Could this be neurological? (Ball python question)?

Question

I bought my Ball Python (Nathaniel) from a pet store about three years ago, where he had been abandon by a college student. I wasn't really worried about abuse because the student had VERY detailed records about sheds and feedings that s/he left with the pet store.
We brought him home, and after five months of not eating either dead or live mice, we took him to the vet. He got tested for mites, sexed, had his teeth checked and had a nice long tube placed in his vent to check for blockage. Everything checked out okay, and a week later he started eating live mice.
Still, I've noticed a couple of interesting behaviors from him. Every night he'll begin to bang the top of his head against the glass of his tank, trying to get out. After picking him up and holding him, he settles right back down, but I'm worried about him hurting himself.
He also seems to have a hard time sensing mice- he won't actually go into hunting mode until the mouse gets brave enough to touch him.
Any ideas?

Answer 1

Yes, it could be. Contrary to other opinions, you should not be so comfortable dismissing a neurological disorder so quickly without further examination. Some of the activities you describe could be related to a common Boid disorder, particularly any appearance of diorientation.

Look at www.anapsid.org for the terms stargazing and Boid Inclusion Body Disorder, which is growing in frequency these days it seems.

http://www.anapsid.org/deanne.html

Also, as Kaplan states on her site, the natural prey of Ball Pythons is not mice. Thus, one of the many reasons people have so many problems with them.

http://www.anapsid.org/ballfeed.html
http://www.anapsid.org/ball.html

Answer 2

As everyone has said, that is pretty normal for a ball. My Ball Python, Alice Cooper, would actually curl up and nap with the mice or rat Carcasses.

A couple of hints-wait at least a week after offering food if it is refused before you offer it again. I have the best luck with putting a frozen, thawed and warmed (under a light) critter on a flat log outside his hide, right before I go to bed. He usually eats it during the night. Frozen/thawed is much safer than live.

Also, try smaller prey items and see how that works.

Finally, Balls don't like dangling the prey item in front of their face. They like to do things in their own time.

Answer 3

Ah! The beauty of a Ball Python... He just bangs his head on the top because he wants out to be with you. You're his warm, cozy tree and he obviously enjoys curling up on you. He won't hurt himself doing this, many snakes do this and they're smart enough not to do it to the point they hurt themselves. They'll always try to lift the top of their cage and unless it's properly secured, they will succeed.
Ball Pythons aren't usually aggressive eaters. It's not that he can't sense the mice, he simply just waits for the mice to come to him. Perfectly natural for this breed.
I would suggest trying to switch him to frozen mice, though, simply for his safety. It will be an adjustment and most likely, he won't understand the concept but if you're persistant and patient, he should get the idea. Many times food transitions don't go very well because people aren't patient with their snakes.

Answer 4

first of all this is not a neurological disorder, you may want to consider if your snake can injure him/her self by excessive rubbing on the top of the tank and take steps to prevent this.

Ball pythons are one of the quirkiest snakes in the pet trade and I have heard stories about snakes who are escape artists, snakes who travel everywhere with their owners and never miss a meal and once a ball that went 18 months with out eating and suddenly decided to eat but would only take brown mice!

Unless your snake shows other signs of disorder or distress I wouldn't worry. Congratulate yourself on being owned by a ball python!

Answer 5

congrats you have a perfectly normal bally python
my ball python is 12, and she gets active at night, and only eats about 7 months out of the year, she is a goofy animal

but thats is why ball pythons make great pets because of how
"unsnake" they can be at times, they are really quirky

it doesnt sound unusual at all

Answer 6

They go through "dormant" phases as far as eating. Ours, "Monty" goes from about october till march or april without eating. You said he is better after you pick him up and that he is in a glass tank. Do you have something in the tank like a box with holes to crawl in? They like a dark secure place to curl up. You also should have a "hot rock" it can lay on to get warm. He probably settles down after holding him because he was too cold and your body heat warms him up. ( Our ball python has been part of our family for about 20 years, and this advice works for him.)

Answer 7

wow what an answer by fireside!!!! very true and IBD is a hideous disease that is ALWAYS fatal to pythons and USUALLY fatal for boa's, PLEASE go to anapsid.org and check out her site it is very informative and i always list it as a source in my answers as it is very thorough and informative.
one of my balls wont hunt either he justs waits on mr mousie to come to him but i know he senses it because as soon as i drop it in his tongue starts flickin more often.
good luck and happy herpin
once again thanks fireside you got my vote for best answer!!!!