Handling advice (newby)

Hi,

I'm a little new to ball python ownership so am after a little advice,

I've had him for just over week, (he's about a year old), he seemed to settle in quite well didn't appear to be to stressed, anyhow, have left him for the first Week with no handling, and the fed him on Friday, Wich he took fine (f/t), anyway this evening is 48 hours from feeding time so I am keen to get a small amount handling in, he is led on top of his hide sort Of "squished" between the hide and the back side of the tank, with his neck in a s coil with his chin resting on top of the hide, I just want to know wether this is a threatening position or not, I don't want to have read the signs wrong go bounding in there n pick him up and get bitten un nessacarily!

Im not convinced it is a threatening position, I feel that maybe he is just comfy like that?!

So any info or advice would be brilliant


Thanks

It should be fine as long as he doesn't look like he is posed AT you. They normally don't strike.

its really not a threatening position until he starts following ur hand around and hissing at u. just go in with confidence and a purpose and u should be good

Ok thanks for the advice. He doesn't seem to "track" you if you move around he seems more to just be chilling out!

Thanks again,
I will have a go tonight!

They usually ball up and hide. Hence the name. You should be fine. If you do get bit its no worse than a bee sting.

My year old BP wedges in some pretty tight places in it's tank. She/he just likes it there. They like tight/small/confined places. That is where they feel the most secure.

As for the hissing comment that someone else had made in reply to your post, I have two BPs that hiss at me a little when I reach in to get them out. But I have never been bit. I know my snakes very well though and am very good at reading their body language. I've learned that with these two they are all bark and no bite so to speak. Neither has ever bitten me when hissing at me prior to lifting them out of their tanks.

BPs are normally quite docile creatures. Congrats on your snake and welcome to the forum :gj:

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Originally Posted by Vinny

Hi,

I'm a little new to ball python ownership so am after a little advice,

I've had him for just over week, (he's about a year old), he seemed to settle in quite well didn't appear to be to stressed, anyhow, have left him for the first Week with no handling, and the fed him on Friday, Wich he took fine (f/t), anyway this evening is 48 hours from feeding time so I am keen to get a small amount handling in, he is led on top of his hide sort Of "squished" between the hide and the back side of the tank, with his neck in a s coil with his chin resting on top of the hide, I just want to know wether this is a threatening position or not, I don't want to have read the signs wrong go bounding in there n pick him up and get bitten un nessacarily!

Im not convinced it is a threatening position, I feel that maybe he is just comfy like that?!

So any info or advice would be brilliant


Thanks

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Yeah, +1 to the above statement. My girl will sometimes hiss at me when i reach in for her, but i just gently stroke her side and she gets the idea that im not gonna hurt her. To date shes never bitten a soul.

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