Getting used to a Ball Python, need tips.

[guywithaballpython]

I have had my BP for a couple weeks now and I wanted to know a couple things. When I go to pet/stroke a ball python, will he immediatly bite me if I anger him or will he warn me before biting? I want to start handling him but want him to get used to me by my touch.

What are some reasons a Ball Python may bite so I can prevent that, too?

[dakski]

I have had my BP for a couple weeks now and I wanted to know a couple things. When I go to pet/stroke a ball python, will he immediatly bite me if I anger him or will he warn me before biting? I want to start handling him but want him to get used to me by my touch.

What are some reasons a Ball Python may bite so I can prevent that, too?

Snakes bite for two reasons: They are scared - defensive bite. They are hungry - Food bite.

Keep him from being afraid and scared and don't have him confuse you with food and he won't bite you.

A few things here.

Regarding food, get in a routine for feeding him. Feed him at night (when he hunts naturally) and with lights dimmed. Do not touch him, pick him up, stroke him, etc. before feeding. Just offer the food.

Handle with the lights on, and gently touch him with an object other than your hand (like a snake hook, a paper towel roll insert, etc - see link below on hook training) and then scoop him up. When you hold him, support him fully so he doesn't' feel scared, and hold him gently, but firmly. Don't squeeze him or restrict him, etc.

No, a snake will not always warn you before biting. However, as you get used to him, you will be able to read his body language better. If he's little, he will also likely grow out of defensive biting.

For what it's worth, I hook trained (again see below) my boas and my carpet python. I didn't bother with Shayna (my BP) or my corn snakes. The latter can't really do any damage and don't bite first and ask questions later like boas can (crazy food drive) and carpet pythons can (again - food drive). In Shayna's case, she's somewhere in between in terms of food drive, but I've been okay with touching her with my hand first or scooping her up quickly. Harder to do that with a bigger snake (like a boa).

Hook training can be very effective as it allows your snake to know you are going to pick them up, not feed, and if you do startle him, and he does bite, he'll bite something other than you hand.

I wouldn't really worry about getting bitten so much. It's more shock than pain. Also, BP's grow out of defensive strikes pretty quick and 99% of the time. As you gain comfort with your new buddy, he will gain comfort with you too. Your touch, smell, movements, etc. I will note that Shayna, who has never struck at me, does get startled easily. She will be totally cool and then bump her head into my arm and coil back scared. This gets better over time (usually) but it's kind of a BP thing. They scare themselves. Don't let this behavior scare you. It does not mean he's going to bite you.

I've kept reptiles for close to 30 years and have had two bites from snakes (I've kept corns, BP's, Carpet Pythons, Boas, and more snake wise as well as a multitude of lizards). A young BP who I scared literally slipping and slamming my hand down in his tank (I was 10 years old and even then the defensive bite didn't phase me). A bite from Behira, my female Boa (BI) who is now 5 1/2 FT + and over 5 pounds. At the time she was about a pound. She drew blood, but I didn't really feel it. It was more shock than pain by far. I've since hook trained her and there have no issues at all. She's a sweetie once she knows food isn't coming and I trust her implicitly. Remember, once they know food isn't coming, they only will bite from fear. Big snakes know they are big and don't get scared and defensive as easily.

Finally, don't over-handle your BP, or any reptile. Keep handling sessions short and sweet, especially until you can read his body language better.

Behira, my female BI will happily spend an hour outside her tank and hanging on me. She will watch TV and fall asleep in my lap and around my shoulders, etc. She doesn't seem to stress much at all. Because of temps and the number of animals I keep (time constraint), I do not keep her out for this long often. However, I wanted to point out that different species and individual animals are different. Shayna, my BP, gets antsy after about 10 minutes being out. She tell me with her body language that she wants to go back and be in a nice warm and dark hide. That's her.

Sorry for the long response. but I hope this helps. The link to the hook training thread and video is below.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ead-with-Video

[nikkubus]

Agree with what was said above.

I've been keeping them for 26 years and have never been bitten by an adult. Hatchling and juvenile bites do not hurt at all from a BP, their teeth are so tiny and sharp. Almost always, a BP's first choice is going to be to hide their head vs strike at you even if they are afraid. It's getting confused that you are food that is the more likely scenario to get a BP bite, which is easy to prevent by conditioning them.

[Zincubus]

I put this response in a similar thread just yesterday ...

Royals are the Golden Labradors of the snake world .. they will only normally bite if they’re scared or anxious ( like when you moved if into it’s new hone ) .

If it’s been settled for a while and feeding great then I’m certain it will be fine to handle . Just leave 36/48 hours for a meal to digest each time .

If you’re initially ( understandably) nervous then either get a cheap 4 dollar snake hook off eBay ..

You really don’t need a hook for a Royal / Ball python but you can use it to just keep it’s head / teeth away from you


Either wait until it’s roaming or lift the hide off it then guide the head gently away from you then get hold of it about five inches down from it’s head then you can put the hook down and use your other hand to lift the lower part it’s body up .

Once it’s in your hands it’s best to quickly sit down on a sofa or even the floor .. that way you can let it kinda explore around you safely whilst always keeping at least one hand on it .

They have to feel safe so you can’t have them dangling down when you’re holding them .. if they feel uncertain they will jerk around .


Be careful , watch their heads .. not for biting but they will quickly go down the side of the sofa or a radiator or whatever is close by .



Note when you’re feeding a snake there’s always the chance they will strike and bite you instead of the rodent but I put those down as your errors - not snake bites .
They are just attracted by your body heat which is why partly why I use a hairdryer to warm the mouse /rat up well before offering.



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[Bogertophis]

I have had my BP for a couple weeks now and I wanted to know a couple things. When I go to pet/stroke a ball python, will he immediatly bite me if I anger him or will he warn me before biting? I want to start handling him but want him to get used to me by my touch.

What are some reasons a Ball Python may bite so I can prevent that, too?

I agree with the above posts & will add just a few thoughts- I've kept many snakes (+ bred some, + took in some rescues) for well over 3 decades, & while I've had some nips over the years, none were "memorable". Quick minor ouches, like brushing against a holly bush or bumping into a few open safety pins. Other kinds of pets do WAY bigger "ouches"- snake bites just tend to startle us.

Snakes don't fancy having their head touched, nor their tail tips- so touch them reassuringly on their body, & don't do sudden moves. Despite being covered in scales, they FEEL how you touch them, so "tell" them (with your touch) that you're a friend & mean no harm. Cuddle them so they feel sheltered- remember they feel safer when hiding. Be patient, not pushy. Don't rush them!

"Anger" isn't really something a snake feels, IMO. Self-defense (fear) or hunger, sure...but vindictive snakes aren't a "thing", especially not for BPs & other commonly kept pet species. If you accidentally bump them, they don't appear to take it personal or assume bad motives, but try to forget about YOU when you handle them, & instead, focus on helping a snake to feel SAFE with you.

Empathize & treat a snake by the "golden rule": imagine you're a snake, how would you want a giant creature to approach or handle you?

You want to avoid startling them, so remember they do NOT identify you visually & may not remember you, especially at first. They're most likely to bite when you first approach them because we're big & scary to them (in their mind, we're a potential predator!) , so it's important to remember to identify* yourself to them every time. *Snakes have a good sense of both scent & touch, & BPs also have heat-sensing pits (some other snakes do too) but that only narrows it down to either "giant predator" or "warm-blooded prey", so think about "conversing" with your snake with your touch & your scent.

Some will tell you to keep handling sessions short, & some, like me, will say to spend more time (a longer 'session' but less often- doesn't need to be daily) for your snake to learn to relax with you. It's really up to you- try to read your snake's body language & do what works best for both of you. The reason short quick sessions may not work well in the long-run is because snakes feel most threatened by us when we first approach, & to a lesser extent, when we put them back (suddenly losing their sense of security), so IMO, it's the time in between those 2 "events" when your snake actually learns to relax & feel safe with you.

Personally, I'd suggest a comfy chair & a watch a movie for a bit while you calmly hold your snake. Sit down & relax, so they can relax too...just don't let them dive into any chair or couch cushions because they might manage to find their way into a hole & will never "come" when called. So "relax" but don't be oblivious to anything they might go into that could pose a risk. Snakes have trouble backing out of tight holes due to the directional lay of their scales- so if it's something solid stuck on their mid-body, it's dangerous & difficult to remove, so pay attention & prevent that. Because they have no hands or feet, snakes love & need traction- that's why they'll crawl into things- to pull themselves forward using that for leverage. When you handle your snake, use your hands to gently guide him, without sticking your hands right in his face, but rather by holding underneath his body. This will become "second nature" to you most likely.

And don't forget, you're expecting your snake to trust you, but it's a 2-way street- you need to learn to trust him too. Nearly all bites are preventable, so learn his body language.

[Zincubus]

That’s what I do .. as above ... sit down and watch telly with a Royal on my lap ..
they may spend a few minutes trying to get away from you but keep bringing it back to your lap and generally after a few minutes they will curl up on you and relax


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[guywithaballpython]

I've touched him a couple times, both times he didn't show any aggression but instead hid his head, and when he did I left him alone. I am more scared about the shock of being bit than the pain, as itll scare the heck outta me.

[jmcrook]

It's a ball python, not a bear. Just pick the animal up with confidence. When you act like you're going to get bit, you're much more likely to get bit.

[Zincubus]

I've touched him a couple times, both times he didn't show any aggression but instead hid his head, and when he did I left him alone. I am more scared about the shock of being bit than the pain, as itll scare the heck outta me.

You will be fine ... once they’ve had that settling in time they just do not bite for the sake of it .. even those nips at feeding time IF you are careless or complacent only feel like a prick off a rose bush


Just follow the method I mentioned above .. I’m probably the biggest woos around

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[BeansTheDerp]

It's a ball python, not a bear. Just pick the animal up with confidence. When you act like you're going to get bit, you're much more likely to get bit.

I agree, I just got my ball python two days ago as an early birthday present and if you pick him up with confidence, as I had to do so to get him into the terrarium, you should be fine, if you act slow and scared he might see you as a big huge meal, or something that wants to make HIM into a meal. my snek's name is Beans by the way