I was given a Ball Python

I have just been given a ball python. My husbands boss got a job out of state and will be living in a hotel for at least 6 months and...well...We were asked if we wanted the python.
It was an all of the sudden kind of thing. No one else wanted the python and he had been away from her/him for almost 2 weeks and no one would look in on her, feed her, water her, etc.

The thing is...I have no idea what to do. We fed her a couple of mice and she ate them fairly quickly. We filled her water dish and she drank from it. She is pretty active, moving about and checking things out. She has done some shedding but still has some left to shed and I have been reading that I need to make sure her humidity is up to help with that.

I only have one problem and that is the temperament of snakes. I have Tarantulas and a bearded dragon. I have had a hedgehog and ferrets so I am not worried about exotic animals. I just have no idea if she comes toward my hand, when I press it up to the glass, if she sees my fingers as food or if she is just curious.

OK...So, my question is, is there a thread I can search for on here about the temperament of ball pythons? She is beautiful and I am reading up on a lot of things very quickly so I can give her a good life, I just have not found much on how to tell if they are upset or not.

Please and Thank you,
Amy

Hey there!

Congrats on your surprise addition!! And welcome to the site! Ball Pythons are generally very docile and even tempered animals. They make a wonderful first snake. ;) When I snake wants you to leave them alone, they will let you know. Most often, they pull their heads back toward there body in an "s" shape. In this position, they will track your hand if they are nervous or considering biting. They will also usually hiss if they are unhappy about something. Simply approaching your hand isn't necessarily indicative of a food related interest, but snakes generally do better if you pet their side a bit to let them know you are there and/or just pick them up. Confidence is good. :) Just go for it. Unless of course he or she reacts poorly. Most likely however, if scared, he or she will just ball right up. At which point, just pick him or her up and pet him or her softly until a) she calms down, or b) she doesn't after a few minutes, and then you should put her back. Short handling sessions are best to minimize stress. 10-15 mins is a good range.

Again, congrats and welcome to the addiction!

If this snake comes to the glass to check out your hand that is pretty cool and unusual. They are not always the most curious snakes and really prefer to not be seen remaining in their hides most of the time. I seriously doubt the snake confuses your hand for food but make sure that when you are handling it that you have not handled its food just prior as that can cause a bite out of confusion.

Ball pythons get their name by using the means of balling up as defense. My ball still will often ball up when first removed and will take a few minutes to come out and check things out. Balls are usually very docile and easy to get along with. Mine is never in a bad mood and never gives my any issues. She has never even made a motion like she wanted to strike me.

I really appreciate the comments :) We got her Tuesday night, fed her, and have just been waiting for digestion to handle her. I like these forums because I have been reading and she needs some things added to her tank. We will be getting those things this weekend.

I am pretty excited to handle her. She comes out from under her hide to "greet" us. She is not shy at all so I am a little more comfortable now that you all have commented that she probably does not see my hand as food. She was routinely handled by her former owner and his three year old son. He says that she is about a year and 1/2 old.

I just would like to Thank the comments so far and would love to hear more :) I am very green when it comes to owning snakes and have never really thought about getting one, I just know that she needed a home and I am more than happy to take her. I just want to raise her right so she can live a long time.

I am also new to BP's and am fascinated by them. My son left his snake with me to care for and I have never had a snake or reptile to care for before - just cats, dogs and rats (very funny pet to have, it's ironic that they are now food!). I have found this little snake very easy to deal with. I just ensure that I pick her up carefully and slowly and she settles right in. I've had her out quite frequently now and find it hard to get her to go back in her terrarium - she just turns around and crawls out the door, back onto my arm. Last night she was climbing up the glass to the top of her terrarium, looking like she was going to try to go through the mesh top. When she came down I opened the door and she came right out for a visit. It's pretty cool and a lot more fun than I had imagined.

Thank you BWB. That sounds like a great python.

Tried to pick her up. I have never handled a snake before. I must say that I was not very graceful at it. I was not confident. I think I made her nervous....I did make her nervous. I have a friend that loves snakes and I am going to ask her to come over and help me get to a point of not being nervous. I am worried I will make her mad or hurt her. Not really worried about getting bit. She did run off to her hide and I left her alone. I just need the confidence.

I will try again with some help from my friend. Thank you Everyone! I appreciate your help.

I have discovered (as mentioned numerous times on here) to be careful around her head and neck - they are a bit nervous of these parts of their body. I pick my little girl up by gently touching her on the side, then putting my hand under and around her middle. She loves being out and I let her roam all over the place - windowsills, heaters (not hot ones) and up our stairs. She seems to like the exercise and then does not want to go back into her enclosure. And when she tries to come back out I usually let her. I think this snake has me figured out!

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Originally Posted by BWB

I have discovered (as mentioned numerous times on here) to be careful around her head and neck - they are a bit nervous of these parts of their body. I pick my little girl up by gently touching her on the side, then putting my hand under and around her middle. She loves being out and I let her roam all over the place - windowsills, heaters (not hot ones) and up our stairs. She seems to like the exercise and then does not want to go back into her enclosure. And when she tries to come back out I usually let her. I think this snake has me figured out!

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It's fascinating because they instinctively pull away quickly at any object moving near or towards their head, but if you are calm and steady while holding they'll push or rub their head against your fingers and then you can stroke along neck, under chin or on top of head.

I let my BP out all the time too, to get some exercise and exploring done. He's learned to manoeuvre around the living room quickly, and I've learned that if you look away for more than a minute...suddenly he's not where you thought he was and you have to search around to find him again.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640...904/O1KE97.jpg

We finally got her out and she seemed alright. When we put her back in her cage she stretched out and did not go back into a ball.

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