New Ball Seems Very Skittish

[Gary P]

Brand new to ball python owning. And so far these forums have been very very very helpful. But I feel like I need ask this.

First feeding went well, and he seems comfortable in his habitat. I feel like it is set up very well. Cold side is 75-80 humidity fluctuates between 53 and 65, hot side is 85-90. He has a very nice cold side hide and a hot one. His water bowl is large and shallow and easy to grip on to when he is crawling on it.

I haven't bothered him for 5 days. I fed him a day and a half ago for the first time and it went well. It was a live feed (frozen mice in my area were recalled) and he did well with a clean strike and quick kill. I decided to hold him tonight to see how he would do. (this is where I need advice primarily) He didn't seem to like being touched, he would tense up and move into a tighter ball. I picked him up anyway and held him. I was very gentle and let him do what he wanted. He slithered out of my hands and went into my chair and was sticking his nose in the corners of my chair looking for a place to hide . Seems to be scared or nervous and just wants nothing to do with human contact. Is this how they generally are when young? (he is very young).


Side info: He comes out every night. And I see him multiple times during the day drinking water/changing hides/very occasionally looking for an escape route. He gets very still if you get too close to his habitat when he is out and about.

[Skittles1101]

Young balls are generally like that, I don't read anything abnormal there at all. Some grow out of it, some remain skittish. It just depends on the ball I guess.

[sho220]

Young balls are generally like that, I don't read anything abnormal there at all. Some grow out of it, some remain skittish. It just depends on the ball I guess.

x2...the youngn's can be pretty jumpy...

[Eric Alan]

Seems to be scared or nervous and just wants nothing to do with human contact.

It seems to have served them well for the last ~200,000 years. Why fix what isn't broken?

In all seriousness, you're doing a good job as a new snake parent and everything sounds very normal. Keep your eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary and ask questions when something comes up. In the beginning, it all seems out of the ordinary, so don't be afraid to ask lots of questions.

[Mr Oni]

its how they do

[Eric Alan]

I did forget to add one piece of advice. Often times it is recommended to hold off on handling them until they've eaten a few times consecutively - meaning without refusing a meal - in your care. For my own new additions, as difficult as it is with the "shiny new toy", I use the rule of 3 before I take them out. This way, I can take myself out of the stress equation and make more informed care decisions early on.