Cage neglected python, what to do?

[CheshireCat]

Hi all,

I recently acquired a 4' adult ball python through adoption. He seems perfectly healthy, and gorgeous to all outward appearances. However, his previous owner never handled him, outside when she absolutely HAD to, for cage cleaning and the like. She had him for 2 years, and she'd rescued him from a son's friend, so I don't know if he ever handled the poor guy either. Now, when I first met him, I put my hand in the cage for a moment, about 8 inches away from him to let him smell me, and after a few seconds, he struck and got me pretty good. I've had him for a few days, and haven't tried to handle him, as to let him get acclimated to his new environment. He doesn't seem aggressive to the point of striking when I pass his tank, and neither has he hid every time I see him, but he does seem.... Wary. He's also tried to escape his cage at least twice, but been thwarted but the perforated metal sheeting on top of his tank. What should I do? I really want to be able to handle this snake, and have him be reasonably tame, he's too beautiful and majestic to let languish in a tank. I could really use some advice. Thanks in advance to everyone.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

The best way is to just keep handling him. Try to pick him up a few times a day and just let him move over you. Do it seated so that he doesn't fall. Don't touch his head.

[carlson]

Give him time to settle into new home and then when time comes just pick him up. Sometimes its all you can do

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[Tannerrrtx]

try to get him up with a hook, then move him to your hand, once they are up they are much less likely to strike. remember snakes dont like human interaction. they tolerate it.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Because a BP is not handled does not mean he is "neglected"

Ball pythons do fine even if they are never held, they are not once of those species where regular handling is required in order to have an animal that is handleable.

Let it settle, once settled feed it and then start handling for brief period of time.

[wolfy-hound]

I would not dangle your hand in front of his ace. It's a reasonable heat source that resembles food items dangled in front of him.

Just pick him up from behind gently and handle him so he won't think he'll fall. Support as much of him as possible, not just in a couple spots.

Most BPs really don't need or desire to be handled and most don't seem to need "taming". They do just as well being handled gently once a year as handled every couple days, at least the ones I have dealt with personally.

The more you handle him, the more he will realize it's not harmful, but snakes have a limited amount of learning/intelligence for things too.

[Alexandra V]

I agree with above, definitely don't hold your hand in front of his face. I'm pretty sure that a couple of my snakes would strike at me if I did that too, but they're very easily handled and are not aggressive at all otherwise.

The best way to get the striking habit out of him is to just continue to handle him as was said. Give him a couple weeks to settle in without handling him, and then you can start taking him out for little periods at a time. A couple minutes for the first few times, and then slowly increase the duration of the handling every time.

As far as getting him out of the cage, your best bet is to either just go in there and just kind of confidently pick him up around the middle of his body. If you don't hesitate he'll be less likely to strike at you, and once he's out just move very slowly and deliberately so that you don't spook him. If you really have a hard time just getting your hand in the cage, then as someone already said you can invest in a small snake hook to get him out of the cage with and transfer him to your hands once he's out. Most snakes are much easier to handle once they're out of the cage.

[kitedemon]

I'd make sure he has had two or three meals with you before progressing. Personally I'd try a few things first. wear a scrap of cloth for a day or so and then place it inside the enclosure with him. It likely doesn't work but the idea being he will acclimatize to your scent. I would just touch his sides in the enclosure make no attempt to pick him up until he makes no major move when touched. It may take a week or a month. then pick him up and just sit with him like others have suggested. Patience is needed he needs to make the adjustment between threat to object.

[jason_ladouceur]

I would agree with the above statements. First thing is to let the snake settle in and be feeding regularly before any attempt to handle it. Once it's established I would just open the cage and pick it up gently but deliberately. Bp's are not very prone to biting and just because one hasn't been handled doesn't make it any more prone to that behavior than one that hasn't IMO. Snakes in general do not require nor do the enjoy interaction with people. They are solitary animals and in the wild only make contact with other animals for feeding, breeding and sharing hibernation dens. The rest of the time they are perfectly happy to be left alone.

[vangarret2000]

It's not a dog it's a snake. You don't dangle your hand in front of its face to let him smell you. That is just asking to get bit.

And a snake not being handled isn't a bad thing. They don't want to be handled, we just want to handle them. They tolerate it but would prefer if you didn't. If they were still getting proper care but not being handled regularly that's not neglect. The snake would prefer it that way.