How to handle a ball python (beginner)

Adults are usually easier to handle than hatchlings, as they're accustomed to people. It's the babies who would just as soon bite you as look at you, because they're scared you're a big bad monster that's going to eat them.

For all but on of my adults it's easy - slide tub out, remove hide (if there is one), rub snake, pick up snake.
My other adult is still a very defensive female at 3 years and 1600 grams, I distract her with one hand just out of biting reach while scooping her up with the other.

Be gentle, the snake hasn't gotten used to you yet. Don't move too fast, because you'll may or may not freak the snake out. Rub the snake very gently so it knows your there. Stay away from the head and the neck area and hold it by the mid section. Most of all, don't smell like a rodent, Your figure may just be their dinner haha. Just be confident.

I carried my first one out of the pet store lol

I suppose i can add my two cents in;
I have a baby bp whom i was a little nervous about picking up at first as i hadnt had her long enough to see her behavior, so what i did to calm us both is if she was under her hide id lift it off, find her head, and stroke her body behind or to the side of her head. Id pet her until she "went smushy" and relaxed. Then id nudge my fingers around her as shes usually coiled, and pick her up, letting her get comfy. Even now i always be respectful and pet her a little to let her know im there and am gonna hold her. If i were to go streight in and pick her up it startles her a little. I also have always fed my girl outside of her tank, so shes learned when shes in her feeding bin is when its time to eat! Shes ready to attack as soon as she gets in there so i usually dont try and touch her. Though ive yet to see even the first sign of aggression towards me!


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One of my snakes, Luna, can be slightly moody sometimes, and I just leave her alone and hold one of my other snakes lol. You learn pretty quick some of the signs that mean they just want to be alone.

I too also pet their sides before picking them up. Just to let them know I am there and are about to pick them up. Haven't been bitten yet, but haven't owned snakes for long. I've seen remarkable improvement in my smallest snake Apollo, he is quite young. At first he would stay balled up for a while when I picked him up, once he finally unballed, he was quite jumpy. Now he never balls and is very active and is a joy to handle. It's only been about a month and a half.

Anyway, I wouldn't be afraid of being bitten. Doesn't sound bad. Just try to learn your snakes body language and if you mess up and get bit, try not to act like you were effected in any way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BiggBaddWolf

How about some real advice instead of "grow a set of ba**s" I bet most of you who say this were scared shi*tless at one time or another.....Anyway here is how I do it with my adult male..if he is under his hide I lift if off, and first touch him before I ever attempt to pick him up, that way he knows there is no food coming, then just pick him up somewhere close to the middle. I have absolutely no fear that he will bite me, but if he does then he does. Also make sure you wash your hands thoroughly if you have been handling rats or mice before handling your snake. Other than that enjoy your snake, soon you will do it without even thinking about it :D

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This is exactly what I do as well with Oliver. I always rub his back to wake him up and otherwise let him know it's me. Unless you smell like a rodent, your girl will not bite you. I also make sure that I support Oliver's neck when I lift him (he's only 10 months)


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Don't hesitate. If you just go in and pick her up without hesitation she will learn who's boss. If you handle her while you're nervous she'll be nervous, too and won't learn to trust you.


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Your first few times will probably be the hardest, just psyching yourself up to do it. It's really all just in your head. The worst bite you can take is gonna pale in comparison to even a small dog bite. But more importantly than that, once you take her out of her enclosure a few times you will start to understand her behavior and this will take your fear away very quickly. The main thing to remember is you want to give your snake a chance to realize you're not food. You can use a piece of cardboard and just put it in her face to back her down if she comes out of the tank when you open it, and just wait a little bit. Eventually you'll just use your palm. Then come at her from the side and underneath her body to lift her up, rather than directly toward her face from above. I find with my BP that once i start to grab it there's really no risk of a strike. Just get in there and commit to it. Once you've got her in your hands you'll see how calm and harmless they really are. My BP has an incredible feeding response, sometimes striking at the air when you walk by its tank. People think its vicious. But my family and even my little cousins have all wanted to handle it once they see me with it out of the tank. Also try and remember when you have an animal and decide you're gonna keep it you have a responsibility to this animal, and handling your snake is an important part of its husbandry that often is neglected to be mentioned in care sheets. These animals live a long time and there will surely be a time where you might have to bring it to a vet, or manually remove stuck sheds from its eyes. Even maintaining a clean enclosure requires you to be moving it in and out now and again. You definitely don't want to go too long being scared of it, especially if it starts to get in the way of keeping it in a clean enclosure. You can do it! I was scared out of my mind to handle my first corn snake which was thinner than a pencil! Just try and remember these things and you'll quickly forget what it was like to be afraid of them and will start having to remember that so you don't go grabbing snakes you see in the woods that you can't identify :P

I've only had my BP for a couple of weeks and it was a bit scary at first. She can look like she's ready to strike, coiled up in her hide, but when I rub her side and pick her up she is always fine and so much fun. She wraps around my arm and is ready to explore. She loves to climb around the window sills, on our baseboard heaters (not when they're cooking!) and trying to get into all kinds of places. When it's time to go back into her house she turns and comes back out, usually her head is back out the door before her tail is in! When I get the door closed she will climb the side of her structure and it is so hard to not take her back out again. Even my wife, who is not a big snake fan, has started to handle her. We are both amazed at how much she is a part of our day-to-day lives.

I see this is an old thread, but my two cents to the question would be "with confidence"