To disturb or not to disturb?

As he is now feeding regularly and without problem I am just beginning to handle my bp that I've had for about 3 weeks or so, and he's been very well behaved. He still tends to spend most of his time in one of his hides, however.

My question is whether it is a good idea at all to lift a bp's hide to take him out for a handling session? I'm guessing that hiding/sleeping snakes should be left alone and that it's only a good idea to take a snake out of the enclosure when he's out exploring. I'm new to snakes so just want some advice on what they tolerate without a problem or what stresses them out.

Thanks!

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Originally Posted by jphealy

He still tends to spend most of his time in one of his hides, however.

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Ball pythons are instinctually secretive ... he will be like that for the next 30 years or so. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jphealy

My question is whether it is a good idea at all to lift a bp's hide to take him out for a handling session?

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Go for it.

-adam

I lift MeatBall's hide to handle him every day. I've only had him for 2.5 weeks now & when I come in the room he pokes his head out! It's great!

Thanks for the advice! I'm glad to hear lifting their hides isn't a big deal. I took Bobby out tonight and he seemed perfectly happy to explore outside his usual four walls.

If I waited for some of our snakes to come out of their hides for handling I'd be an old, old lady sitting up at 3:00 a.m.! LOL (If any of you make jokes about me being old anyways I swear I'll ship ya Brannagh to play with! LMAO)

Adam did teach Mike and I early on to be consistent and set patterns with our snakes though and this seems to work a charm with them. We lift the hide, gently stroke them down their bodies prior to lifting them from their tubs. It does seem to give the snake notice that they are coming out and they generally start to uncoil or raise their heads after doing this. We do this everytime.

On feeding day they don't get handled so they seem to recognize the difference when their tub opens and we've yet to get a bad reaction to being taken out for handling. Well other than our Brannagh who just has an attitude about everything LOL and definitely isn't your "average" BP in temperment!

Glad you are taking your time and helping your snake learn to tolerate handling so well.


~~Jo~~