Comfort level with snake

um doesnt sound like a ball python's normal attitude

If it is a ball python, I suggest just picking it up quickly. Reach in from the back and swoop him / her up. If you are still uncomfortable with this, wear a glove or use a snake hook. Good luck.

my baby pastel and baby spider are pretty nippy so far but i only have had them for a week and a half so far but the spider ball seems to strike at me whenever he wants lol. just keep handling him like everyone said. it doesnt hurt to bad to get bit

Wear a glove or use a hook like mentioned. Right now your biggest enemy is your thoughts thinking about what "could happen". Its freaky when a snake strikes at you or even hits you but just keep saying to yourself no matter what it wont really hurt and it isn't going to kill me.

My daughters hampster's bites hurt waaaaaaay worse:mad:

Reach in and pick him up mid body. If you can pick him up from the backside, that will be the best method. If he bites you, try your best to not jerk or drop the snake. The fear of the bite is often times worse than the bite itself. Many times, they strike but don't latch on, so the bite is only a fraction of a second. A little blood may appear, but nothing serious, not even close to serious.

Take the bite and blood as a badge of honor. You will soon realize that the bites aren't that bad and you will be okay.

Good Luck,
Jim Smith

i got bit by a garter snake when i was young (fearless me was probably squeezing him a bit tight, and i suppose he wasn't too fond of the rain) and since then i've had a bit of a fear of being struck at. it didn't hurt, and i was way younger, but the speed scared me. i recently bought a BP because i really do think they're wonderful animals but my nervousness is still there a bit. it really makes me feel a lot more comfortable if i wear a loose hoodie while handling him and guide him toward my elbow. he loves it there and just kind of hangs out. the fact that he's not in striking distance of any of my body parts makes me feel better too. :)

It's a little nerve wracking to get bit. But being AFRAID of getting bit is more likely to get you bit than being calm and relaxed. Just realize that you are a big scary beast to him and give him some time to notice you. You can open the cage a little loudly or give a little tap on the nearby wall so he's awake. If you wake him up, he may nip. Snakes don't have eyelids! So it's harder to tell when they are awake or asleep and they spend a lot of time sleeping. If someone grabbed you out of bed in the middle of a deep sleep, it might make you cranky, right?
I recommend sitting somewhere quiet with him and not moving until he is brave enough to explore. If you get nervous, he can sense it and will be scared. If you are calm, he will feel more comfortable. With a little time, this will let him know you aren't going to "get him" and he'll be happier to see you for exploring or feeding time. You can help stay calm by taking deep breaths and just see what he does. BPs are usually pretty gentle and shy and they can take some time as babies to chill out. Most baby snakes are nervous and take more time than adults.

You'll be fine, just don't be afraid of him. he really doesn't want to hurt you! ^^

I completely agree with darkwormvern if you show fear it will strike in fear. Animals are sensitive and can tell when you are afraid and use it to there advantage show your are the boss and they will submit. A dog bite is much worse. Good luck and stay calm.

So, it has been a couple of days. How are you doing with him?

You could try this, when you approach the snake use one hand flat and just cover the snakes body/head with it in one smooth motion (not hesitating). They usually back down when something big comes from above.

Also, it seems to calm them when you cover them. Don't press down, just lay your hand on them.

Use the other hand to scoop them up from underneath, kind of sandwiching the snake between your hands. Once he/she has calmed a bit (they feel safer covered) you can remove the hand from on top. Usually they are fine by then.