How to handle

I wanted tips on handling my new BP Salazar... I've only had him for a couple of days so I don't want to stress him out

dont hold him for at least a week since he needs to acclimate to the new area

you kinda just need to either scoop them out or lift gently supporting from the middle of the snake

I tap the hide to wake mine up, then stroke her side a bit so she has a few moments to realize its me and to signal that I will pick her up. I am trying to establish a routine so she knows what to expect.

I hold her quietly and make sure there are no other distractions (busy pets, etc...) jumping around near her. I try to keep it quiet and give her time to relax. I do not carry her around the house because she is young and still nervous. When she gets busy and starts moving around I make sure she does not unwrap herself and fall, I try to keep her wound around my hand.

You might want to wait until after he is eating to start handling him. I didn't, mine started to eat the second day, but if they are stressed they won't eat. Avoid handling for 2 days after they have eaten, and when they are in shed.

Thanks for the tips... I will wait until he has been with me for a while

what everyone said is what i do as well.

i dont approach my snake head on either. i dont want them to feel threatened.

and i always put the back of my fingers on the snakes body and leave them there for a few seconds so he knows its me. the reason i use the back of my fingers is in case i get tagged/bitten, he will only get my knuckles and not the supple part of one of my fingers or my dangling thumb. when i have the back of my fingers against his body, my thumb is tucked into my palm. i have a wild caught Boa that is slightly aggressive. i have even been bitten by him too. so, if i am going to take a bite, i want it on the flat part of the back of my hand or a knuckle to where it doesnt offer much to get his mouth around. i DONT want a finger tip to get bitten...again. :please:

dont find yourself controlling his neck close to his head. you will find that he feels defenseless and pulls away. i have seen owners that have had their snakes for a long time have the ability to touch them all over and even pet/rub the head. but i dont think they usually do this on a brand new snake.

my ball pythons loved to curl up around my neck and stay there. my neck was super warm and felt great. sometimes this means: you will get peed on. yep, its weird. and it happens.

i had one ball python that was clumsy it seemed and fell off of my neck three times. i caught him all three times but i had to be very weary with that guy.

if you have been handling mice at any point prior to handling your snake, you need to wash your hands. your hands are warm and smell like 'mouse'...must be a mouse.

lastly, behavioral issues cannot be solved by spanking.:gj:

Give the little guy at least a week, to get used to his new environment before attempt to handle him. Good luck !

I will give him sometime... I don't want to get bitten if I can help it :)

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Originally Posted by CdnSee

I will give him sometime... I don't want to get bitten if I can help it :)

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Don't worry about getting bit, it will probably be a scratch at most and if you freak out and jerk your arm away you will scare him too. Avoid jerky movements, avert your eyes if that helps. You can't be afraid of your own snake, he is just a little BP.

Congratulations on your new snake! You know we'll want pictures. :)

Just let the new one settle in a bit and get to know it's new home and feel secure in it. As you go about freshening it's water, cleaning up it's waste product and feeding it you are helping your snake get to know your particular scent and the simple routines of the life you are establishing with it. These are snakes that seem to do very well when they have basic routines in their lives (this is feeding day, this is handling day, this is how I handle you, etc.)

If Salazar is just a little thing, an 08 hatchling for example, then it's to be expected he'd be jumpy and defensive. Little snakes are prey just as much as they are a predator so that drive to survive tends to make them snappy. Who can blame them LOL. After all we are very big heat emitting things in their world and they haven't the first clue that we aren't planning to make lunch out of them.

Just go about the business of letting Salazar settle in, care for him and his home, feed him, get to know him and then handling will likely be an easier process on the both of you. :)

Oh and one more thing. I always wash my hands with antibacterial handsoap before handling, partly so I smell the same each time. Also because while my bp has her own set of germs, they don't change much as her world is small. Humans can pick up all sorts of bacteria and such during our daily travels, I don't want to introduce any funky germs into her environment.