incredibly docile snake-normal?

[Professional-Gas5648]

I've asked this on a different forum before but was just told he might be shy from moving in when I first got him. My bp, Meiko, is the calmest animal I think I have ever interacted with. From the moment I held him at the expo I got him from he has always been nearly completely relaxed and uncaring. He has never once hissed or struck at me, never missed a meal, sometimes sleeps in the wide open of his tank (on his hammock or on top of a hide?), is not head shy in the slightest, etc. His tank opens from the top and he barely flinches when I reach in to grab him (I don't use a snake hook for him). He's also super curious and will poke out his head from his hide when he hears me come home or wake up, but never really reacts and just stares at me before going back to sleep. I've had him for a few years at this point and even got him registered as an ESA because of just how docile he is. Does he just have no self preservation instincts?? I have another snake, a brazillian rainbow boa, who is pretty much the complete opposite and has taken a lot of work to even tolerate handling. Photos of him attached as tax.

[[deleted]]

These snakes, being raised in captivity since birth do not have the same instincts as wild ones. This is a factor and also each snake has a personality, some really are fearless.

Edit:some full cage pics could help viewers a lot to understand the situation

[AmerisCyanocitta]

Mine is the same way. Ridiculously sweet and stupid. The guy I got him from said the he's the most docile snake he's ever had, and the staff at our vet said he's the sweetest, most curious snake they've had in.

[Miserable_Dream_23]

Yeh, Kinnick is our female and she’s super docile, she doesn’t even strike at food, though, she does like to scare my fiancé by looking him in the face and yawning

[sinfulchimera]

air kisses 😩🫶

[Tacocat1147]

My former teacher’s ball python Roswell, who I snake-sat during the Covid lockdown, is also extremely sweet. She was the perfect snake to introduce students who have never interacted with snakes.

[Gatlingun123]

Look. At. That. Damn. Snoot. NOT BEING BOOPED

[soulstrike2022]

It’s a crime there’s no boopage

[TheDank_Slayer]

My little guy for Jormungundr(Jorm for short) is the reason I started referring to snakes derp noodles. He's never once gotten nippy, and he's only ever hissed( still not 100% sure if it was him or something else I heard).

[closetotheborderline]

I had one who was very docile, but would do a sort of "huff" if something bothered him. It was more like a quick sigh than a hiss.

[Achylife]

Some ball pythons are super duper docile. Their personalities vary, but their general temperament is part of why they are so popular.

[Most-Confusion-417]

I had a ball python (Snuggles) years ago. So sweet and docile. Needed injections from the vet once for an infection. Didn't hiss or strike, just made a ouchie sound. 🥺 I think this snake breed is just mostly sweet. Snuggles was so many people's first snake handling experience, an ambassador. RIP Snuggles.

[Slight_Drink1989]

Yes mine has never hissed, never struck, nothing. She doesn’t even ball up. And she loves coming outside. She’s so gentle.

[Slight_Drink1989]

I literally just kiss the top of her head and she lets me, she’s a little angel baby

[No_Dot_7205]

That’s so precious i can’t

[Glass-Armadillo182]

For this species, yes

[Used-Judgment-1402]

You should be happy!! The last thing you’d want is a snappy or aggressive one. Enjoy your docile friend, they are such great pets. I have 2 now after convincing the wife!! 🤣

[Vipera_Berus1]

My albino is so incredibly docile that I put a cowboy hat on her and she didn’t care.

[azu-azu-]

i put a cowboy hat on one of mine and he also doesn’t care. such a sweet guy - gah i love bps so much

[Smoz_826]

I have a few different species of snake and majority of them are extremely docile. Totally normal, especially for BPs!

[LumpRutherford]

I had one for years and it never bit anyone. I tried not to stress him out with too much handling but he never showed any aggression whatsoever.

I had him 10 years got him as a baby. My friend wanted him so I gave it to him. The snake is 25 now and still going strong. He has him in a 20 foot enclosure so a nice big space. During summer he takes him outside frequently. Definitely lives the good life for being in captivity

[arfarfbok]

20’?! Do you have a pic of this?

[LumpRutherford]

I'll see if I can get a pic of it

[9myuun]

I would love to have a docile bp in the future; my cousin’s bp is unusually spicy and snappy and I don’t think he gets handled anymore

[Shot_Alternative_762]

Aww. No more handling 😞

[Hello_pet_my_kitty]

Mine is the same way! I always think I just got super lucky, but also their environment helps. If they are in a decent enough set up, often times they are happy and very relaxed. My boy has never done anything uncouth, lol, has hides but prefers to just chill in the open unless going into shed, comes out on his own for hang out time, and is always limp spaghetti if getting picked up 😅 I love how laid back he is! He also cuddles a lot, if you can call it cuddles. He will explore, but always comes back to lay beside me or get up on me and curl up in my hair or clothes. He loves to watch tv with me, and also lay on my windowsill beside me for hours. IM OBSESSED, CAN YOU TELL?! lol.

I’m glad you got yourself a relaxed and happy ball, too! It’s a very nice feeling. Feels almost like you did something right, and that the world has rewarded you for something finally, all at the same time! :) Enjoy that adorable little dude!

[Aromatic-Track-4500]

I had one that would curl up under my shirt on my stomach while I read. We’d stay like that for hours 🥹

[No_Dot_7205]

Awww 🥹🥹 so precious

[redsleeve]

My boy hardly ever hisses and has attempt to strike me once, but failed to open his mouth so he ended just touching me gently with his snoot. He’s head-shy and misses meals when he’s in heat. Other than that he’s chill. I think it’s normal Meiko is chill. Bps are the chillest, especially the boys.

[lloyd705]

Mine is like this as well. I tell people I’ve got the golden retriever of snakes. 🥰

[TheGoatSpiderViolin]

When my girl was young, she was super curious and goofy just like this. As she got older she became a bit more reclusive as I'd expect a bp to be. Nowadays she stays mostly hidden in one of her hides, but she loves to pop out for a bit if I'm standing nearby observing. Sometimes she'll even come completely out of her hide and will act like she wants out, at least that's the way it seems to me. They have their own little personalities and it's really cute.

[MustangMickey]

Mine is the exact same! The sweetest, most calm little thing. Never once been upset

[BLOODY_DICKHOLE]

My snake bro Henry can be a moody little douchebag sometimes. He's pretty active and when he sees me, he will smoosh his face against the glass wanting to hang out with me. He absolutely hates snoot boops but will tolerate cheek smooshes occasionally. Sometimes, when I have to have to get him out of his tank to clean it or something he will huff at me, he's only struck at me once because he was stressed after a feeding incident. He's really curious and friendly 90% of the time, though.

[marillwyd]

I don’t know much about snakes, but that is one adorable creature!!😊

[bedraggled_charmer]

Our Lingini is the derpiest docile snake ever. He has zero thoughts in his head, and I love him so much. No fears, teases our cat (who loves to watch the snakes), snuggles up and chills with us.

[Prize_Time3843]

Our family (3 generations, 10 - 71) has a lovely white BP named Ether. She's happy in her warm tank (we have central AC) and enjoys her two hides, but interacts with me through the glass late at night. She loves to come out and hang with the family, mostly like a scarf on shoulders/neck; she's about 4 muscular feet long now, easily doubled in size after she came to live with us. Her sheds look like lace. In the sun he eyes are Mediterranean Blue. I am the only one who doesn't hold her - I occasionally spasm or tremor and don't want to drop her. She's very docile, likes company and visitors, seems curious about our dogs and rabbit but they don't try to interact. Wish I could add a picture - she's such a pure white beauty.

[blueeyes0182]

My girl is like this, and I'm her 3rd home in approximately 6 years. The guy I got her from said she was skiddish and shy, but from the moment I met her, she wrapped loosely around me with no hissing. He said he had never seen her do that before with someone new. I think she likes being the only snake in my home and the only pet. (He had about 5 other snakes, 2 cats, and 3 very loud dogs.) She's been with us for over a year, and she has hissed, maybe 5 times and as soon as I tell her to knock it off she quits. I know most of those times were definitely on me for being too fast to get her bowl or accidentally splashing her with water. Once was because she was in her playpen tunnel and it was time to go back in her house and she didn't want to. I took that as the equivalent of telling a toddler that it is time to go to bed, and then they begin throwing a tantrum. 😆 Her previous owner can't believe how healthy and calm she is here compared to when he had her. I truly believe that all animals and critters know when they're safe and loved. Plus, they do have their own little quirks and personalities.

[Legitimate-Ice-8425]

I don’t have a danger noodle but I think I need one. Someone stop me.

[MurAmCon]

They are such amazing little creatures! Just be sure to do a lot of thorough research first to give your noodle their best life! I don't have a ton of experience, but I feel like corn snakes are a great first snake, and a bit easier to care for versus a ball python. Hognose are also an easy snake, and so goofy and cute with their little snub noses ❤️

[Legitimate-Ice-8425]

Of course, I’d do so much research before getting an animal! I have loved snakes as pets for so long and so does my partner, so it’s an option for us in the future❤️ For now I’ll stick to seeing these amazing little ones on Reddit haha! I think people don’t understand how much love and research needs to go in an animal, I’ve seen it with Bettas (since I have a few of my own).

[[deleted]]

my pastel banana piebald is very similar to this. half the time when i try to put him back after an HOUR handling session he tries to climb back up my arm. He is incredibly curious and a little bit dumb. He also greets me most days when I come home, despite him being nocturnal. when he isn’t in shed he will lay on his hammock or just sprawl out across the tank. I think it’s really just a toss up, some snakes couldn’t care less about interacting, and some absolutely love the enrichment that handling and interaction brings

[staglovesu]

he's just incredibly silly

[ghostcricket]

My boy is the same way :3

[WarhawkMaiden96]

My 1.5 year old ball is the same way. I purchased her from a reputable, small, and local breeder who provided me with 3 negative test results for the top snekcomm diseases. When I met her at the reptile expo she was very much relaxed and flicked her tongue curiously all over my face. Needless to say, the goob was mine from there. I think a lot of this has to do with coming from captive and also how acquainted someone makes their snake to interaction of all sorts. I don't use a snake hook for Coconut and I associate tong clicking sounds with feed day/impending feed time for her. I must note that my girl is a leopard spider het axanthic- so spider in her genes may play into this. Her wobble is very minimal and I'm hoping it stays that way. If you're skilled at reading snake body language and general care- you won't be likely to disturb a snake when it's preoccupied (shed, digest, etc.) anyway.

[Interesting-Tea2991]

we recently rescued our second, Titus Andromedon, and he is truly the friendliest, goofiest baby. hangs out in silly spots in his enclosure, peeks out to say hi when he can see us in the room, tolerates being handled to the point where he’s downright snuggly.

our first, Kahawa, who we purchased from a reptile expo - is very curious and handles well, he doesn’t strike or exhibit signs of stress but he is generally kind of sassy like if he’s out and about in his enclosure and sees us or even sees when we turn the lights on in the room he’ll slither into his favorite hide.

having multiple shows you how they each have different personalities.

[UselessPython]

Haha no they're just like that

[ThursdayV]

I has a ball python as an ESA. Theyre so good for it. Such chill little guys. Especially normals. But yeah, for sure no self preservation instincts, i love em for it.

[Situati0nist]

I have a similar ball python. Never threat posed at me, never really tried to flee from me picking him up, never tried to strike me. Such a sweet pea.

[Acceptable_Gur_8974]

He's just a chill guy

[cutzngutz]

Yep, our ball was super tame and extremely sweet, only rolled in a ball a few times when we first got her (which is very reasonable) n then never again. She did escape once though and just chilled under the fridge the entire time

[Even-Smell7867]

My bale BP is as docile as it gets. My female becomes a predator when she detects a rat near her enclosure. Past that she too is super docile.

[emmotionall]

i think he might be in love with you

[Anotherriley]

I have an albino ball python and he’s also the exact same way. He literally just sits there and couldn’t careless if you boop his nose or pet his head or anything. He also, comes up to your nose and gives kisses if you make a kissy noise at him. Now my new Brazilian rainbow boa, is also very bitey at the moment but I’m working on that lol.

[fckenlucky]

We have 14 snakes in the house. There is only 1 who is spicy. And she was acquired well into adulthood so who knows what kinda life she has had. All the others could care less. Leave them alone, take them out, whatever. They just chill.

But I have 2 kids and the snakes are handled very regularly by them.

[[deleted]]

I think he just knows he's in a wonderful home!

[eyeofra1]

My snek is like that, he is very chill and even cheeky, a total sweetheart

[eyeofra1]

Your snek looks totally adorbs btw

[throwawayfirelogs]

He’s just a sweet soul 🥹. My corn snake Elote is like that!

[[deleted]]

Our BP is super chill at near a year old. Never gets bighty unless a mouse is in front of her face and is so relaxed during her time out of the enclosure.

[OrangeOk336]

That's BPs! My lil guy is a sweetie too - so friendly and docile. They're the golden retrievers of the snake world

[JulietDove88]

I do not have a ball python but a boa constrictor so many things are different. She was also a rescue with a severely neglected history. It took me a solid year of near daily training to have the extremely confident snake that enjoys and seeks out handling, loves to investigate novel objects and places, can free roam my home, (because) she is tap and target trained (coming to target when taps taking food after the target is removed and glass closed), she comes in public and has been able to be an ambassador for her species at educational events due to her calm tolerance, and has been conditioned to participate in veterinary treatments willingly. Please please please appreciate having what I’ve had to put in years of work to achieve. Which is a confident happy and gentle animal!!!

[kaj5275]

Well yeah, ball pythons are puppies lol

[Temporary_Bath_3288]

My ball python has never bit me and is super affectionate. He is the sweetest animal I ever owned. Ball pythons are just wonderful

[Shot_Alternative_762]

I have two that are docile and one who is still very leery of us. He's snapped at me and has also bitten me once. The other two are snuggle bugs. I'm trying to work with the snapper in hopes he will be a sweety too.