First time handling

I got my ball last week and he had his first meal 2 nights, so I was planning on getting him out for the first time today. I was curious as to how you guys go about getting them out of the cage. Do you usually wait until they are out and about at night and get them in or do you remove the hide they are under. Thanks for the input.

You can just remove their hide and pick them up. You should pick them up from behind, so as not to startle them. If you do not feel comfortable picking them up from their enclosure, or if they seem stressed out, you can use a snake hook to pick them up. You can them transfer them from the hook to your hand.

Good luck!

I hold on a schedule. 48 hours after a meal I reach in and touch them from behind. When I see that the muscles flinch a bit I know they are aware and pick them up. I use no hides, so no comment.:)

try to stay away from there face. My one snake does not like when I come to fast at her face. I usually just pick the hide up off of her, and scoop my hand behind her underside. Don't worry you will know if your gonna get bit. They have like a stance they go in, they look very deffensive. They will try to give you signs before they strike usually. Good luck!

I don't give my snakes time to freak out and strike at me, I just go in there and scoop em up. They sometimes ball up, but my older one is always fine and is just like "oh, I am not in my hide anymore"

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Originally Posted by dsmalex97

try to stay away from there face. My one snake does not like when I come to fast at her face.

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A lot of snakes, especially ball pythons, are protective of their vulnerable heads. Coming at them fast from the front or directly over their heads can trigger a "oh crud that thing is going to bite my head" instinctive response. Depending on the snake you might get a quick withdrawal of the head, a fast balling up of the whole snake with the head protected inside that ball (hence the nickname "ball python") or you may get yourself bit.

We start our snakes off right up front with simple routines for everything. Our handling routine is to open the enclosure, do a fast assessment of the snake visually to see if it's relaxing in it's hide, lurking looking for food, in a full strike position and putting out "I'd don't want you to mess with me right now" vibes. Once we do that and determine the snake's in the right place for handling we always give them a stroke or two down the second half of their body, avoiding the head area. If they accept this easily and don't have that "hard" feel when their muscles are bunched indicating they are stressed or unhappy or looking to strike, we lift them out.

Always hold your snake in such a way that you are in control of it, that your grip is firm and controlled and the snake feels safe in your hands. These animals may not be able to do higher math but their no dumb bunnies. They figure out pretty quick whose comfortable to handle them and whose going to screech and drop them.

If you feel nervous, use a hook or wear gloves until you feel confident to handle your snake. I'm sure you'll both do fine.

Well I followed everybodys advice on here and got the snake out for the first time today. Everything went well he stayed balled up in my hand for about 5 mins before he uncurled and starting moving around. He did also pee on my hand is this normal?

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Originally Posted by nathan52789

He did also pee on my hand is this normal?

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You are now one with the ball, welcome to the brotherhood:banana::rockon:

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Originally Posted by nathan52789

Well I followed everybodys advice on here and got the snake out for the first time today. Everything went well he stayed balled up in my hand for about 5 mins before he uncurled and starting moving around. He did also pee on my hand is this normal?

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Sounds just about right LOL. Sometimes you're the snake handler, sometimes you're just the handy dandy snake toilet. :)

just pick them up, the more timid you are the more likley you are at creating an "incident". Also I try to leave them alone if they hiss or act irritated, but if I have to handle them and Im worried about them striking I throw a towel over their head and keep them partially wrapped in it as I pick them up.