Re: Angry or still warming up to me?
I am new to bps so I'll just give you my experience. Right after I got my little guy every time I would go into his cage he would hiss at me. I gave him his week alone to figure things out and then I fed him. I gave him 2 days to digest his food then I started handling him. He still hissed at me and acted like he wanted to get away. I handled him for around 10 min and then I put him back. Next day same thing, I picked him up, he hissed, I handled him for around 10 min and put him back. By the 4th time I picked him up he didn't hiss at me. I've had him for about a month now and he hangs out with me just fine! He's 3 months old today and eats rat pups so I agree that he needs something bigger. I wouldn't be too worried. He just needs time. My guy almost never comes out of his hide during the day unless to switch hides. I think that your guy is probably happy in that hide!
Re: Angry or still warming up to me?
It's important to remember that this isn't a puppy--they will never be affectionate, playful, or even friendly. What you're going for is 'calm' when you handle them.
The snake will need time to get used to you. It will not befriend you, because snakes don't make friends. If you're lucky, it will eventually become so comfortable with being handled that it will be able to enjoy your body heat, but that's going to take time. Do not underestimate the amount of stress that handling is causing for the snake right now.
Every time you go in to pick him up, his heart rate spikes, he gets a surge of adenalin, and the anxiety begins. Keep your handling sessions short--perhaps a half hour a day--and give him the chance to recover from the trauma of being picked up by a carnivorous giant, and realize that he isn't coming to any harm in this routine.
Snakes are not intelligent animals--we love them anyhow, but that's just a fact. It will take time for him to learn that you aren't a threat, and to lose his nervousness.
A hiding ball python is a happy ball python. He WILL spend all of his daytime hours under his hide, and probably only come out for the occasional drink, to switch hides, or if he thinks food may be on the way. He is likely to come out and roam at night, but only if he's comfortable. If he's handled excessively, then he will stay in his nice, secure hide for longer, resting and trying to relax. This shouldn't be a cause for worry--hiding is what makes him feel comfortable.
Re: Angry or still warming up to me?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ksaul
He has been camping under the rock with the UTH for almost 4days now with only peaking his head out every once in awhile.. Not sure if he comes out at night but usually ill watch tv with the lights off for 30-45minutes before going to bed and he doesnt come out during that period.. Im getting nervous :(
My ball pythons will hide for about 6 days. On the 7th day they come out looking for food and I feed them. Then it is back to the hides!
If your ball python is hiding a lot, then you are doing something right! A hiding BP is a happy BP.
Re: Angry or still warming up to me?
It took about four months of almost every day handling for mine to relax. It can take a long time to build up that kind of trust, get used to your scent and habits and the times of day these things happen, etc. That's a lot of factors.
After over a year of ownership now, it's quite obvious she fully trusts me and is exceptionally friendly. I wouldn't worry too much.
