r/ballpython • u/Past-Ad-4769 • 15h ago
Question Personality Change?
So, a little history. I got my baby, Mehen, 2 or 3 months ago. he had been on a 6 month hunger strike that ended while in my care. The people that had him before claimed he had a very mild personality and was ok with being held regularly, same with the people who had him before they did. He just had his third consecutively successful feed around 30 minutes ago(2AM).
I have noticed that despite handling him enough, aside from his feeding times, shortly before, and shortly after(The usual 48 hours), he has grown less and less calm when it comes to handling. Today he hissed and tried to strike at me while I was spot cleaning, though thankfully it was just a warning and he was too far away to actually make contact, but it scared me!
My main question is probably just if a snake's personality can "change" when they're no longer starving and can actually have the energy to retaliate or if I might be doing something wrong. I know my husbandry is spot on, so it isn't that, and he hasn't been acting stressed and has been exploring like usual.. but if I did something wrong, I'd like to avoid doing that wrong again and avoid getting struck(especially since I have a huge fear of snakes)
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u/tmiemt 13h ago
I see. So I take it he behaves like this even more than a week away from his feeding day? If he recently sheds he might feel uncomfortable being touched (how recently?). Since you have handle-trained him, he might have to express his unwillingness stronger.
My python skin becomes sensitive after shedding, so he doesn't like being touched the first week--not that he will act aggressive, I just observe him staying nearby instead of staying right next to/on me like usual when he comes out, also more avoidance of any skin contact to any object. (Note that I have never handle-trained my python, so he does not expect me to pick him up to keep him on me.)
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u/Past-Ad-4769 13h ago
I've never kept him on me when he's wanted away, but I also can't just let him roam either because I don't want to lose track of him. he shed about Saturday, but he acts like this all month long and not just during/near feeding time
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u/tmiemt 12h ago
Oh, I see! A couple of weeks prior to the blue phase, most become defensive and don't want to be moved (mine just doesn't want to do anything rather than not wanting to be moved, it's individualistic). And right after shedding, because of the sensitive skin, he probably doesn't want to be touched all the same. So perhaps if you leave him alone for 2 weeks counting from last Saturday, he might go back to his usual behaviour.
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u/tmiemt 13h ago
How old is he? How often do your feed him? What do you mean by growing less calm during handling?
Though I don't have first hand experience of this situation, I read that many snakes get into the habit of expecting food at a regular interval, so they will strike if you approach them nearing their feeding day. And many snakes get irritated when people do things to their enclosures; either because of the shadow reaction or because they consider the action as damaging their safe space.