Sudden movements

Today I picked up Giovanni's flower pot and he immediately balled. Picked him up by the middle of his body (no hissing) and he stayed balled. Held him on my flat hands for a few minutes while he looked at me and I looked at him. As I was going to put him back in his cage he suddenly un-balled and went rigid in kind of a u-shape.

Does this mean he is getting more comfortable, or does it mean he was uncomfortable being handled?

Means he's a ball python LOL. Just give him time and gentle reasonable amounts of handling. I'm sure he and you will do fine. :)

I know I sound like a new parent, I'm just worried I'll do something bad for him.

Usually after I put him back in his cage he stays exactly where I put him for a few minutes, then gets really active. If I don't handle him he isn't nearly so active.

I wonder if he remembers being handled extensively several months ago?

LOL it's fine, we all go through this with a new snake. I don't know how much snake's retain in their reptilian brain. As far as stay still and then moving, some of ours do that and some just slither off immediately. I notice it seems to be the smaller, younger ones that do that freeze up thing...maybe some sort of protective "don't move, maybe the big scarey human predator won't notice me"....don't really know though. Our bigger adult BP's just do what they like. They figured out long ago I'm "She Who Drops Rats From the Heavens" LOL

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

They figured out long ago I'm "She Who Drops Rats From the Heavens" LOL

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That's too funny! I love it!!

Mine never does that unless I move my hand too fast in front of him. Then when I try to put him back he'll try to slither up my arm as if he's saying "nooo, let me stay with you!!". Amazing creatures, aren't they? :D

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Originally Posted by Grim91Z

Mine never does that unless I move my hand too fast in front of him. Then when I try to put him back he'll try to slither up my arm as if he's saying "nooo, let me stay with you!!". Amazing creatures, aren't they? :D

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Junior does the same...she feels her cage, the promptly turns around and goes back up my arm.

Then I feel like a bad mommy for putting her in her cage...