Ball Python flinching a lot/is jumpy

[tylerrfernandez]

I apologize if this is in the wrong forum, I'm new to the site.
Whenever handling my ball python she flinches at most movements and whenever I pick her up to adjust her. I never go directly for her or go near her head. Always from behind while making sure she sees my hand.
I've had her for about a month and a half.
She doesn't have any problems eating. She has hides on the cool and warm sides of her tank. Her temperatures are good, only a few degrees cold from the recent weather.
The only thing I can think of is that her tank is too big for her size. It's a 30 gallon tank and she's 22 inches long.
The only reason I'm asking is because I have a friend who's had her bp for the same amount of time but hers doesn't flinch at all, no matter who handles her.
Any help is appreciated.

[zina10]

Just like with people, snakes can have different temperaments and personalities.

Most of my Ball Pythons always were and still are quite calm. But there are some that are more "jumpy". Most are head shy, but not all of them. I used to have 2 normals who didn't even flinched if you held their heads, I used to kiss one on top of the head and she couldn't care less.

Some only jump if you make quick movements, but some are VERY nervous. My littlest one is like that. She is just now starting to calm down some, but she is far more jumpy and shy then the others.

Could always be worse, because there are the ones that are downright aggressive and some stay that way.

Most do calm down with age and regular handling. I've found that the jumpy, defensive ones do better with shorter handling sessions. Keep it short and sweet and put them up before they get to freaked out. Over time you can lengthen the handling time.
Also, be deliberate in your movements. Not overly cautious and sneaky. Calm but deliberate. They will jump and flinch, but that will lessen as they learn nothing bad happens. Patience...you can have your snake for 30 years if nothing goes wrong, so having it take a bit longer to get them comfortable with you is not such a terrible thing in the big picture

[tylerrfernandez]

Okay thank you!

[cletus]

What Zina said. It just differs from animal to animal. I have one that is twitchy and one that acts like she is stoned all the time. You can hold her all you want, touch her head. whatever. The other one will tolerate holding but clearly likes to be alone. Both are healthy thriving animals.

[CALM Pythons]

I have a 4 month old that is as calm as a lap Dog and a 7 month old that strikes (away from me) as I hold him hahahaha. Im glad he strikes out into the air instead of my hand but it makes for a unpredictable nervous lil snake. When I get him crawling around my hands he is fine but the first shadow, movement or person thats walks bye while you have him out its back to square one...
Just as "Zina10" said, they are like people, some funnier than others hahahahaha

[DennisM]

I wouldn't worry about this. some are more nervous as youngsters than others.

and yes, unless very crowded with stuff, this is way too big an enclosure than needed. i'd be keeping this snake in a 16 qt tub.

[cchardwick]

When I open a tub and I'm getting ready to grab a snake the first thing I do is move pretty slow and with one hand just touch him in the middle of the snake and hold my hand there for about 5 seconds and look them in the eye. Seems to calm them and let them know that it's handling time. If I just reach in and grab one he can get pretty jumpy. And if I open a tub and touch a snake and he 'bucks' me I don't attempt to handle them that day. That usually happens when they are coiled up and in a 'sleep' mode, usually around shed time. I also found that if I handle a snake that tries to buck me that snake can get super defensive and aggressive, and that attitude can stick with them for a long time, like you don't respect his space and he tends to get an attitude toward you. Doesn't matter if it's cleaning or feeding day, if a snake bucks you leave him well enough alone. It's all about reading the snake, usually it comes from trial and error LOL.