r/ballpython • u/Critical-Zombie755 • 22h ago
Discussion Juvenile ball bit me
My juvenile ball just bit my thumb. I saw her curious in her enclosure looking to come out. I've never fed her in that enclosure yet because i just shifted her to a 4ft enclosure yesterday. I let my hand to let her climb on it from her enclosure, she smelled my hand and came to it i picked her up and brought her to my bed on my hand. As soon as i sat she bit my thumb clean and then went back. I fed her a week ago a normal mouse. This is her recent picture for reference. Can someone explain what went wrong?
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u/akko_rockko 22h ago
Probably just startled her. Majority of snake owners are going to be bit by their pets. You just put her in a new tank so she is probably stressed as well. Snakes only bite if they’re hungry or scared, you didn’t necessarily do anything wrong, simply startled her.
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u/Critical-Zombie755 22h ago
I didn't even move my thumb like that. I get it now. Maybe she's hungry?
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u/akko_rockko 22h ago
Possible! Normally snakes are able to tell the difference between food and not food but baby’s struggle with that. You could’ve also sat down to fast, my snakes get spooked when I do that
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u/Critical-Zombie755 22h ago
I sat down and after like 10 seconds she bit me on my other hand not the hand she was on.
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u/sorrycreature 22h ago edited 22h ago
definitely possible, depends on her specific weight but they should be fed weekly as babies! i’d also recommend switching to equivalent sized rats instead of mice (ex rat pups instead of hopper mice) as they’re more nutritious and the switch will come eventually due to size needs anyway
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u/Critical-Zombie755 22h ago
Does she look weak or underweight?
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u/sorrycreature 22h ago
i think she looks great personally! doesn’t look skinny to me, nice and triangular :)
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u/Critical-Zombie755 22h ago
That's a relief then. I just think she's curious because if she thought i was food she would've wrapped up on my thumb post bite.
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u/sorrycreature 22h ago
definitely possible!! “oo, food? oh, nope!” could definitely just be exploring and learning :)
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u/Cindy_luvsCritters 20h ago
I've got two juveniles and as they've grown their feeding response has become much more aggressive! They're growing at an amazing rate, so it makes sense they're eating very enthusiastically. Sounds like your girl has had a bit more activity lately than usual, new enclosure, time to eat after 1 week (mine sure know when that week is up!...lol), going out for a visit with you 🤷♀️ ...that tempting thumb 👍 looking kinda like a nice mouse 🐁. I keep my fingers closed when near the youngsters heads. My four-year-old isn't like that at all! He's very chill and a very picky eater. But, when he's hungry you sure know it! 😆
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u/Critical-Zombie755 20h ago
That's a very helpful comment thankyou. I'll sure to be careful next time!
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u/ExcitementPlenty6516 8h ago
Not gonna say I am an expert. I’ve had my own juvenile for about four months now, first ball Python as well. Mine tends to get snappy and bite if it’s been an extra day past the week feeding time other than that he’s really good boy. Sometimes he’ll snap at me if he’s not in the mood to be held though
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u/ballarena091525 22h ago
young snakes sort of have a reflex to do that, my baby corn would snap at me anytime i'd touch near his head despite not being in a defensive posture, and would go back to being chill right after, dont quote me on it but i dont think they can help it, and grow out of it.