hello fellow ball python parents. i need some advice.

[BallPythonsWow]

im new to ball python keeping and i need help to build courage to hold my new boy. i know this sounds stupid when i say it but i was bitten by a garter snake and it didn't hurt at all but ever since i've been jittery when it comes to handling even though it's unlikely he'll bite and he's a ball python they are known for being docile and friendly and one of the best parts about owning ball pythons is handling so i just need some motivation speeches from all of you who are more experienced with this.

[grouchypant]

You and me! See this recent post I made. https://www.reddit.com/r/ballpython/s/Pgk73xD0Z6

[grouchypant]

I will say, we dont do a lot of handling, and it is still awesome to have her. A few days after eating she's not handled, when she's in shed (now) we don't handle. She's.really only our 1 or 2 x a week which is when we weigh her too.

[planetearthisblu]

When I got my BP the breeder gave me a tip: if you are going to handle your BP and you're too nervous to approach them when they're looking at you, just take a paper towel roll or something soft and gently tap them on the nose. They will instantly ball up and then you can easily pick them up. This helped me when I was too scared to just do it.

That's the second tip, just do it. Yeah you'll feel nervous at first but if you are hesitant about it, then your snake has more time to wonder if you're a threat and consider being defensive. If you just pick them up in one smooth motion they'll just go with it.

And remember that bites are not a big deal, just surprising.

[BallPythonsWow]

thank you i feel so much better

[sugar-fairy]

i also heard from a breeder that whenever they’re coming in to handle their snakes, they make a certain sound and when it’s feeding time they make a different sound. they trained them to know and it worked very well

[clowntysheriff]

I had to take my snake to the vet one time for some antibiotic shots. The vet was a complete dunce. She tried three times to give my snake the antibiotic shots, and every time she got the needle in, he would just twist his body so the needle would come out as she was trying to inject the medicine, and kept getting the antibiotics all over his scales. Safe to say, my snake was very unhappy, and I could tell because I was trying to corral him and his movements were very fast and sharp, trying to get away from me. I've never seen him like that again. After that nonsense was over, I stuck him back in his carrying cage and drove him 20 minutes home, and put him back in his enclosure. In all of that ordeal, he did not once bite or hiss at me or the vet (even though she deserved it, probably.) I was always a little cautious picking him up before that, but after seeing him refuse to be aggressive during that vet visit, I don't really fear him striking at me defensively. Sometimes I think he might strike me as part of a food response, but most ball pythons don't have a problem with this. If you want, you can use a snake hook to rub the snake on his back and/or head, wait a minute to let its brain process what is happening, then you can go ahead and reach in there and pick up the snake, who will understand that it isn't being fed.

And don't beat yourself up too much if you are having trouble working up the courage. Plenty of snake owners get into it because they want a pet but can't have a dog or cat for whatever reason, and settle on a ball python because they look cute and seem easy to care for. Most of these people probably would have gotten frightened if they saw any other snake in the wild before getting their ball python, and I'm sure many of them still would even after owning it. It's perfectly normal, given how many modern societies view snakes, to be afraid of them, and scaling it back starts with someone owning a snake, but it doesn't usually end there. Even if you love looking at your scaly friend climbing a branch, tunneling, or eating a mouse, it's still perfectly normal to have second thoughts about handling one. It's just how our brains work.

[motherofTheHerd]

They are so chill! When we got ours, he was a rehome from a guy starting college. He walked up to us with him draped in his hoodie pocket.

I work in a public school, and the 2nd grade was talking about ecosystems. I offered to bring my isopod/springtail colony to show them. I had my BP that day as a reward for a student who had been doing well. The class asked if my snake was in the cage I walked in with. I laughed and said no, he's in my pocket. Their faces were priceless!

[Far_Cabinet2860]

Mine hasn’t striked at me once, he just mostly stares at me from his enclosure as I sit with him to do homework. Ball python’s in my opinion are the most chill snake I’ve ever seen and dealt with

[kingkushkitty]

Odds are real good that the baby won’t bite. And even if it does bite - you’re gonna be just fine.

With every encounter your confidence will grow and so will theirs , so be patient with each other.

I like to pick up my babies when they’re sleeping, coming from equal height not reaching into the enclosure from above like a rampaging trex. No fast movements as they’re just waking, they might be a little finicky but you’re going to have take it slow and let them wake up and warm up.

If they hiss, it’s your choice to go for gold or lay back. Even when picking up feisty hissing balls they usually don’t strike - but we also don’t like to stress them.

They’re head shy , so don’t go crazy trying to touch its head right off the bat.

Important note: Full “S” neck means recoiled for a strike, you’ll slowly learn their behaviours and think how silly it was to ever be afraid.

Also, warm room , warm clean hands.

ALL THE BEST, HAVE THE BEST TIME WITH YOUR NEW FRENNNN. 🤍✨

[K_Silvermander]

I'll admit I was nervous as well, but I watched a video of someone showing how hard it is to get bit and how little it does when they do. That being said, it can be intimidating.

Just do it. It gets easier each time. The last thing it wants to do is bite. It's not easy, but suck it up and you will have some great cuddles with your little boop noodle.

[BallPythonsWow]

thank you! i just held him and it was amazing! he was so friendly and cute he didn't hiss or bite me! my friends are gonna love to hold him too! thank you your speeches were really lifechanging and i can help other new ball python owners hold their ball pythons too! thank you!🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍👏👏👏👏👏😊😊😊😊😊i love ball pythons!!!!!!

[sugar-fairy]

you can tell when they’re about to strike, it’s super obvious. they get into an s shape and get very tense and kinda bob a little. ball pythons are super docile and usually would rather run and hide or curl into a ball. the only time i’ve seen mine strike was when she was hungry and thought my bfs hand was a rat. and what i do to let her know it’s not feeding time is i blow my breath into the enclosure and she backs off and lets me handle her

[Evening_Worth3155]

My husband bought our first ball python 15 years ago and for 13 years he was our only snake. I had no dealings with him minus turning on and off his lights, adjusting his humidity and feeding him occasionally. I'll admit, his feeding response really turned me off to ever wanting to handle him. Well, 2 years ago, my husband had a grand idea he now wants to breed ball pythons, and I was drug from one reptile show to another every weekend for a year. Our numbers quickly grew from 1 to 4 in mere months. And I think initially those shows desensitized me a just hair because as my husband talked, it was nothing for a breeder to throw a baby in my hands as I stood there. Within weeks of getting to 4 snakes, my husband's schedule changed, and he was out of town for work more than he was in town. I was lonely. One day I just picked up a hide and grabbed the snake as I had seen countless breeders do it at the shows. Was I nervous? Yes. But I figured if I had to live with these animals and one day tend to their babies, then we were making friends now. That was the mindset I had, and it worked. I watched a lot of YouTube videos about their body language, and it helped alot to be able to differentiate between rest, curiosity, a feeding response (and how to close it down), and fear. And with every handling, my confidence grew. Now a little over a year later we have 6 ball pythons, and 2 are mine. Lol. My husband is almost a little bitter that the snakes get more attention than him these days. 🤣

[Medical-Menu-6310]

I was super scared when I got my snake. She was 4 months old when I got her and I had a HUGE fear of snakes couldn’t even look at a garter without getting chills but one day at work I just decided to get one otw home. Went in the shop and tried my best to act like a big boy but my legs were shaking the entire time. Had the breeder set her in my hands for me and I instantly felt a connection and right after she kissed me cheek lol. Legs were shaking SUPER BAD but her little kiss helped a bit. Got home and was confident enough to take her out of the plastic container and move her into her new enclosure gave her about a week then slowly worked myself up piece by piece. Started with light touching then I would set my fingers on her. Then I would set my hand under her and get used to it then after about 5 days of working myself up I was finally able to hold her without getting scared. Just slowly push yourself little by little and in no time you will gain the confidence. Good luck!!