Very new to bps but I already love my lil guy

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Originally Posted by Joshuawhitelaw

Firstly ty all for the advice second I'd like input plz.... the guys at the reptile store said they r used to lotsa traffic etc from being in the store.... not sure if that's correct or not and finally I believe I'll leave him be except for water change/substrate misting until after the next feeding/48 hours after time as he's due for feed tm..... is this seeming a good idea? And a side note..... he seemed fine till the spray bottle startled him I'm just hoping he is ok

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The spray startles all snakes , if I have time I occasionally spray WARM water and that doesn't startle them quite as much .

So I found out y he was aggressive aparently even tho he showed no sign of shedding he was about to he took a mouse fine friday n by early morning sat round 4 am was normal behaviour and had shed fully however I have a question I just today received stitches in my right hand from a fall I took and am wondering is it a good idea to handle him with fresh wound etc, and if not how long to wait?

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Originally Posted by Joshuawhitelaw

So I found out y he was aggressive aparently even tho he showed no sign of shedding he was about to he took a mouse fine friday n by early morning sat round 4 am was normal behaviour and had shed fully however I have a question I just today received stitches in my right hand from a fall I took and am wondering is it a good idea to handle him with fresh wound etc, and if not how long to wait?

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once the wounds scab up it should be fine to handle. in the mean i'd just avoid handling if it can be helped. if not, just be sure to thoroughly wash your hands.

It's good to let Balls feel safe and relaxed by giving them their alone time, but a small reminder that too much alone time is not helpful at all. The snake needs to know they're safe and that you don't mind that it gets grumpy occasionally.
You should definitely be waiting at LEAST 24 hours after feeding to bother them again though (as others have said).
As much as leaving them in their tank for 3 feedings (3 weeks seems way too long and detrimental to bonding at this age) seems to be a common theme for what people are saying, I would say leave them alone at max a week if you feel it's extremely necessary.
There is a way to bond with your snake to make them feel like being on your person is a second home. You can teach him you are safe.

Towel, shirt, pocket, etc training is vital for this if you have a spookable snake.
Opening the top of the tank for a min or two before sticking your hand or anything into it is smart. Snakes can be scent trained, so every time you do this blow your breath into their tank and let them smell you this way.
Taking them straight from the tank to a dark safe item of clothing that is attached to your body is the best way to greet them and it teaches them that they can smell you and the world and create a bond, without having to see you.
The big scary world is out there, and you are their fierce protector. Destroyer of tickly grass.

Because the snake is so young I have faith you can help your little friend calm down. ♡


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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

It's good to let Balls feel safe and relaxed by giving them their alone time, but a small reminder that too much alone time is not helpful at all. The snake needs to know they're safe and that you don't mind that it gets grumpy occasionally.
You should definitely be waiting at LEAST 24 hours after feeding to bother them again though (as others have said).
As much as leaving them in their tank for 3 feedings (3 weeks seems way too long and detrimental to bonding at this age) seems to be a common theme for what people are saying, I would say leave them alone at max a week if you feel it's extremely necessary.

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Husbandry and feeding are your top priorities with new, juvenile snakes. BPs are typically very docile by nature, which is one of the major reasons they are so popular in the pet trade. Some juveniles can be anxious and nippy, but will almost always mellow out over time. Getting your snake on a proper feeding regimen should be of utmost importance, especially with juveniles.

BPs don't require handling and merely tolerate it.

As far as waiting 3 feedings, it gets your animal on a regular feeding regimen, which can be a lot more tricky than handling and cause a lot more stress and headaches to both the keeper and the animal. In the world of a BP, 3 weeks is nothing, they are more than happy to go three weeks without being handled, they will live 30+ years if kept properly. So rushing to handle your BP is not suggested, we handle for US and US alone. Our BPs don't look forward to being handled, they merely tolerate it. As for waiting being detrimental to bonding time, I have to disagree. There are plenty of snakes who are primarily breeders and almost never handled, who are then sold as adults to somebody who will keep it strictly as a pet. They have no problem being handled at even a few years old, despite not having that precious bonding time.

Well I've had success and am very proud of
it I was walking by his terrarium and he stuck his head out of the hide so I stopped n talked soothingly to him and took the screen off.
Then talked a min or two then hide. Same thing then I took a towel and scooped him up gently. he did not even try to strike, and I sat down with him a bit and he was slithering all over me exploring, as well he even allowed me to pick him up with no fuss. Once I was done I hand carried him to the terrarium and allowed him to slither down into his hide. I feel awesome that I got him back to this point

And ty to everyone for all the useful information u r all amazing

Its true that snakes don't need your companionship, to be held, etc... They can spend their whole life in a tank perfectly happy
but if you're training it to spend time with you daily and become a companion snake then training it to know exactly who you are and what you expect at a young age is the best plan.
In the long run, 3 weeks is nothing. It's true. Just like humans, when you're 35yrs old and waiting for a package from Amazon 3 weeks can be nothing, you've still got 65 years of your life left and 3 weeks goes by fast.
Now take that same human as a baby, and take him away from his mother/guardian for 3 weeks. This amount of time is dramatically more important for development and growth. The baby can learn so many new good and bad habits in those 3 weeks time that it could change them for years.

How many animals have you trained? Not just snakes. How often do you hear it's easier to teach them things when they're young? Such as gaining or losing habits, tricks, etc.
Trust is important.
If the snake spends no time learning that a human is going to be interacting with it other than "here is your mouse, I will take your poop. Good day" when you do decide you're going to interact with it it's going to get confused. "Why are you in my house touching my things? Noooo touchy! Whyyyy?!". It will think that something is different and wrong and it could cause them anxiety that something has changed.


Now as for them tolerating us holding them and not wanting physical attention, that's not true.
Once they have learned that you'd like to be their friend through general bonding, they miss us. We have a symbiotic relationship. My snakes will come to me when bored, lonely, have an itch, need help to shed, want a warm spot, etc. They know if they come to me i will interact with them. Such as my cats do.

If my snake comes to the glass when she sees I woke up in the morning, waits for me to open it, and then slithers up my arm and on to my neck to sleep for 3 hours.... you can't tell me she'd rather be in that tank and not on my person.
If when we're out at the park and she sees something move too fast or the grass tickled her and she speed slithers to me and up my body for safety, that response does not tell me that the snake is merely tolerating me.

Maybe you're not as close to your snakes, and that's why you feel like they're thinking "oh... he picked me up again. Why? Ugh. Please put me down. I have things to do" Instead of "oh hey my human! Hi human! Give me a scritch! Where are we going on our adventure today!?"

You do you, have your snakes attachment level be at your wanted level.... But training it asap is the best idea.

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

Now as for them tolerating us holding them and not wanting physical attention, that's not true.
Once they have learned that you'd like to be their friend through general bonding, they miss us. We have a symbiotic relationship. My snakes will come to me when bored, lonely, have an itch, need help to shed, want a warm spot, etc. They know if they come to me i will interact with them. Such as my cats do.

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I admit I was with you until you started presenting these points. I WISH I could agree with you, but the actual true, scientific manner is they, unlike mammals, do not bond with us the way you are thinking. Established trust yet, established safety yes, but not, I'm sorry, as much as I reaaaally want it to be true, they don't miss us, they don't feel affection towards it. I think you're anthropomorphizing them a tad here. They're not dogs or cats. Some will be more comfortable with their owners than others where they are more explorative and cooperative, but they don't have it within their mental capacity to decide 'hey I want a scritch! Hey you're my friend!" At best they recognize your warmth, your scent, your schedule and voice and equate you to 'safe' not 'joyful company.'

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