Aftershock of first bite

So let me preface this with I'm new to snakes. So this is for anybody else who is as well. My ball is the first I've owned and also the first snake I've handled outside of class trips when I was a kid and whatnot. So yesterday, when Quentin took a shot at me for the first time and tagged my hand, it honestly left me a bit gun-shy. I took him out last night about 5 hours after the bite, and held him for about ten minutes. It took me a minute or two to calm myself enough to get him out of his cage. I lifted his hide and there he was, just looking at me, backed up against the wall so there was no way to come at him where he couldn't strike if he felt like it. I knew then that it didn't hurt, it's 99.9% the surprise factor that really gets you. After a minute or two of staring each other down I reached in and scooped him up. He stayed coiled for about 2 minutes in my palm, at which point he loosened up enough to wrap around my hand. Held him for a bit, then put him back, still just a little nervous about him. Not once he was loosened up so much, but picking him up, and holding him coiled in an S.

Well tonight I got off work and nobody was home and I thought to hell with it. I can't be nervous around my snake. I needed to get past that so we can come to some sort of mutual trust between us. So I went in and picked him up right away with the intention of handling him for at least an hour, unless he clearly didn't want to be. We ended up sitting around watching tv for two and a half hours, and it was wonderful. He stayed wrapped around my hand for a while with his head on my thumb, climbed up my necklace to my shoulders, down my arm and over my lap, all the while as calm and docile as I've ever seen him. It did wonders for restoring my confidence and trust in him, and alleviated all my irrational hesitations.

So, sorry to be so long winded. In closing, new bp owners, if you get nipped, or struck at, get back on that horse! You've got to trust your snake and let him/her trust you. Don't be afraid and don't let it stop you from having a fantastic time enjoying your very own majestic little creature. They truly are something else.

P.S. Just added a pic of Quentin climbing my necklace. Can't figure out how to embed them in posts.

Six

Yeah it's the startle factor that's worse than the bite, to post pics, upload thru photobucket, then copy & paste the img code.

Good work getting over your fears. It's a learning phase for sure.

The surprise is always more powerful than the bite :) Most of the time they are bluffing anyway. My cinnamon is evil and she basically bumps you. She's never laid an actual tooth on me... yet. Way to get back on the horse :D

Regards,

B

If your trying to socialize your ball python and it bits you, as long as it it doesn't break skin where you gotta clean blood and a wound you shouldn't put it back.

my baby, who I have been bit by at around 8 times, will be put back in her cage, or I will walk by her cage, or open it up, and she will strike. so I would pick her up. if I just put her back in her cage and struck at me I would pick her back up for a few minutes then put her back until I put her back in and she doesn't strike. If they strike and you keep putting them back in there cage, then that lets them know that is the way for them to get what they want.

Thanks for the info advice and encouragement guys. Since he struck at me the other day he hasn't shown the slightest signs of hostility. He's actually been more calm and sociable over the last few days. I think he's getting comfortable being here in a new house, being handled by new people. It feels like the more calm and relaxed I am with him, he responds in kind. Lots of stretching out, tongue flicking, exploring, all behavior I've been told is a sign of a relaxed snake. Good stuff. We've got a positive vibe going between us right now.