Newbie handling question

[svmel]

Hi all, am new to this, so apologies if it's a stupid question!

Have a 2016 hatched girl who I purchased on 10th Jan this year. I estimate she's probably around 3 months old now (guessing, but she's definitely a late 2016 baby as opposed to a year old now). I can handle her fine, she's confident, relaxed etc. The only thing I've found is that she is so confident she doesn't pull back away from me, even if I want her to... ie, if I feel she's sizing me up when I go to do something in her house etc. I was advised that putting my hand up in front of her face and moving it towards her with purpose will encourage her to back off slightly.... it doesn't... it used to, but now she doesn't react at all.
It's not something I've had to do often, barely at all, so it's not like she's used to it, she just seems a bit too sure of herself!

Is there a way to help remind her to move away if needed? It's useful to be able to move her without touching her sometimes.... whilst I'm not scared, I don't fancy taking a bite just because she thinks she's in charge!

[Neal]

Hi all, am new to this, so apologies if it's a stupid question!

Have a 2016 hatched girl who I purchased on 10th Jan this year. I estimate she's probably around 3 months old now (guessing, but she's definitely a late 2016 baby as opposed to a year old now). I can handle her fine, she's confident, relaxed etc. The only thing I've found is that she is so confident she doesn't pull back away from me, even if I want her to... ie, if I feel she's sizing me up when I go to do something in her house etc. I was advised that putting my hand up in front of her face and moving it towards her with purpose will encourage her to back off slightly.... it doesn't... it used to, but now she doesn't react at all.
It's not something I've had to do often, barely at all, so it's not like she's used to it, she just seems a bit too sure of herself!

Is there a way to help remind her to move away if needed? It's useful to be able to move her without touching her sometimes.... whilst I'm not scared, I don't fancy taking a bite just because she thinks she's in charge!

A bite isn't going to hurt and I wouldn't worry about it until it happens if it even does happen. I'm not sure who advised you to do that, but yea that's not needed. If you need to go in there to do whatever, then do it. A ball python isn't assuming it's in charge. Whoever gave you the advice of putting your hand in front of her face and moving it towards her, be sure to never ask that person for advice again. You start putting your hand in a snakes face and moving it towards them like that and you'll surely take a bite.

Anyways, just do what you'll do. If your snake doesn't find you as a threat it won't bite.

[svmel]

Ah OK, thanks for the help. Have a lot to learn!

[Neal]

Ah OK, thanks for the help. Have a lot to learn!

Anytime.

While some may shy away like that, it's never a good idea. When one of my baby BPs were nippy, I would go from behind and tap it on the head. Each individual is different and you just don't want to start going at it in front of it's face. We're all here to help so remember to ask away, no question is stupid.

[CALM Pythons]

Well please don't ask that person for advice again hahaha however if you would like to get tagged put your hand in a snakes face and move it around lol. Sometimes its best to let the snake know your there by a slight touch. Alway go from behind and never in their face. Once they know Im there i can scoop them up.
It sounds to me like you have a well balanced snake. One of mine are defensive. He "S's" up on me as soon as the enclosure is opened. I then touch him with a snake hook so he knows its me and pick him up from behind with my other hand. If I put my hand in his face he will try & tag you.
My female would rather hide when you go into her enclosure so she's a bit timid and eaisier to just scoop up. Once you have her she is fine and stretches out exploring. So all have their own disposition kinda like peope.
Welcome to the site. Theres a lot of cool info on here and great people too. At the beginning of each Sub Topic there are Stickys. Read them as everything you would want to understand about your BP from Enclosures,Behavior,Heat,Sickness is there. Have fun

[TurkeyPython]

Hi all, am new to this, so apologies if it's a stupid question!

Have a 2016 hatched girl who I purchased on 10th Jan this year. I estimate she's probably around 3 months old now (guessing, but she's definitely a late 2016 baby as opposed to a year old now). I can handle her fine, she's confident, relaxed etc. The only thing I've found is that she is so confident she doesn't pull back away from me, even if I want her to... ie, if I feel she's sizing me up when I go to do something in her house etc. I was advised that putting my hand up in front of her face and moving it towards her with purpose will encourage her to back off slightly.... it doesn't... it used to, but now she doesn't react at all.
It's not something I've had to do often, barely at all, so it's not like she's used to it, she just seems a bit too sure of herself!

Is there a way to help remind her to move away if needed? It's useful to be able to move her without touching her sometimes.... whilst I'm not scared, I don't fancy taking a bite just because she thinks she's in charge!

Snakes don't size up their prey... like ever. They don't size up anything. Her "sizing up" behavior is climbing or exploring. That's literally all it is. Putting your hand in front of her will more likely get you bitten. She's not going to learn to not come near your face. She doesn't even realize what it is. To her you're just a warm thing to climb on that moves. If it used to work it's because it startled her, now she's used to it and realizes it's not going to attack her so she doesn't need to be scared. In fact, it's bad if she backs away because that means she's scared, which can make her bite. Unless she's got her neck in an S position and watching you intensely she's not going to even attempt to bite. If she gets up in your face or something you just pick her up and move her. That simple. No fancy training or behaviorist nonsense. And if you feel like she is going to bite, gently stroke her back with a stick to get her out of it or pick her up starting from the tail (do definitely support a lot more of her body as you pick her up though), and she will almost definitely come out of it

[predatorkeeper87]

my spider male is nippy if I go at him from above quickly, I'm talking he S's and keys in instantly. All I have to do is touch his back slightly and he's instantly calmed down again. If you want to feel how little a bite actually hurts go ahead and move your hand towards your snake's face lol.

[svmel]

Great replies and advice, thank you all, and yes I had a chuckle imagining myself getting bitten because of my own stupidity

I do always scoop them up from behind (one quickly became two) and they are both relaxed and happy to be held, despite the boy being here a shorter time than the girly.. I do tend to talk to them a lot (yup, I know, I've lost it!) and they know I'm there before I attempt to pick up, and I touch them gently on the back and stroke before I pick up.... At least I seem to have got one thing right!!

Thank you so much, am slowly trying to work my way round the site, there's such a wealth of info - it's brilliant!

[Neal]

Great replies and advice, thank you all, and yes I had a chuckle imagining myself getting bitten because of my own stupidity

I do always scoop them up from behind (one quickly became two) and they are both relaxed and happy to be held, despite the boy being here a shorter time than the girly.. I do tend to talk to them a lot (yup, I know, I've lost it!) and they know I'm there before I attempt to pick up, and I touch them gently on the back and stroke before I pick up.... At least I seem to have got one thing right!!

Thank you so much, am slowly trying to work my way round the site, there's such a wealth of info - it's brilliant!

You're welcome.

Also you haven't lost it. Now if you start hearing your snakes talk back, then you have. Funny story, I once dated this beautiful girl who was a model. Then one day she was telling me she was taking a bath and her dog was talking to her and she was able to understand what he was saying. I ended it a few days later.

[CALM Pythons]

You're welcome.

Also you haven't lost it. Now if you start hearing your snakes talk back, then you have. Funny story, I once dated this beautiful girl who was a model. Then one day she was telling me she was taking a bath and her dog was talking to her and she was able to understand what he was saying. I ended it a few days later.

LMBO