Weird new behavior from my python

[MouseNo4]

I have had my python for 2 years now, and only recently he has been doing this weird behaviour I've not seen before.

About once a week or so, i feed him his pinky mice and in the last few months he has never refused - going so far as to almost instantly snap it up like it's his last meal. In the first year, he quite often refused and even went into brumation for a whole 9 months. Now a few months ago, he decided to end that and has since been readily accepting his food without hesitation.

But now... he quite often raises his head and about 10cm of his body off whatever he is perched on to ''follow'' me around the room. If i walk past his enclosure... he will raise up and move his head close to the glass and follow me. I will be honest - it genuinely feels like he is ''asking'' for food, which i know is not possible in snakes as they are not smart enough to associate us as their ''owners/feeders''. He has even does this literally minutes after eating. I mistakenly offered him a second mouse thinking it impossible that he would accept it.... only for him to ravenously snatch it. Never did that a second time. Anyway, sometimes he raises just his head off his perch and looks directly at me.

It is not big deal but i am genuinely curious as to why he does this. He is only 2 years old at this point... so he isn't even an adult yet.

 

[Vixen.]

What type of python is it... regardless he is starving, pinky mice shouldn't be fed to anything after like 7months max.... they need to go up in food size, pinky mice offer no nutrition and that's why he is following you. They are VERY intelligent animals, and DO associate YOU in particular, not just humans, but you as the feeder by sight as well as smell. So in short yes he's begging for food, a yearling childrens python should be on weanling mice. Let alone any other python type would obviously be after adult mice atleast.

 

[MouseNo4]

What type of python is it... regardless he is starving, pinky mice shouldn't be fed to anything after like 7months max.... they need to go up in food size, pinky mice offer no nutrition and that's why he is following you. They are VERY intelligent animals, and DO associate YOU in particular, not just humans, but you as the feeder by sight as well as smell. So in short yes he's begging for food, a yearling childrens python should be on weanling mice. Let alone any other python type would obviously be after adult mice atleast.

I was told that mice should be the same size as the thickest part of the snake's body.

It is a Stimson's.

 

[Herpetology]

I was told that mice should be the same size as the thickest part of the snake's body.

It is a Stimson's.

not sure where you heard that, you want 1.5-2x the width of thickest body

I would go up 2 sizes to small hoppers (hard to say without seeing pics of snake, but can assume its small)

snakes will 9/10 times eat whatever is often to them, going to my post below, their instincts tell them to eat whatever they can as they are opportunistic feeders - meaning theyll eat whatever they can whilst given the opportunity unless theyre absolutely chockablock because they arent "domesticated" and dont know their next food is only 7 days away, in the wild they could go a year without a feed, one of my hatchling pythons went almost 4 months (which is a short time compared to other stories ive heard) before one day it decided itll eat the same size food all the others ate, it lost 0 size/condition in the 4 months after hatching

They are VERY intelligent animals, and DO associate YOU in particular, not just humans, but you as the feeder by sight as well as smell.

no they arent, they have the most basic of instincts in the animal world.... Find food, Find water, Find a nice tight shelter, Bask, reproduce.

no they dont associate us with anything, maybe that we arent food

pinky mice shouldn't be fed to anything after like 7months max

Pinky mice shouldnt be fed to anything (lizards/monitors sometimes as a rare treat - theres much better options though) regardless, except pygmy pythons for like a month (if they take it from their first feed) to which you should hop to something with a bit of fuzz

 

[MouseNo4]

not sure where you heard that, you want 1.5-2x the width of thickest body

I would go up 2 sizes to small hoppers

snakes will 9/10 times eat whatever is often to them, going to my post below, their instincts tell them to eat whatever they can as they are opportunistic feeders - meaning theyll eat whatever they can whilst given the opportunity unless theyre absolutely chockablock because they arent "domesticated" and dont know their next food is only 7 days away, in the wild they could go a year without a feed, one of my hatchling pythons went almost 4 months (which is a short time compared to other stories ive heard) before one day it decided itll eat the same size food all the others ate, it lost 0 size/condition in the 4 months after hatching


no they arent, they have the most basic of instincts in the animal world.... Find food, Find water, Find a nice tight shelter, Bask, reproduce.

no they dont associate us with anything, maybe that we arent food



Pinky mice shouldnt be fed to anything (lizards/monitors sometimes as a rare treat - theres much better options though) regardless, except pygmy pythons for like a month (if they take it from their first feed) to which you should hop to something with a bit of fuzz

I heard that from the reptile specialist store where i obtained my python AND my local pet store. Why would i think multiple sources would be wrong?

 

[Herpetology]

I heard that from the reptile specialist store where i obtained my python AND my local pet store. Why would i think multiple sources would be wrong?

Pet stores are notorious for giving out misinformation.. their job is to make money.. if they can convince you to spend more money over time on smaller food (even if they’re just assuming you will buy from them, it has no Ill on them if you don’t ) they will. They don’t care if your snake is underweight and your buying 15$ Bag of pinkies every 6 weeks, as far as theyre concerned, they have you in their trap
There’s only a couple people who work at a pet shop that I would deal with
At 2years old, your male should be sexually reproductive..

At 2years old I would be feeding ATLEAST adult mice

the easiest way to gauge food size is to weigh your snake, then offer 20% of that weight in a food item

just curious if you got your whole setup from the pet shop?

 

[MouseNo4]

Pet stores are notorious for giving out misinformation.. their job is to make money.. if they can convince you to spend more money over time on smaller food (even if they’re just assuming you will buy from them, it has no Ill on them if you don’t ) they will. They don’t care if your snake is underweight and your buying 15$ Bag of pinkies every 6 weeks, as far as theyre concerned, they have you in their trap
There’s only a couple people who work at a pet shop that I would deal with
At 2years old, your male should be sexually reproductive..

At 2years old I would be feeding ATLEAST adult mice

the easiest way to gauge food size is to weigh your snake, then offer 20% of that weight in a food item

just curious if you got your whole setup from the pet shop?

I got almost nothing from the 'pet shop' Satan as you seem to put it.

My enclosure, lights, equipment and everything i got from the specialist reptile store.

And the only reason i go to my local pet store for food is convenience. The reptile store is 30 mins drive, whereas the local store is 5 mins.

 

[Herpetology]

Sorry pet shop, reptile specialist store same things, most would consider them both at once

anyway, up the size of your food

 

[highlander969]

Hi. I have a 12 month old Childrens python and it has been eating weaner mice for about 2 months now. He is going up to small adults next time I buy food. I would say the snake is hungry. Try offering at least weaner mice weekly. The food should be approximately 1.5x the widest part of its body.

 

[Wolfgang5]

I heard that from the reptile specialist store where i obtained my python AND my local pet store. Why would i think multiple sources would be wrong?

Firstly, You have come to a forum seeking advice from people with more experience than you who are genuinely trying to assist you further your knowledge and to improve the health and well-being of your animal.

Your dismissive and rude attitude is not welcome. Listen and take advantage of the knowledge being shared with you, If you already know better, why come here and ask?

Secondly, wild pythons are more than capable of eating much larger meals, as seen below.

I purchased a sweet little darwin python (in pic on right) who was around similar size to the one below, she was eating large adult mice at this size.
I understand that Anteresias are a much smaller animal so feed appropriately.

Long story short, increase your food, you are feeding the absolute bare minimum and you are starving your animal.

 

[MouseNo4]

Firstly, You have come to a forum seeking advice from people with more experience than you who are genuinely trying to assist you further your knowledge and to improve the health and well-being of your animal.

Your dismissive and rude attitude is not welcome. Listen and take advantage of the knowledge being shared with you, If you already know better, why come here and ask?

Secondly, wild pythons are more than capable of eating much larger meals, as seen below.

I purchased a sweet little darwin python (in pic on right) who was around similar size to the one below, she was eating large adult mice at this size.
I understand that Anteresias are a much smaller animal so feed appropriately.

Long story short, increase your food, you are feeding the absolute bare minimum and you are starving your animal.

Check the attitude mate. I didnt come here to get harassed nor abused by you. The others here have offered the very thing i came here to get. Advice. Which i have taken and taken seriously.

Nothing in what i have said is rude or dismissive. If you gleaned that from what i have said, that is wholly on you. If anyone is being rude and dismissive, it is you.

For that, your post was reported and you have been set to ignore.

 

[Wolfgang5]

Check the attitude mate. I didnt come here to get harassed nor abused by you. The others here have offered the very thing i came here to get. Advice. Which i have taken and taken seriously.

Nothing in what i have said is rude or dismissive. If you gleaned that from what i have said, that is wholly on you. If anyone is being rude and dismissive, it is you.

For that, your post was reported and you have been set to ignore.

I'm not your mate.

And I'm not worried about being reported or ignored, in fact I'd prefer it.

Anyone who takes in excess of 2 years to find out they are starving their animal should be reported for animal cruelty, ignorance is no excuse.

 

[Friller2009]

@MouseNo4
This is from @Wolfgang5
I'm not your mate.

And I'm not worried about being reported or ignored, in fact I'd prefer it.

Anyone who takes in excess of 2 years to find out they are starving their animal should be reported for animal cruelty, ignorance is no excus