New Ball Python...Very angry about being handled?

Hey there guys!

Hopefully this question hasn't been done to death, but I'm new here, and this is my first week owning my first snake, a cute little bp, Nazareth! Things have been going smoothly; I held him for a good half an hour before I purchased him, he's eaten very very well, (less than a minute to strike...SO cool to watch for the first time!!), he's been active at night (he's playing right now!!), and hasn't had much of a fuss in general...
...but he won't let me pick him up!!
I've held plenty of snakes, but never picked one up myself!! I've stood at his tank for +20 minutes just petting him, making quiet noises to let him know I'm still there, but he always turns around, hisses, goes into a tiny "s" like he'll mock strike, or tenses up. I don't want to stress him, but then again I don't want to have to go through the fuss of cajoling him into a little box and moving him every time I have to feed him (which took about 10 minutes of gentle tapping/guiding with an unsharpened pencil; he was so mad every time I went to grab him, and I need to feed him again very soon!), or never being able to hold him! :c

Basically, what I'm asking is,

• If I don't get him used to being handled sooner rather than later, will I run into problems with handling him as he grows up?
• How can I pick up my new little guy without scaring or stressing him a lot?
• And of course...How much does a Ball Python bite hurt?

Thank you so much for reading!! <3 :wuv:

Baby bites don't hurt just grab him lol... He is stressed out it happens just take things slowly. My snake spaz strikes at me 3 times when I went to pick him up for the first time. And now he is a great lap snake.

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There is a video on YouTube of a 7 or 8 year old in bhb getting bit by baby balls and small adult corns. She never flinched

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He needs to get used to you so he realizes you are not a threat. Also, you need to get past the fear of getting bit. It's not going to hurt, especially when they are small. Once you realize a bite is not a big deal the two of you can work on getting to know each other. Going into the "S" shape doesn't mean a strike is imminent. It's a natural tendency to pull back from danger.

Except for a day or two following feeding, hold him for 15 minutes or so and then put him back. After a week or so start adding some time. If he is balled up hold him until he relaxes and starts exploring. He might flinch if he gets scared but should start exploring again. If he goes into blue preparing to shed leave him alone until his eyes clear. He will likely be stressed while he can't see. Some people hold there snakes while in blue. It's pretty much personal preference. I prefer to leave all of mine be.

Regular interaction is the key to a happy ball python and a happy ball python owner!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tat2Guy

There is a video on YouTube of a 7 or 8 year old in bhb getting bit by baby balls and small adult corns. She never flinched

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and she gets nailed by a green tree python and says that didnt hurt lol



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Welcome to the forum and congrats on your first snake!

Babies are naturally very defensive because they're terrified that you're going to eat them. The sooner you start handling him, the sooner he'll settle down a bit, but he'll also calm down as he gets older. I've never been bitten by one, but everyone says it doesn't hurt, especially when they're tiny. Handle him regularly, but start slowly. Handle him for a few minutes every day except for feeding day, and the 24-48 hours after feeding. The sooner you start working with him and building trust with him, the sooner he'll calm down.

Also, it sounds like you are feeding in a separate container - you don't need to do this. It will cause him a lot more stress to move him to another container. Most people feed in the tank/bin that the snake lives in, and don't have any issues. He's more likely to bite you right after he's eaten.

Hope that helps!

i hope i dont get in trouble here but for a real good refrence go to youtube link i have here its great for nippy babies & 1st time owners ! everyone else's advice is great as well but sometimes it helps to see it in application.

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