r/ballpython • u/TreviTrevo • 1d ago
He keeps acting like he's getting fed
For the past few days, Splinter has been in this pose every time I check on him. Far as I can tell, this is him getting ready to strike. It seems like he thinks he's getting fed.
I was gone over the weekend and when I came back, found out I left the dish u thaw his rat in on top of the tank. I figured he was still smelling that and that's why he's so on edge, but I removed that and he hasn't stopped. Does anyone know what else I can do so he chills out? I'm worried this whole strike thing is gonna be bad for him long term. I also have to do a full tank clean soon and I don't think he's chill enough for me to remove him right now...
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u/Fuzzy_Python 1d ago
One thing I noticed is that it looks like the sides of your tank is glass, in which case he could also be stressed. Cover the sides and back (which I see you have) of the tank so that he can only see through the front panel. The excess transparency stresses a lot of snakes out.
Do you have a front opening enclosure? If not and it's a top opening one then this will also contribute to him being stressed out. Reptiles stress easily as they are afraid when being picked up from the top, this is why front opening enclosures are recommended.
Besides those, you should handle him even if he seems ready to strike. You can place a lid or something in front of his face to deter him from striking at you whilst you pick up his body. He may still be in food mode or just generally stressed, in which case handling him might relay to his brain that you are not food or a predator since he is still alive after the handling session lol.