Taming/Handling my bp

So Jormungandr has never struck or hissed at me, but he always seems on edge when i am handling him. He doesnt ball up, but in turn stays almost "S"d up like he might try and strike. I usually just open his cage and let him come out on his own onto my hand. Im not too worried about getting bit, but its one of those things that if i cna keep it from not happening id like too :)

any tips tricks or recomendations? He is a 16-18" normal BP

In my experience, whenever I handle a Ball python they always do the 'S' shape when being picked up. I know they are head shy, and pretty aware & cautious, so I don't really even think about the snake striking at me when I'm handling it because with every single Ball python I've handled they haven't shown aggression towards me (unless I spooked them) while in that position with the 'S' shaped neck. I've noticed a lot of pythons & boas do the 'S' shape with their neck and it doesn't always mean they are going to strike, most of the time I handle my Ball pythons I've noticed they like to keep their neck scrunched up in the 'S' shape.

Don't be skurred! He's still small and some babies can be a bit jumpy until they acclimate to being handled. Most every BP will lose it over a short time.

that makes me feel a little better, cuz i can sit on the couch with him for 45 minutes just sitting there, and he may venture down a little bit, but always in the S shape lol. Ive been bit by things that would hurt alot more than a little BP but its one of those things that if i can avoid i woud like to

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Originally Posted by SS4Luck

that makes me feel a little better, cuz i can sit on the couch with him for 45 minutes just sitting there, and he may venture down a little bit, but always in the S shape lol. Ive been bit by things that would hurt alot more than a little BP but its one of those things that if i can avoid i woud like to

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A bite from a baby BP doesn't hurt at all; it feels like a finger prick. Their teeth are so small that you most likely won't even feel the bite. When handling/picking up the snake, try not to be nervous to pick it up or handle it because if your nervous then the snake will be nervous too, making it more prone to bite. If you are calm, not scaring it from quickly picking it up, and handling it gently, the snake will be calm. IMO, the 'S' shape is just how pythons are, and means nothing. You can tell when they are pissed or having a bad day because when they are doing the 'S' shape it looks a lot different: The 'S' is tighter and more closer to the body and (what I've seen) the snake's head seems to look upward a little (the head thing may mean absolutely nothing, but when I see a pissed python their head is normally a bit upward or looking up slightly).

You'll be fine boss. One other thing....Don't be intimidated to reach into the enclosure and pick him/her up. When you reach in, reach around him , not straight on towards his face. You'll have your confidence built in no time!

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Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

You'll be fine boss. One other thing....Don't be intimidated to reach into the enclosure and pick him/her up. When you reach in, reach around him , not straight on towards his face. You'll have your confidence built in no time!

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Well said!:bow:

I only handled my baby BP for a few minutes a day for the first few weeks and was amazed at how quickly she became more and more comfortable with me handling her! When I first got her, she was a little hissy, but I just ignored it and continued to let her get used to me (just sitting in my hand for a couple of minutes). She was so jumpy at first...anytime I touched her she flinched! But like I said, it was only a matter of a few weeks before she no longer flinched and would actually start exploring rather than sitting in a defensive posture in my hand. Now strangers on the other hand...well, there's no ego boost quite like handing off your relaxed little BP to a friend and your little BP automatically going into a defensive posture! LOL!

You're doing great, though! I think a huge part of the "getting to know you process" is not only your BP learning to relax a little...but YOU learning to relax a little, too!

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Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

Well said!:bow:

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I take notes from your books (Mile loong posts) J/K:gj::rofl:

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Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

I take notes from your books (Mile loong posts) J/K:gj::rofl:

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LOL with all the stuff I wrote I bet I could make a book out of it LOL, I post way too much, and too long (sometimes :O)..

i am by no means scared to get bit really. I have a adult male veiled, 2 viscious king snakes, and a 5 1/2 foot iguana. Ive been bit very very hard before, im more worried about when he is older, or making him HATE me. I also wanted to make sure he is normal in what he is doing.

I know they can be head shy and from all my past snakes i have learned to be confident and pull the hide out slowely, and gently but firmly pick the snake up from the sides and pull him out. Is there anything i can do about being head shy? Not that i want to pick up his head, just one of those things if hes a little more comfortable with me handling him everywhere chances of any mishapps will go down. They key is confidence, even when you dont have any!


thanks for your help guys,

one more thing, i tend to not sleep much and he gets most of his handling at night when he starts cruising his cage, is there a good or bad time handle them? At night he seems a little nicer and explores through my fingers a bit, i figured this is ok, but im just worried imma mess it up haha

ive been gently trying to touch my bp's head to hopefully break him of the head shyness. started by petting his neck and just continued higher and higher up until i was just on the back of his head. if i move up slowly he seems ok with it. its the the random tap the the head he gets really scared.

ive read that they will break the head shy as long as u work at it.. and of course the more comfortable they are with you in general the more they will let you do

Hey Tiff...I love your mile long posts!! It amazes me that at such a young (compared to me) age you know so much! Very impressive!!

Ok back to the post!! Just handle him everyday. I have a 2 month old Bee that is the biggest scardy cat!! He would about jump out of his scales if you even came close to his head. I have been handling him almost everyday and he is getting better in only 30 days. On the other hand I have a normal that is such a freak she LOVES to be held ALL THE TIME! I am hoping that with a few more months of work the Bee will be on track with the normal!!

Just like Tiff said...don't be intimidated with your snake....or weary of it biting you. I believe that all animals can pick up on that and run with it.