handling my baby ball

So my baby ball is abit nippy, got him about 2 weeks ago and he weighs 78g at time of writing. Since I'm a newb at handling snakes, I been looking around for some tips and stuff and stumbled on a good video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7DQssbM0uk

So I just handled him, and did what the video says in that I 'dominated' him. He was a little nippy at first, then I did the cupping thing and he balled up and stuff, but then after a few minutes he'd come out of the ball and 's' up, he wouldnt strike at me but he seemed on edge all the time .. he'd start to get a bit nippy again so I'd just cup him and he'd ball up again. Just wanted to know, am I doing the right thing in following this guys advice and 'dominating' him, and if so, should I do this everytime I handle him?

this is a great help to tame your ball python i now have a very tame adult thanks to that video. keep doing that if he keeps trying to bite .:D

Only do it when it tries to bite you, after a while he will realize that every time he strikes, you do that thing that does not like AT ALL lol but usually a nippy ball can get the nippiness handled out of them. Just give it some time, he is probably just defense striking because he is scared. Remember, you're a GIANT to him. He'll settle down :)

Well, first of all, congrats on the new baby!

Since hatchling snakes don't have a mother around to protect them, their default is to be defensive; it's a perfectly natural response to some giant animal grabbing at them. With nippy snakes I prefer to use the "tree" approach, staying calm and letting the baby crawl on you without being rough or trying to restrain them, but the truth is that he is going to grow out of it no matter how you choose to handle him.

But since your tiny guy is so new I think it might be in his best interest to hold off on handling for a while longer. Has he eaten yet? I think if you leave him alone until he's had 4 or 5 meals there's a good chance that the nippiness will have mostly dissipated when you next handle him. At this point he is probably afraid of everything, and I think that giving him another few weeks to settle down and be comfortable would allow him to calm down without having the stress of handling intensifying his fear of the world.

But it's your call! Good luck with him, and I hope he settles down for you soon. :)

Is it wrong that I looked at them all trying to be fierce at the start and went "Awwwwwwwwwwwww!!" :oops:


dr del

No, I did the same thing.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Is it wrong that I looked at them all trying to be fierce at the start and went "Awwwwwwwwwwwww!!" :oops:


dr del

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I thought the same thing! :gj:

Gotta love it when they have excessive personality! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Is it wrong that I looked at them all trying to be fierce at the start and went "Awwwwwwwwwwwww!!" :oops:


dr del

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by AK907

Gotta love it when they have excessive personality! :D

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One of my most favorite of our new(er) snakes is the little pastel pos het ghost. She's so fierce when you try to get into "her space." She's the only one of our balls who's actually bitten me. I love her:)

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Thanks for all your great feedback guys!

Yea, think I'll just use the dominating cupping technique for when he gets abit too nippy when handling :)

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Originally Posted by Crazy4Herps

Well, first of all, congrats on the new baby!

Since hatchling snakes don't have a mother around to protect them, their default is to be defensive; it's a perfectly natural response to some giant animal grabbing at them. With nippy snakes I prefer to use the "tree" approach, staying calm and letting the baby crawl on you without being rough or trying to restrain them, but the truth is that he is going to grow out of it no matter how you choose to handle him.

But since your tiny guy is so new I think it might be in his best interest to hold off on handling for a while longer. Has he eaten yet? I think if you leave him alone until he's had 4 or 5 meals there's a good chance that the nippiness will have mostly dissipated when you next handle him. At this point he is probably afraid of everything, and I think that giving him another few weeks to settle down and be comfortable would allow him to calm down without having the stress of handling intensifying his fear of the world.

But it's your call! Good luck with him, and I hope he settles down for you soon. :)

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He's already had 2 feedings, third due teusday, and he's been a great feeder till now :) I had waited till after his second feeding to handle him properly for the first time, and I agree with your advice.

That tree approach sounds abit creepy though! After a while I'll be confident enough to try it, just scared that I'd drop him or something, but it sounds fun xD

Thanks for the feedback!