Body Language

Sounds pretty silly but just hoping ppl can shed some light on a bp's body language.

I am hoping to get my first bp in two weeks but would just like to know what i am to look for in body language?

I own 4 cornsnakes and they are so easy to read as in i know if they want to be left alone. I would know if they where getting ready or wanted to strike.
With bp's (my brother has a young one) I find they are a lot slower but seem to s their neck up.
Sorry i just want to understand them so i will know if s/he is happy or needs to be left alone or when i am holding it i will now what to watch out for in case i get eaten lol
Hope you all know what im trying to get at as its hard to try and explain and i will love to just feel comfortable when caring and holding my new baby and be able to help my daughter get to now what bp's are like :)

Oh and im new here so hi everyone :)

:welcome: to bp.net.

what ive learned is that as long as their not hissing or striking at you then they arent too angry. theyll almots always "S" up their neck but as long as you go in with confidence and dont hesitate they somehow are able to sense it and are less prone to be agitated. but everything like that is always on a snake to snake basis so yours might not ever coil up or could spend all of its time with you coiled up. its really a learning experience with each snake. and im sure your snake will be happy with you so gl :gj:

With BPs I noticed that they tend to prefer sitting with a relaxed S in their neck. It's not always a threat stance with them. If they're just chilling with their neck kind of coiled, no worries. But if you see that they're following your movements attentively with that S, and that they have a lot of tension in their S coil, then I'd leave them alone.

Hi, Welcome to BP.net. I'm still new to this, and I agree that it's individual with each snake/owner. I have 6 now and they all are pretty different. I like when they are flicking their tongue a lot, IMO it means they are curious and they will usually just wander. If they go into a tight ball I assume I've frightened or startled them and will just move a little gentler. But I have noticed the S thing a lot too, at first I thought they were angry- but they all do it most of the time, and as long as they aren't following me around too closely, I don't worry. Hope I could help :)

When you feed your snake, watch how the tongue flicks..Then watch the tongue flick on a relaxed bp who's just curious. You can kind of see their excitement level(and it's saved me from bites when I saw his tongue flick and realized I didn't wash my hands after handling rodents)

When it comes to the stressed out "S", look more for the tension. You can FEEL it if you are holding the snake, they tighten their muscles, the the "S" is not relaxed--could even be lifted off the ground.

Thank you so much for your replies. I really can't wait to get one like a child at Xmas. But was just asking this just to be able to enjoy my new little one when I get her and this was.just one thing I couldn't find info on so thought it would be best to ask ppl who have them. The more I can understand them in this way the less of a chicken I will be haha. Feel free to keep posting as imo you can't learn enough.
Thanks to all replies :)

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Anybody else?? any videos of your bps? need to get as much of this info as possible only 5 days to go until i will possibly have my new little one :)

I am soo nervous but also soooo exited :)

I've noticed when my BPs are relaxed they usually move slow like they are just taking there time chillin. As opposed to feeding time they have a quick head movement left or right and fast tongue flick. If they don't want to be bothered they usually will be moving all the time like they are trying to get out of your hands or get away from you quickly. If they are ok with being held they just move around very nonchalante(sp?), kind of like they are saying, "oh hey, don't mind me I'm just checking things out." or they curl up in a ball and just sit on my lap. The hissing part doesn't bother me so much, I take them out anyway and then judge their actions afterwards. I think the more you handle them the more you'll get a feel for what is going on with them. Cody will actually sit stretched out in my lap and I fold the bottom part of my shirt over him to kind of hide him and if he doesn't want to be covered up he'll actually lift his head and neck and push my shirt away. He's a pretty cool dude.

Also, like others have said, if they are being very cautious they will tense up their muscles and have their head up a little ready to strike.

What about movement around them? I hear so many things about them with the heat pits and obviously i have warm hands moving round them when i will be holding it?

Sorry for silly questions just need to know everything as little and stupid as it may be :)

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Originally Posted by angelsue

What about movement around them? I hear so many things about them with the heat pits and obviously i have warm hands moving round them when i will be holding it?

Sorry for silly questions just need to know everything as little and stupid as it may be :)

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Well for me, if he is comfy and relaxed, movement doesn't bother him at all but, for example, when my pin is feeling a little angry or annoyed he watches every movement around him or balls up. Remember balls are usually head shy anyway but my pastel and normal don't have too much of a problem with me touching their head so they get pretty relaxed