General Questions....

[VARA12]

Hi all,

So as you know if you've read my posts, I'm a new snake owner. Does anyone know signs that the snake is comfortable with you? When I hold him in my hand, he just lays in a ball but his neck is curled up like he's going to strike. I can pet his neck and he might move his head a little quickly but it doesn't look like he's going to strike. And when I put him on the couch he curls up behind my back. That's where he is now and he will just chill in my hoodie pocket, too. I'm sure there will be a time when he bites me because the majority of snakes bite their owners at some point, right? I'm just trying to figure out if he's comfortable in my hand or he's just on alert to possibly strike. Sorry if this sounds stupid to you all who have experience with snakes. Anyway, any advice would be helpful! Thanks!

[VARA12]

I guess this is just a dumb question since no one is responding.

[Adamrhh]

He will calm down and start to not ball up as much when he gets bigger.

[Viol8r]

They have to get to know you, like you will get to know them. It sounds like he is still a little tense. That should fade the more you two interact with each other.

[KMG]

My ball, big blood, and brb have never tagged me or even tried.

I believe a ball is comfortable when it relaxes and will just lay with you. Mine still will stay balled up for the first few minutes out until he starts to spread out and climb and wrap around my neck or arm.

[That_One_New_Guy]

My BP is pretty inquisitive but she is pretty shy for about the first 2 minutes of handling

[VARA12]

Yeah, he'll just lay in my hand in a ball. He even rests his head on my hand and I've heard (don't know if it's true) that they don't usually rest their heads on people. And he lets me rub under his head, like on his "chin." I think mostly he's on alert when my son and other pets are around. I usually handle him on the couch and tell the dogs to go away so they're not close to him but they are in the same room usually.

[Sauzo]

You know your snake is comfortable with you when the most you get out of them when you lift their hide and lift them up and try and retrieve a shed they are curled up under to check that the eyecaps came off ok is a tongue flick on your hand followed by them not moving This is my 6ft BCI girl. My pied bp girl doesn't really curl up anymore either. She just kind of sits half curled up on me. You will know when they are used to you. Getting in that tight 'S' with the neck is usually a sign they are questioning the situation. Its different than just a 'S' laying on the ground. You will figure it out after watching snakes long enough and getting either tagged by them or headbutted by them.

[VARA12]

When I life his hide he doesn't do anything and just lets me pick him up. And the S in his neck is usually him just laying his head on himself in his little ball. And earlier he was trying to slither into the couch cushions. Luckily the couch is covered so I pulled it up to get him out. I thought he was going to be pissed at me because at first I was trying to pull him out but once he was out and I was taking him to his tank, he was just looking around then began slithering up my arm like nothing happened. Does that sound like a good sign?

[KMG]

Balls are pretty easy going. Mine has only hissed at me and that was during a shed. Other than that she usually doesn't show any irritation with me at all and is just along for the ride.