"Loves" Being Handled

The only thing I know for certain anymore is my ball python loves to poop, pee more than any animal I have ever had, and wedge himself as far back into his hides as he can possibly do.

Every time I handle mine he wants to get on the floor. Ever single time. He accepts me handling him after these years of having him but I would never put the word love and handle in the same sentence.

That being said I am a firm believer in anything from an insect all the way up to people can be trained to feel safe around another person just like they can be broken to accept their fate and not fight back any more to escape from another person. I prefer the former approach over the latter.

In the wild most snakes (esp. the smaller ones or younger ones) are dinner for all kinds of animals.
Or being killed by humans.

They are not just predator, they are also very much "prey".

Snakes, esp. Ball Pythons, value their safety and privacy. They quickly learn to recognize where "safe" is or their "familiar" (safe) surroundings. If handled enough, they quickly realize that THIS moving/warm "thing" does not hurt me. Of course, if anything changes, like the "surroundings" or how long the handling sessions is, the snake can get nervous again. At this point the only "familiar" thing is this moving/warm thing they know, and while some may try to make a run for it, others seek out the familiar and safe "thing".

I like to pretend its "love". Even a form of it. But I'm quite alright with them simply trusting me not to hurt them and tolerating my shenanigans (handling).

I think that in itself if pretty dang awesome, that such a wild and primitive animal can trust me not to hurt it.

So..there is nothing wrong with people reading more into it then there may be, as long as they do not overdo the handling, forcing the animal to get "tame". Or trying to domesticate it like you would a dog or cat by forcing "to much" on this animal.

As for a breeder handling every day. Well, I'm not a "breeder" per se, but I have raised a few clutches. My babies are being handled almost every day. Simply because I check on them at least twice the day and quickly clean up any mess they may have made. Even these short sessions of being observed and/or handled teach the animal that nothing bad will happen.

I don't believe in doing a whole lot more then that. When I weigh them or make pictures, they get handled longer. But nope, I don't take them out every day and just handle them to tame them. I feel that happens all on its own just by doing regular maintenance and getting them used to my presence. Once they are older, eating well and well established I take them out just to "admire" them, hence they get handled some.

I've had only a couple that were hissers/snappers and ultimately, they turned into the most fun snakes to work with. They quickly got over the attitude, yet they ate the fastest and "know no fear". The one with the most attitude happened to turn out the most curious, non-stressed during handling and absolutely NO head shyness. I handled him hardly any more then the others, he simply had a few of those "head down and chill out" moments in my hands, and once he realized he isn't getting eaten, that is all it took.

Babies are so much fun ;)

I do believe you can do more harm then good when trying to force a young snake into being tame and doing to much, to soon.