How do I do this ?!?!?! Help

Okay so Im new to the hobby as far as snakes go.

So I got my 6 month old Spider Ball Python from a reputable breeder in my area. The snake was kept in a rack system for its whole life until it was brought to my care .....So basically I got the snake on sunday afternoon I held him for alittle and then put him in his enclosure and left him be ,Monday afternoon I fed him a rat and he took it no problem I have waiting 2 days for him to digest wich he did as I saw his feces in the tank this morning so Im slowly trying to introduce him to handling But here is where i Need help ...so I basically went into the enclosure to get him (got Bit) ...Slowly was just touching him and he was all coiled up ....took my hand out of the tank went in again (got Bit) ....This time I just stayed in there and pet him on his back so he would calm down and maybe relax alittle bit ....but nope started hissing so I left him be ....Come back a few hours later stick my hand into the enclosure boom got bit again .......Im not really interested in making my hand look like a raw steak lol.....So maybe someone can give me some pointers on how to tame or handle him in a certain way that will make him feel comfortable ?

Thanks for reading and hope I can get some help while I go wash off my bloody hand:)

First off this is a great hobby. But it does take some time and persistence.

Secondly, you need to give your BP more time to become comfortable in his new home. A full week at the least. A move can be stressful for a snake, just as it is for us. This can cause stress. Which in my opinion is the cause of the problem your having. He obviously doesn't want any attention... Don't give it to him.

Just let him be for a week. I know its hard to not hold a new snake, but it's what is best for the snake.

~ DZ

I'm new at this as well so I can only go by what I have read, and what I would do in that situation. But I would see is he's in shed/ just give him some space for a few days. I did read if trying to pick him up from the side is better then straight in front. Also while stroking him make sure yougo with the scales and not against them ;)


Hope my little knowledge might help.

just reach in and grab him down by the tail once hes out of the tank he should calm down. most likely hes just not used to being handled

Its best to not feed, handle, or touch your new bp for at least one week. Like it was said before, he's stressed out from the move. So basically, don't handle or touch him for a week. The only time you should go in his enclosure the first week is to spot clean or change water.

i would not start handeling untill he has ate 2 times in a row for you...after that just reach in slowly(fast movements will scare them) dont go twords his face that can also spook a young snake...just touch him mid body once and pick him up...once he is out he should not be that agressive...if he hisses at you pick him up anyway if not he will think if he hisses you will go away and therefore do it more

I also wouldn't handle him till he has eaten a few times for you. They do need time to adjust, especially after a big change -rack to tank. After he has eaten a few times you can hold him all you want-just make sure he stays warm.

One thing I will say is that spiders have a neurological disorder attached to the spider gene. It's almost never something that you have to worry about, but it's definitely something you should be aware of. My spider has a faint wobble when he's ready to strike -that's the disorder attached to the spider gene, they all wobble no matter what someone tells you- but he is pretty nutty. When he was younger he wasn't too bad, but now that he's older he really likes to strike at me. He doesn't even give me a warning, just goes for it. One thing I do is grab a paper towel or just use my finger and gently touch him on the head. That usually snaps him out of his crazy world long enough for me to pick him up without getting bit. I also tell him that he belongs in the loony bin and he might end up there one day :rolleye2: Not sure if it helps though :rofl:

All sounds about right I think I'm just too excited and moving too quick with the handling and all I think I will leave him be until he has ate and digested a second time for me then I will slowly start handling ....As far as spiders I have heard the wobble issue and all the one I got shows no signs of it when he is just cruising around but he defiantly showed a minor sign of it when he ate for me the other day and when he bit me today lol ...But other than that I havent heard anything about spiders being any different from another ball python in terms of biting and aggressiveness but I am new so maybe Im wrong just thought other than the colour and patterns and wobble issue in there genetic trait nothing was different from another ball .

Im going to let him be until he eats and digests again and see what happens from there !

Ok.. Congrats on the little guy first off. Secondly, don't just reach in and "pet" him. This is just going to annoy him. You are messing with him inside his den.. You need to just reach in and quickly scoop him up. Do not go in towards his face. Scoop from behind his head near the end of his body. If he follows your hand when you reach in then cover his head with a small towel or something, then scoop.

Let his home be where he feels safe. If he thinks something is just going to keep reaching in and touching him, he may go off feed.

Snakes are not the kind of animal you pet like a dog or cat. Once you have him out, just let him crawl through your hands. If he keeps tracking your movements then just be sure to keep moving your hands under him and turn him so his head is pointing away from you.

This is normal for a young BP. With handling he will stop nipping at you. Once you know how to pick him up and handle him, you won't get bit even if he is still nervous about it.

Definitely do not want to go in and pet them in their enclosure, that's guaranteed to piss off some snakes :P

It takes some time for some of them to adjust.