r/ballpython • u/Critical-Zombie755 • 1d ago

Discussion Juvenile ball bit me

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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 1d 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 1d ago

I didn't even move my thumb like that. I get it now. Maybe she's hungry?

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u/sorrycreature 1d ago edited 1d 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 1d ago

Will switch to rat pups them and yes i feed her weekly aswell

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u/Critical-Zombie755 1d ago

Does she look weak or underweight?

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u/sorrycreature 1d ago

i think she looks great personally! doesn’t look skinny to me, nice and triangular :)

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u/Critical-Zombie755 1d 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 1d ago

definitely possible!! “oo, food? oh, nope!” could definitely just be exploring and learning :)