Taming or re-taming adult BPs

So I got a ball python about 3 years ago, sadly I found him in a gutter left in front of a pet store, he was surprisingly already tamed and use to being handled by people. He's the first large snake I've ever personally owned so this situation slightly worries me. I moved from my moms about 5 months ago and when I came back I found him in a horrible neglected situation. Dirty cage, irregular feeding periods, dirty water, shedding everywhere, fed inside his cage, and on top of that has not been handled since I've seen him last. I was being told that he was being held a lot, taken out for his daily dose of sunshine and well taken care of, that was obviously not the case. I need all the advice and help I can possibly get on making him people friendly again. Please help! I use to take him outside and the neighbor kids would play with him. Now I can't even get to his water without having to place a rag on his face. I've never been bitten by any kind of snake and would hate my first bite be from 4 feet of pure muscle.

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Originally Posted by kittiekins

So I got a ball python about 3 years ago, sadly I found him in a gutter left in front of a pet store, he was surprisingly already tamed and use to being handled by people. He's the first large snake I've ever personally owned so this situation slightly worries me. I moved from my moms about 5 months ago and when I came back I found him in a horrible neglected situation. Dirty cage, irregular feeding periods, dirty water, shedding everywhere, fed inside his cage, and on top of that has not been handled since I've seen him last. I was being told that he was being held a lot, taken out for his daily dose of sunshine and well taken care of, that was obviously not the case. I need all the advice and help I can possibly get on making him people friendly again. Please help! I use to take him outside and the neighbor kids would play with him. Now I can't even get to his water without having to place a rag on his face. I've never been bitten by any kind of snake and would hate my first bite be from 4 feet of pure muscle.

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I have never had the problem with a Ball Python to turn nasty at least not me but I did have a burmese that did the same thing except she
was about 8 feet when I got her back. Anyway in her case I put her on a regular feeding schedule and started handling her with gloves at first once she was used to having food again.
Than after a while she came around and I could handle her like I used too.
Anyway she is still nice and in a good home now since I moved away from Burmese all together.
My suggestion is give it time and work with him I think he will come around.

Why didn't you take the snake? He is anger with you.

I agree with Fireblade. Get it back on a regular feeding schedule and get his tank thoroughly cleaned. After a few feedings start trying to handle him. Once he is fed and in a clean cage his mood should improve.

You know bp don't need sunlight?

Ball pythons don't need to be played with or get daily sunshine.

It sounds more like he's feeling stressed out. Get the guy set up properly and leave him alone for a week to allow him time to decompress.

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Originally Posted by KMG

Why didn't you take the snake? He is anger with you.

I agree with Fireblade. Get it back on a regular feeding schedule and get his tank thoroughly cleaned. After a few feedings start trying to handle him. Once he is fed and in a clean cage his mood should improve.

You know bp don't need sunlight?

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I couldn't take him because I was told I wasn't aloud to and my mothers boyfriend fought about how it was "his cage" so I couldn't touch it. My mother backed him up, don't know why she she hates snakes, I was promised that he would be taken care of. Couple months down the road I heard he was put in jail and I came back to make sure everyone was ok and found him neglected. And I did not know that. I was always told the uv rays were good for them. He seemed to love going outside though, so as long as he's happy.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Ball pythons don't need to be played with or get daily sunshine.

It sounds more like he's feeling stressed out. Get the guy set up properly and leave him alone for a week to allow him time to decompress.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

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It wasn't so much as play. More of the kids would come over and pet him, he'd lay in the grass and the kids would be with him. He just liked being outside so I always took him.

Feeding inside the cage is not a huge issue with BPs, I've never fed in a separate container and all of my snakes are handlable. Clean cage, couple of regular meals, and some time to hide out should make a world of a difference

Just sounds like he is stressed from improper husbandry. Get him cleaned up, back on a regular feeding schedule, and leave him alone for at least a week or two. Once he gets settled back into good care, he should mellow out again.

-Jen

While it is horrible that this poor snake was neglected, I think you are overreacting a little. Ball pythons are pretty tough and can withstand long periods without food.

As others have said, get him setup in a secure enclosure with some dark tight fitting hides and leave him alone for a week or two. Feed him once a week and then start short handling sessions. Eventually he will learn to trust you again. Don't worry about being bitten. Ball python bites are a regular joke on this forum since they are so minor. They barely break the skin and after a few hours you can't even tell where they bit you.

Don't be scared.

Feed the snake.

Give him some time to chill.

and most of all, Relax!

I sounds like the advice above should work out and I wouldn't be worried about him being mad at you, that is a bit of anthropomorphizing, but once he is comfortable I think he will calm down. I look forward to hearing how it works out!

Thanks. And even if I'm overreacting you should see how my other animals are. They are all spoiled. Even the scorpion! The cages I put out are beyond what they need. I even got a second job just to have money aside for the animals! What I'm planning on doing for his cage is going to be amazing! Of course he's getting a bigger cage and a section of his cage is being turned into his watering hole with a constant flow of water by the means of a mini rock water fall.:)
Plans I hold for my pets are beyond the necessary! But you can always tell how happy they are in the end. I'll be sure to post some photos when he's all friendly and when he gets his brand new home. Then more I'm more than sure I'll have my baby Kito back.:snake: