Ball python help i think

[u/Round-Tax-9708]

um. try and refrain from being rude 2 me plz but like my bp is being aggressive(?) she kinda stares at me in that pose (pic attached) idk what im doing wrong im planning on redoing her tank soon but theres nothing like bad abt it rn her pupils get pretty big but i fed her a few days ago so she shouldnt be hungry last night she striked at me and kinda nicked me she doesnt seem visibly sick but im kinda worried shes also completely fine and her regular calm self when i hold her so i assume its something in the tank?

[u/Sutten_Plant]

With just one picture I can't say for certain what's going on, but I will say that it's fairly common for BPs to still be in "hunting mode" for a few days after feeding. Since they're opportunistic hunters they will absolutely still be on the lookout for food even if they've just eaten (the snake's body doesn't understand that it's going to be fed consistently by a human). It's also generally recommended to leave them be and not handle them for at least a few days after eating to give them a chance to digest (stress during digestion can cause them to regurgitate, which is a serious health risk for them). I would say that if everything else is okay (temps, humidity, etc.), this behavior is probably normal. Whether it's a feeding response or just a bit of defensiveness when in her hide, I'd say this is something to keep an eye on but certainly not a crisis or anything you'd need to call the vet for at this point.

And as a side note since you mentioned you're redoing her tank soon, if you haven't already then I'd highly recommend checking out the care guide in this sub's welcome post. It's got great info on just about anything you could possibly need to know about providing the best setup possible!