I need help handling my BP

So I got my BP almost two months ago. Out of the two I had pick of she was the only one that balled up and did not get defensive so I picked her/him. This is my first BP in a LONG time. I'm 27 now and have not owned a BP since I was like 12. She has settled for the most part and refused to eat for 2 1/2 weeks, she has taken two rat pups in the same week for two weeks now. I can see her approaching shed right now. She has the skin glassing over her eye. She took a pup last night. When should I start handling her and how should I approach her? I have a hook now to move her around when I need to do maintenance in her cage. Every time she hears (or feels?) me open the locks to her cage and slide the door she goes back to strike pose and watches my hand and moves her head wherever my hand goes. I am trying to not get tagged but i feel like that may happen with her/him. Is it possible for her to settle down?

It's been long enough for her to get settled in by now
I'm sure you have good hides for her?
How big is she?
Always approached them from behind just reach behind her kind of rub on her a few seconds and just scoop her pick her up

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Originally Posted by Callen7

So I got my BP almost two months ago. Out of the two I had pick of she was the only one that balled up and did not get defensive so I picked her/him. This is my first BP in a LONG time. I'm 27 now and have not owned a BP since I was like 12. She has settled for the most part and refused to eat for 2 1/2 weeks, she has taken two rat pups in the same week for two weeks now. I can see her approaching shed right now. She has the skin glassing over her eye. She took a pup last night. When should I start handling her and how should I approach her? I have a hook now to move her around when I need to do maintenance in her cage. Every time she hears (or feels?) me open the locks to her cage and slide the door she goes back to strike pose and watches my hand and moves her head wherever my hand goes. I am trying to not get tagged but i feel like that may happen with her/him. Is it possible for her to settle down?

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Methods I use with a new or unknown animal.

1) Make slow even movements but with purpose.
2) Bites happen but should not be rewarded with being left alone or put down.
3) Hook training is also wise. Get the animal to ball up, turn, or run before reaching in.
4) Always remain calm.
5) I sit the ball python in my lap and let it sit partially covered with a towel for a few minuets relaxed and wait for them to start to move. I only intervene when they try to move off of me. This allows them to get use to my smell and learn that I am not something to fear.
6) Keep introductions to short period of times.
7) Repeat till you both are comfortable with the experience. Over time trust is built up.
8) Never handle the day before, the day of, and day after feeding.

Just my personal opinion but I think a hook with a ball python is overkill

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I don't think I would ever want to own a snake that I had to use a hook on

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If she is in shed and her eyes are cloudy she can't see too well and rely on their sense of smell and feeling more. So if she smells and/or feels movement she will be defensive. And some BPs either go off entirely or slow down feeding during winter months. I said some not all. Some will continue eating as usual too. But that's just my OPINION.

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

It's been long enough for her to get settled in by now
I'm sure you have good hides for her?
How big is she?
Always approached them from behind just reach behind her kind of rub on her a few seconds and just scoop her pick her up

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

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I have a hide or her that is a wooden hide that is hollowed out like below.
https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/Pet...rd-main_large$
She avoids the hide all together and picks a corner in the cage instead of using it. She is probably just about 12" now. She has grown a LOT in the two months I have had her.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skyrivers

Methods I use with a new or unknown animal.

1) Make slow even movements but with purpose.
2) Bites happen but should not be rewarded with being left alone or put down.
3) Hook training is also wise. Get the animal to ball up, turn, or run before reaching in.
4) Always remain calm.
5) I sit the ball python in my lap and let it sit partially covered with a towel for a few minuets relaxed and wait for them to start to move. I only intervene when they try to move off of me. This allows them to get use to my smell and learn that I am not something to fear.
6) Keep introductions to short period of times.
7) Repeat till you both are comfortable with the experience. Over time trust is built up.
8) Never handle the day before, the day of, and day after feeding.

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This is definitely a good idea. I think what makes this hard too is when I owned snakes that were previously owned and already calm, whereas I got this BP as a baby and never had one that seemed more intent on watching my movements and getting ready when I open her tank. After adding a much larger water bowl she has calmed down a little bit.

You need to purchase another hide of a different kind and then put them both in the tank at opposite ends

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I use slow movement hand flat out so if snake strikes it just hits my palm , I cover the head right away then he will ball then I just pick him up


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