Is this normal?

Hey everyone, so i got a question for you guys. Earlier today I brought my ball python out to handle him and he was really moving around, flickering his tongue, and really normal. The only thing is was the super tight grip he was giving me around my hand. I have never felt anything like it from him?? Was this him being aggravated or being affectionate? Thanks for your time :)

Sometimes they feel insecure and grip tighter to make sure they don't fall.

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Originally Posted by Kinra

Sometimes they feel insecure and grip tighter to make sure they don't fall.

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this. I don't know that BP's show affection per say. They can exhibit behavior that suggests that they are comfortable with you or curious about you. That's the closest thing to affection.. But yes, they have quite the grip when they feel insecure.

I had made a similar post to this when I first got my Jackson, I was really pretty alarmed at his grip! Someone told me this: they don't have thumbs! They need to be able to hold on somehow. :D

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Originally Posted by blueberrypancakes

they need to be able to hold on somehow. :d

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x2 :)

Grip with the neck (while biting you!) is an "aggressive" constriction grip. You'll pretty much never get this one unless you keep him on reduced rations for a while and then bath your hand in mouse-smell.

Otherwise, most grips are with the middle and back half of the body, and they are just that: gripping to keep from falling. Sometimes it means the snake is a bit insecure about handling, or is worried about falling. Sometimes you just have a good climber, and he knows how to hold on properly. And sometimes they'll do it because you're nice and warm, and they're cold.

"Affection" is overstating it---but it often does mean that the snake feels safer with you than out in the open.

Also just from my experiences usually they seem to hold on a bit tighter when they are "warm". I have a male who when he is on the cool side and he usually is relaxed and just chills out but when he has been warming up he moves around more and has a noticeable tighter grip.