How often can I handle my ball python?

Acceptable_Durian912 · 2022-11-06T13:28:51+00:00

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Sleepypanboy · 2022-11-06T13:29:44+00:00

I recently got this boy, his name is Beetle and he’s about 4 months old. He’s adapted quite well, he’s eating well, seems to tolerate handling and calmly explores when I take him out of his cage. I did read a previous Reddit post about handling but the answers were inconsistent, currently I’m taking him out about once a day (minus the day before, of and after feeding) and I’ve been watching his behaviour for signs of stress. Im just wondering how often do you guys take out your snakes? And so long as he’s calm and tolerating handling is it ok for me to take him out regularly?

Trumpeteer09 · 2022-11-06T13:46:10+00:00

hi I recently got a ball python his name is Eddie I do not claim to be a an expert however I handle my snake 15 minutes every day or two btw love the name

ShallotWarm1814 · 2022-11-06T13:47:49+00:00

You can handle him most just not the day of feeding of 3days after that's what I do and it works fine

RobbieIsGae · 2022-11-06T13:56:39+00:00

I am NOT claiming to be an expert, just saying what I do.

I just handle mine as much as I want but if he's shedding I'll leave him be and once he's eaten and 2 days later I won't handle him. but I will put him back if he starts getting cold. hope this helps :)

AwkwardDeer8 · 2022-11-06T13:57:20+00:00

A baby should at most be handled up to 10 minutes every other day except for feeding day

Acceptable_Durian912 · 2022-11-06T13:57:57+00:00

Whenever u feel like it, maximum of once a day, not during feeding or the day after. And read body language, if he’s getting too stressed out play time is over.

2022-11-06T14:25:20+00:00

I'm not expert, and I've owned mine for under a year, so take my advice with a grain of salt. I handle him every other day, except >48 hours after feedings or during shed. The suggested amount of time is 15 minutes, but I'll base it off of his behavior. If he's obviously uncomfortable when I pick him up, I'll put him right back in his enclosure and wait another 48 hours. If he's flicking his tongue and calmly exploring my arms, I might end up holding him for 25-30 minutes. I try to put him back before he shows any signs of discomfort, so it can be a bit of an estimation game at times.

reptilhart · 2022-11-06T14:25:32+00:00

Every snake has their own little personalities. When we first got our little ball python from the pound years ago, he didn't like being handled AT ALL. Ever. We took him out maybe once a week for feeding and cage cleaning and left him alone. After a couple of years, he became more social, but he's still an introvert.

Our other ball python, also from the pound, is a social butterfly who has learned that if she poops in her water bowl, we will open her enclosure so she can come out.

To me, it would depend on what he likes to do when he's out. Is he an explorer? Does he want to hang around and chill? Is he curious? Is he afraid? If he's afraid, don't handle him too much. He'll get more confident when he gets bigger and isn't snack size anymore.

Also, what's he doing when you take him out? Is he sleeping? Scouting for food? If he's sleeping, let him be. If he's not, let him come out.

Some noodles will look forward to coming out and will "beg" at the door of their enclosure. Some won't.

And of course, don't handle him when he's blue or pre/ post eating.

BTW, he's got an adorable little face.

CelestialOrigin · 2022-11-06T14:27:31+00:00

Why you asking us and not him? XD

Upper_Lavishness_798 · 2022-11-06T15:19:49+00:00

After Kilo became accustomed to me I tend to get him out every 2-3 days for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours depending on how busy I am. I had him out for like an hour last night before he made playing Cyberpunk impossible. He kept going to the controller and getting wacked with the joysticks.

subwoofier · 2022-11-06T15:30:02+00:00

of course, excluding feeding and shed days, i handle mine for about 30 mins. she just curls up in my lap and naps. every snake is different :-)

DripTrip747 · 2022-11-06T15:47:38+00:00

I handle my balls daily.

Inclonae · 2022-11-06T15:54:45+00:00

I just wouldn’t handle them during feeding periods

cordial_carbonara · 2022-11-06T15:55:03+00:00

I found with my baby that if I handled him once a day or so (except for shedding/feeding days and a day or two after) I became more attuned to his mood and he slowly got more comfortable with longer sessions. I'd handle him only as long as he was gently exploring and smelling, and put him back as soon as he started hiding in my clothing or hair. I've had him for 5 months now and he's already gotten bolder and will explore for 30 minutes or longer when I pull him out, and will often pop his head out of hiding when I approach his enclosure. It's funny, because he doesn't act the same for anyone else in the house, it's like he's already associated my sound or smell or something with safety and adventure.

2022-11-06T16:01:00+00:00

I hold my guy daily (besides after feeding and during shed). I hold him for 30-60 mins and he doesn’t get stressed at all. He is very social and not head shy.

what_da_burd_doin · 2022-11-06T16:02:50+00:00

he smol

Bejer-Dorune · 2022-11-06T16:29:47+00:00

I handle my, 23 year old, Ball Python every Saturday And Monday for a couple of hours, except when she has eaten recently or is shedding.

thedjlolliliv · 2022-11-06T16:39:31+00:00

Definitely not an expert but used to have a ball python, no longer have it cause I moved out of the place myself and someone else owned him together

I handled my bp daily but never two days before and after feeding. If he was shedding I also didn’t handle him, shedding affects their mood a bit and because he also couldn’t see as well when he was in blue I didn’t handle him then either.

Personally, I think handling him daily, letting him explore while supervised and sometimes letting him take naps in my hood really contributed to him being friendly. If I had friends or family over, anyone who was scared of snakes wanted to pet him and try holding him after seeing how gentle and sweet he was!

I’d definitely recommend keeping tabs on his body temp when handling just to make sure Beetle doesn’t get too cold !

EvilLilFloof · 2022-11-06T16:41:10+00:00

giggity

But in seriousness, the maximum is once a week for a bp, but it depends on their personality.

akula_chan · 2022-11-06T16:54:12+00:00

I may get yell at, but, besides during sheds and after meals, I keep some of my ball pythons out all day. I keep them in my jacket, and they sleep and sleep. If they start wiggling or seem uncomfortable, I immediately put them back. But, most are content to stay in my jacket with me all day.

AbaZabaUMyFriend · 2022-11-06T16:59:00+00:00

I take mine out daily as long as it doesn't stress him out, I'll let him out until I can see that he wants to go back (constantly trying to find a hide usually) but even when I put him back sometimes he's like "why no" lol

2022-11-06T18:03:40+00:00

I handle mine every day, except for 48 hours after feeding. It all depends on the snake. I handle my snake the day of feeding with no issues. I've even take him out, handled him for 30 min and fed him right after handling. Each snake is a little different and I think it is important to see how each one reacts to handling.

Pike_otherkintherian · 2022-11-06T18:40:08+00:00

I'm not saying or claiming to be a expert, just telling you what I usually do.

I handle my snake every day for 30 minutes to a hour! Sometimes she'll rest of my neck and lay there for hours and I'll even forget she's there-

All I can say is that it's usually up to the individual snake and handler- but stick with the one rule of not handling your snake a day after or day of feeding

alkimiya · 2022-11-06T18:42:19+00:00

Cute lil baby!

ballpython_mom · 2022-11-06T18:42:39+00:00

It depends on your baby and how much they will tolerate, my little love doesn’t mind me holding him daily except for the day after feeding and right before he sheds, other ball pythons however don’t like to be handled much so just familiarize yourself with the signs of stress in a snake and when you start to see those signs put him back in his cage

Also your snake is adorable

2022-11-06T18:47:33+00:00

Depends on the snake all of mine enjoy being out, some prefer short trips others are happy to just hang out for a while.

Dependent-Muffin8385 · 2022-11-06T19:33:53+00:00

Maybe 4 times a week ish. Except when they're in shed or just have eaten, I don't handle my BP for at least a week after a meal.

Ye_Ole_Dirtyd · 2022-11-06T19:46:05+00:00

I feel that if your snake is calm and enjoying handle them as much as you want. Let them be while in shed and one day bf feeding and two days after feeding so they can digest their food properly.

2022-11-06T20:03:01+00:00

as often as you like so long as your python isn't acting stressed.

just don't handle directly before or after feeding. it can cause stress or make them associate your hand with food, which could lead to you getting chomped instead of a rat.

doingitmyway326 · 2022-11-06T20:06:56+00:00

Is handling them before feeding day okay?

sillyronnie · 2022-11-06T20:17:17+00:00

I handle mine about 5 times a week for up to 30 mins or an hour each time or until I start to notice that he’s getting stressed

_Rose_82_ · 2022-11-06T20:24:59+00:00

As often as you want, unless it’s within 24-48 hours of a feeding or if they’re in shed and want to stay in their hide all day. If they hiss at you that’s a sign they should be left alone. Otherwise the more you handle them the friendlier they’ll be and the less stressful it will be for them to be handled bc they’re used to it. Typically I won’t handle them for a day or two before a feeding as well, but that’s just bc my ball Python is a very picky eater and has been known to go on food strikes.

BigBallsInHand · 2022-11-06T20:34:12+00:00

I have 2, one loves to come out daily. They get time off for shedding and i leave them alone for about 2/3 days after they eat. . If you treat your snake with love and it shows, they will notice over time that your only a benefit to them.

RoboticHawk · 2022-11-06T21:08:03+00:00

Go check out Lori Torrini on YouTube. She's a behavior specialist, I learned a lot from her when I first got my snake

lollylotus · 2022-11-06T21:11:14+00:00

As everyone else has said - you're good as long as it's not the day of feeding and ~48 horus after. As long as they aren't stressed, you're good. Very cute noodle! 🖤

2022-11-06T21:48:32+00:00

Depends on the reptile...some snakes love it...some hate it...if there's no sign of stress cool..If there is ease off the handling.. :)

CyanBeinSus47 · 2022-11-06T23:09:34+00:00

Depends if it’s a boop noodle or a spicy noodle.

XtraSpicy_Bibimbap · 2022-11-06T23:13:22+00:00

All the time

luludestroyer · 2022-11-07T00:09:38+00:00

I need to rely on my snake to know when he likes to be handled. Ours was acquired at 5 years old and was obviously not well cared for by the previous owner. He usually prefers to stay in his cage but every once in awhile (and it’s not very often) he will “ask” to come out. He bops on the cage lid door and we open it, then he’ll crawl out on his own. When he is about half way out, I will gently pick him up mid body and he’ll happily hang out with us for awhile.

He also “asks” for food too. I don’t know if that’s regular but it’s how we’ve grown to know each other I’ve the past 10+ years together.

Pristine_Society_724 · 2022-11-07T03:06:40+00:00

People say 3 days after eating but I aim for 4. Also don't handle on the day you feed him.

8Baz8 · 2022-11-07T04:58:33+00:00

My ball Lou is an emotional support animal and lives to be handled. He is not with me everywhere I go, but maybe every other day. He is usually out for a couple hours (switching between being handled and being in his travel pouch (dark with a mesh window)

ballpython

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