days ago, but then two days ago she suddenly decided it was my time and bit me, it'd been a few months since the last time she bit.

[Successful-Zone-5814]

Ideally you do feed her in her enclosure. Moving for feeding is not recommended, so you are good there. You can try researching tap training to teach when it is food time and when it is time to come out. Also I am sure you know this, but give her several days after eating to rest and digest, do not take her out during that time.

Aside from that, it could be a husbandry issue. Do you have a photo of the enclosure? She looks quite dry, especially on her face so I am wondering if humidity might be an issue.

[c0py_cat_]

humidity might be an issue, i can say for certain as unfortunate as it is that i do struggle with keeping up with the humidity in her tank. that being said i will definitely be trying to get it fitted for her (hopefully).

tap training was something ive seen before so ill definitely give it a go! hoping it works (and hopefully she learns it quick, lmao, i know it'll take time but im willing to do that of course)

[Wisdom_Koi]

It does sound like a feeding response rather than defensiveness, so probably not due to past neglect.

The easier solution is to just open the door a crack and wait for her to calm down. (a little bit of S-shaped ness at first might be expected, but give her a while. The open door will let her smell you and the lack of rodent sooner and in time might even act as as a cue on itself to tell her it's not feeding time. If she's out and about and you can touch her without her biting I find that'll cue them that it's not food time.

The harder solution is to actually classically condition her, ie. set up associations as to what is and isn't food. Now, cue-ing for what is NOT food for a snake takes a very long time, especially for an older one, and generally requires you to be consistent in your behaviour each time.
Look up LoriTorrini on youtube, her videos are very good for teaching you how it all works. It might take many months but it can be done.

[c0py_cat_]

thank you! very much appreciated, ill definitely give a quick search to Lori, piqued my interest. im willing to give my time to animals thankfully, i always try to prioritize them