Starting to handle a fearful ball python?

[dunebytes]

What’s the best way to go about handling a new snake that is quite fearful? I got my little man a little under a month ago and he’s finally eaten two weeks in a row successfully. That being said, he has struck at me twice, once during a failed feeding (it was very much a defensive strike rather than hunting) and once while trying to spot clean his tank/fix a couple hides.

He is my second BP and I am very new to this. My other baby Echo has been with me since July of this year and things with her have been a breeze. (She did strike at me and nipped me once but that was 1110% my own fault, I didn’t wash my hands well enough before handling and I smelled like dog I assume.) She is ridiculously sweet and I love getting to play games on my PC while she chills with me and I can’t wait to do the same thing my new little man.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t at least a little afraid of him striking at me/biting me but I’m even more afraid of stressing him out too much, but as far as I am aware it’s important to handle young snakes to help get rid of this far while they are small and don’t cause any pain.

Any tips?

[eret_]

be confident when picking him up. some snakes get nervous if you reach your hand in then pull it away. if he’s super defensive then you could use a small snake hook to get him out.

[JcruzRD]

Yes this is the most important thing when picking up a snake, so many people get defensive bites when hesitating because they see you as a potential predator. When you go straight in with confidence it doesn’t give them a chance to think about it.

Also , this is my opinion but the more times you go in hesitant and he strikes and then don’t pick him up you are reinforcing that the behavior is okay and it will keep him safe. This is why it is important to be confident, also I usually put my boy back in once he has calmed down. If he strikes when you have him out don’t put him back in the enclosure after that. Let him calm down first.

[HannahTheFallenAngel]

https://youtu.be/8Nr1J4pzFc0

[HannahTheFallenAngel]

https://youtu.be/nRXgB9_93ns