My ball python is hissing at me!?

Question

I go t a ball python about a month ago and he just started shedding a week ago today. he still has a little bit on the end of his tail but itll come off. So i figure hes done shedding. About 5 minutes ago i went to pick him up and he was in his paper towel tube and i slid him out. he started movin around his tank and i tried to pick him up and when i touched his side he started hissing. He has never hissed before and ive never had a problem picking him up before. Is he maybe still achy from shedding? or was it the week break of picking him up? We just started picking him up about 2 weeks ago, every day so this week break was kinda big. This is also his first shed in his new home. and hes eaten the past 3-4 weeks no probs.

Answer 1

ewww.get rid of it or mabe its hungry!

Answer 2

ya its just from shedding. or you could have scared him. you also could have woken him up so he was a little mad. i would be too. if it hisses again, continue to pick it up, dont stop. i rescued a ball python and it hisses at me everyday!

Answer 3

Sounds to me like he is hungry. I feed my snakes the day after they shed.

Answer 4

He is prbably still stressed from the shed. OR you could have scared him. Before picking up touch him to let him know you are there. Dont just grab. Hope that helped, good luck.

Answer 5

7

see larger photo

Answer 6

Just be patient.  

While snakes are amazingly cool animals (literally sometimes), their brains are more or less hardwired to be easily frightened, for survival purposes.    So don't take it personally!  :)

Answer 7

just a tip for you because you just got a snake, after you feed your snake you shouldnt touch it for atleast a day or so because it will still be digesting its food and will lash out. and you probly just scared the snake, you should also touch the snake or stroke it to let the snake know that you are there before grabbing the snake. hope this helped and good luck with your snake.

Answer 8

well just a tip, DON'T feed him in his cage cuz he will think that your the rat, also most snakes are hungry as soon as they finish shedding, oh you also don't have to feed him every week. i feed mine every two weeks. it is said that "fast" feeding him can lead to problems later on. But for the most part be patient. oh, my snake is always hungry after he sheds and that is when i feed him, but i don't feed him in his cage bc i know someone that did and that person got bit by their own snake.