Proper Handling

Hey guys!

I bought a new ball python about a week ago. She is doing well in her new terrarium and fed without a problem on Saturday :gj:. I waited a few days after feeding to let her digest.
I took her out today and she was a little nervous and head shy and seemed to be breathing a little hard. I only kept her out for 5 minutes just so she could get used to the idea of being handled.

Any tips on proper handling and things to get her used to being around people?
(She was previously in a petstore so wasn't handled much except feeding I assume)

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Originally Posted by neondreams

Hey guys!

I bought a new ball python about a week ago. She is doing well in her new terrarium and fed without a problem on Saturday :gj:. I waited a few days after feeding to let her digest.
I took her out today and she was a little nervous and head shy and seemed to be breathing a little hard. I only kept her out for 5 minutes just so she could get used to the idea of being handled.

Any tips on proper handling and things to get her used to being around people?
(She was previously in a petstore so wasn't handled much except feeding I assume)

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Since its been a week since you've had her. I assume you gave her time to settle in her new enclosure. When you first get a new snake always leave them alone in the enclosure for a week. After that you can handle them whenever you want to. The more you handle her the more she will not be scared. Don't make sudden movements when holding her also. Hope this helps a little.

I did give her time to settle in and the last time I handled her was Saturday when I moved her to a separate enclosure to feed her. I handled her again today and like I mentioned above she was a little nervous.

Shes going to be nervous at first especially is she came from a pet store. In the Pet store she probably wasn't handled very much and there is a chance someone handled her that didn't know how and who knows what could have happened. My advice to you is start small. Handle her only for a couple minutes at a time and then give her some time to her self. You can slowly start holding her more and more. The big this is to make sure you don't make any sudden moves like mjmendoza said. If you do those things she will get use to being handled in not time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by neondreams

I did give her time to settle in and the last time I handled her was Saturday when I moved her to a separate enclosure to feed her. I handled her again today and like I mentioned above she was a little nervous.

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It isn't necessary to move her to an alternate enclosure for feeding. Some people do, some don't, but it isn't necessary. I leave all of mine in their tubs :)