Pooping Problems: potty training snakes (question mark)

[SomeTallGuy]

I've had my ball python for a month and a half now and she's about 4 months old. Since I got her, she has defecated only twice IN her cage and 5 times OUTSIDE of her cage. I don't know why she does it, but it's as if she waits until I take her out of her cage for her to do her business. I take her out of her cage for about an hour every day except the day after feeding.
Is there any way I can "train" her to not defecate outside of her cage? Or maybe is there anything I can do to prevent it happening? Is her being a baby have anything to do with it? Thanks in advance for any advice or helpful replies!

[Stormy]

I've had my ball python for a month and a half now and she's about 4 months old. Since I got her, she has defecated only twice IN her cage and 5 times OUTSIDE of her cage. I don't know why she does it, but it's as if she waits until I take her out of her cage for her to do her business. I take her out of her cage for about an hour every day except the day after feeding.
Is there any way I can "train" her to not defecate outside of her cage? Or maybe is there anything I can do to prevent it happening? Is her being a baby have anything to do with it? Thanks in advance for any advice or helpful replies!

Are you serious? Potty train a snake??

[SomeTallGuy]

I guess you didn't read what I put. "Thanks in advance for any advice or helpful replies!"
Animals with the ability to remember and learn can be "trained" via conditioning. To what extent and with what methods a snake can be conditioned, I am unsure. I also asked for ways to prevent defecation outside of her cage, which doesn't have anything to do with training the snake. I don't know why you would reply if you don't have anything helpful to add.

[Lizardlicks]

Not going to happen. They don't have that kind of brain capacity to be "trained" in that manner, and there isn't anyway to prevent them from answering the call of nature when it happens. Best you can do is A) check for sausage butt before you get them out (that time before a big poop when they get real fat in the tail behind the vent) B) make sure they aren't pooping/peeing on you as a defense behavior (common for most snake species to evacuate if they are startled/feel threatened) and C) accept the fact that even then you might get pooped/peed on. Want something you can handle with out that risk, get a cat or dog and potty train it.

[redshepherd]

Unfortunately, ball pythons aren't an animal that can be trained to do that.

The reason why she tends to defecate outside of the cage is due to handling and movement (and stress or fear) aiding her digestive tract. It is known that handling helps with defecation. For example when a green tree python hasn't pooped in awhile and there's a noticeable bulge/sausage butt above the vent, it's usually recommended to increase humidity and take them out for handling.

If you notice a bulge above the vent, wait a few days for her to defecate before taking her out. Handling one hour a day is also a little excessive, which is why it ups your chance of it happening!

[Craiga 01453]

Yeah, there's no way of controlling when or where snakes "go to the bathroom". My BP has pooped in my sweatshirt twice, one in the hood and one in the pocket (same sweatshirt). They just go when/where they want.
There is absolutely nothing you can do to "train" a snake in any way.
The best you can do to avoid this, is look for the "sausage butt" like stated above.

And also, like stated above, you are almost definitely over handling your snake. An hour a day is way too much for a snake you've only had for 6 weeks or so. Let your snake get more comfortable in her new home for a while, limit your handling sessions and make sure your husbandry is on point. The stress of so much handling may be a factor in the pooping situation.

And it is worth mentioning: are you absolutely sure she isn't "musking" or evacuating in a defensive way due to stress or fear? It is a common defense technique snakes use. Can you safely rule this out?

[EDR]

Yeah i hate to tell you but if you don't want him pooping on you as much your gonna need to handle him less.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Take it out AFTER it poops.
You cannot potty train.
Most likely its the unsecure feeling of you handling that is making it go.

[Stormy]

I guess you didn't read what I put. "Thanks in advance for any advice or helpful replies!"
Animals with the ability to remember and learn can be "trained" via conditioning. To what extent and with what methods a snake can be conditioned, I am unsure. I also asked for ways to prevent defecation outside of her cage, which doesn't have anything to do with training the snake. I don't know why you would reply if you don't have anything helpful to add.

I replied because this is a public message board and that's my opinion. Learn about the animal you have and its capacity for learning/being trained.

Want helpful advice? Quit handling it so much as others have stated, this could be causing stress which may be one reason it's going outside its cage so much, could also be a defensive tactic to get you to put it down.

And watch for the sausage butt!!

[SomeTallGuy]

I guess I should have clarified, I don't handle her for an hour a day. I'm only holding her for maybe 5-10 minutes out of the hour I have her out of her cage. I let her roam around the couch and the floor for an hour as I'm watching TV or YouTube (keeping an eye on her, of course). And she's never pooped on me before or pooped while being held, she always pooped on the couch or the floor about 30 - 45 minutes after being let loose. She really seemed to enjoy "exploring" while out of her cage, but I guess I'll limit her time out of the cage from now on. Thanks for all the helpful replies!