"Look but don't touch" animals?

[wolftrap]

I am curious about something I've read on the forum in a few different threads. When discussing overly aggressive or defensive animals, some people say that even though they've worked with their animals their snake has become a "look but don't touch" sort of pet, where they limit handling because the animal is clearly not cut out for human interaction. However, others say that if you work with an animal enough at a patient, respectful speed, all animals can become pets that you can eventually handle.


I ask because my female BP isn't a defensive animal, but she definitely flees whenever I approach for handling/water changes/enclosure maintenance. I understand that I'm terrifying to such a small noodle, and it doesn't help that I have a top-opening enclosure that I'm sure makes me seem like a bird swooping in for the kill. I open the lid as gently as possible, and I make sure that I tap gently on her hide or stroke her mid-section a few times to alert her to my presence before I attempt to pick her up. She has had three successful meals from me, and it's been 48 hrs from her last meal before I attempted to handle her. Heat gradient is 82 -> 90, humidity is at 70-80% (because it's rainy in TX), dry aspen substrate in a 10 gallon enclosure, two similar sized hides on each end, plenty of clean water.

All of this to say, should I pursue her when she flees from my hand, or should I allow her to hide? What's the chance of my BP being a "look but don't touch" kinda girl? I also totally don't mind not handling her, I just want to make sure giving her space isn't going to be detrimental to her disposition as an adult.

Thanks in advance!

[bcr229]

It is normal for babies to be defensive, and it can take several months for them to chill out. With a snake that small I would just reach in and scoop her up from behind.

Defensive adults, WC critters, species that stress easily like sunbeam snakes, or species like the yellow anacondas or tree pythons that are known for being flighty all their lives are more likely to be your "look but don't touch" critters.

[EL-Ziggy]

I think most snakes will eventually mellow out with time and patience. Once she gets a a little bigger and has a few more meals in her she'll most likely settle down pretty quickly. A few of my snakes were defensive as babies but they all grew out of it within a few weeks or months. Keep at it with short, gentle, confident handling sessions and you should see a change in her temperament.

[BallPythonWannaBe]

My ball python hatchling was somewhat skittish at first but (after letting him settle in) he calmed down with regular handling. I also have a top opening enclosure.

[Bogertophis]

Patience...it takes time for snakes to learn their world...what's to eat, what's gonna eat them, & where to hide when doing neither.

It also matters HOW you touch a snake: I never hold them behind the head to prevent a bite...that's like putting a choke-hold on your next-door neighbor &
then being surprised when they take a swing at you. Keep your hands low & slow...gently stay under the snake at first...don't hold tightly & avoid touching
their trigger points (neck & tail). Mid-body touch is a lot friendlier...like another snake might do. Snakes are more sensitive to touch than you might think,
even those with thick or keeled scales.

[wolftrap]

It is normal for babies to be defensive, and it can take several months for them to chill out. With a snake that small I would just reach in and scoop her up from behind.

Defensive adults, WC critters, species that stress easily like sunbeam snakes, or species like the yellow anacondas or tree pythons that are known for being flighty all their lives are more likely to be your "look but don't touch" critters.

thank you for your answer!

- - - Updated - - -

I think most snakes will eventually mellow out with time and patience. Once she gets a a little bigger and has a few more meals in her she'll most likely settle down pretty quickly. A few of my snakes were defensive as babies but they all grew out of it within a few weeks or months. Keep at it with short, gentle, confident handling sessions and you should see a change in her temperament.

Will do, thank you!

[wolftrap]

Patience...it takes time for snakes to learn their world...what's to eat, what's gonna eat them, & where to hide when doing neither.

It also matters HOW you touch a snake: I never hold them behind the head to prevent a bite...that's like putting a choke-hold on your next-door neighbor &
then being surprised when they take a swing at you. Keep your hands low & slow...gently stay under the snake at first...don't hold tightly & avoid touching
their trigger points (neck & tail). Mid-body touch is a lot friendlier...like another snake might do. Snakes are more sensitive to touch than you might think,
even those with thick or keeled scales.

I never touch or hold her aggressively; I pet gently with the "grain" of her scales and I make sure that she sees me coming. She just has the tendency to speed away and hole up when I attempt to lift her, and I don't want to just pry her out of her space. Thanks for answering!

[FayeGrimm]

To echo the sentiment of the rest, patience will be the key here more than likely. We got a '17 hatchling this Spring who'd barely been handled and she was extremely flighty and nervous to begin with. She'd tense up as tight as she could when we'd hold her and struck out on a few occasions when we would clean her tub. Fast forward to now and she is much more comfortable with us and being held. She still gets a little nervous when you first are opening up her enclosure, but once she is out and realizes what's going on she relaxes and will hang out with you.

From what you said, it sounds like you've got all the right ideas, so just keep at it and I'm sure you'll start to build that trust over time.

[redshepherd]

Ball pythons are almost never strictly a look but don't touch animal. Yours isn't even defensive or biting- fleeing and hiding is definitely normal behavior for a hatchling. If she flees into a hide, just lift the hide and pick her out to gently work with a few minutes a day (assuming she is a good eater). And over time, she'll be a chill adult as well.

As for other species of snakes, there are definitely snakes that are never comfortable with handling, or they are very hard to work with to tame if they have a strong tendency to bite all the time, always get very stressed out, etc so it makes it not worth the effort anyway and is hard on the snake. Not all animals can become pets that you can eventually handle.

[Dianne]

As everyone else has mentioned, time and gentle handling will prevail. Babies particularly can be flighty...imagine a huge hand lifting the roof and scooping you out of your living room.

You also mentioned a ten gallon enclosure. If this is a glass tank, she could be over-stimulated with movement in the room. If her enclosure is glass, you may want to temporarily cover three sides to give her more privacy.