BP handling gloves

I appreciate all the help I've been getting with the plethora of questions I've asked. Here's another :)

What kind of gloves are good to use for handling BP's? I've looked and found some ranging in price from around $30 to well over $100. I don't want to break the bank, but do want some that will protect fingers and be kind to Zeke at the same time. I'm planning on handling Zeke more often as time goes by and would like to have some gloves to, mainly, help with my nervousness. He's already tagged me once, but that was during feeding :P Also, if anybody else wants to handle him, they would feel more comfortable having some gloves.

It's kind of hard to handle a BP with gloves on. Many will tell you that a bite from a BP doesn't hurt so don't bother with the gloves. I use them for quick water changes and the like. If I have time I can pick up just about any snake without getting bit, but sometimes you're just in a hurry. You are most likely to get bit now that Zeke knows food comes more regularly than he's use to. After a week or two he won't be so hungry all the time and I'll bet he will be a real sweetheart. The other time you may get tagged is when you first reach in for him. Once out of the enclosure they are just fine. If I think I may get tagged from a snake I wear only one glove. Reach in with that hand and let him know you are there. Give him a poke or two. Then just pick him right up with the gloved hand and get him out of the enclosure as you bring your other hand under his body for support. You will know right away how things are going. Then just drop the glove and away you go. I use a thin leather glove. Anything thicker and you won't be able to feel the snake.

Forget the gloves.

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Originally Posted by llovelace

Forget the gloves.

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x2

I would say NO gloves needed unless u got a G.T.P. ! lol

Unless you have a true monster dont worry about the gloves. Just take it easy and take your time. Do not be afraid of him.

I would say if your afraid of getting bitten that a snake may not have been your best choice of a pet... :D I will say however that ball pythons are very gentle creatures and won't bite unless you something wrong( aka trying to feed without Hemostats, or jostling them around too much). I have only been bitten twice, both times by my male and both times when a food item was involved. I would say LOSE THE GLOVES. The only protection you are actually going to need is confidence:P. Snakes can feel when your uneasy or nervous and it makes them uneasy and nervous. Plus, I personally would rather get bitten by my snake than by a dog. Good luck with your pet.


PS- Gloves make it hard for you and the snake to bond. It takes away the feeling of being one with the animal. not to mention they will make handling harder for you and the snake.

Hi,

Just to say if you still want to use the gloves then there is no need to buy expensive padded gauntlets or anything.

BP's have small teeth so most work gloves would be fine I would think.

The reason a lot of people don't use gloves is the bites are really not that significant and the snake might be more likely to lose teeth in the glove - not totally sure about that last part though.

But if wearing gloves makes you feel more confident about handling him the first few times then that is fair enough by me. :)


dr del

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Originally Posted by RoyalGuardian

I will say however that ball pythons are very gentle creatures and won't bite unless you something wrong.

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That is not always the case. Just like any other creature, some are more aggressive than others. I have one that has tried to bite me many times. I was not doing anything wrong. She just does not like to be touched. I will say that she has never bit me, but only because I know how to read her.

To the OP, gloves will likely not be needed, but if they make you feel more comfortable, then wear them.

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

That is not always the case. Just like any other creature, some are more aggressive than others. I have one that has tried to bite me many times. I was not doing anything wrong. She just does not like to be touched. I will say that she has never bit me, but only because I know how to read her.

To the OP, gloves will likely not be needed, but if they make you feel more comfortable, then wear them.

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You may not have been doing something wrong in your eyes but it was indeed wrong in the snake's. do you breed your own prey? had you been handling any other sort of animal? does your snake have enough places to hide? How old is your snake? and is she old enough to be bred?

@OP- If in doubt, buy a snake hook ^_^