Handling Ball python

I've been told that BP's most of the time when held, usually chill out, and just lay on you. But I've handled mine a few times now, and it's not as if he's trying to escape, but he's always exploring and trying to get somewhere it seems like. When I first got him, he would wrap around my arms and just kinda chill out. But now he's always on the move. He seems really sensitive to body heat, like he'll touch his nose to my arm, and he'll jerk back, and won't go anywhere near my arm.

I know it probably sounds silly, but I'm just wondering if he's stressed out when I'm handling him, or if its normal for a juvenile?

It's pretty normal for them to touch your arm hairs and pull back after doing so, they react strangely to hairs I suppose, lol.
Most of my snakes will try to roam off and explore especially when I'm at the computer, the keyboard squeeze is a favorite exercise, snakes seem to really LOVE the keyboard.

He sounds like a typical ball python to me :)

Most people say its normal for juveniles to be restless while being held.
My 500g pied is a freak when being held, he is always stretched out, trying to find somewhere to explore or hide. My little 200g het pied girls are calm as can be and will just chill on my lap with im on the computer. They wont even ball up, they just seem comfy.
So I think it just kinda depends on the snake in my opinion.

My male normal tends to want to explore when I have him out and am holding him. He eventually chills out and just hangs around my shoulders.

i think it's cute how my mojo girl thinks she can get away from me during our handling sessions. i never let her get more then arms length away. i just let her cruise about that far and then right when she's thinking about bookin' it, i'm like "nope haha get back here."
and she is aaaallll over the place...and me. she'll try to climb me for a little while before she gives up and just cruises around me trying to find a way INTO the couch.
:rolleyes:

Sounds like he is trying to escape, which is not a bad thing. I wouldn't say he's stressed being handled, but most snakes including bps don't "like" being handled, they tolerate it. It's not like a puppy that rolls over so you can rub it's tummy, they are just different critters and snakes don't necessarily like to be held, but they like being out of their glass/plastic box so they can plot their escape ;)

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Originally Posted by LGray23

Sounds like he is trying to escape, which is not a bad thing. I wouldn't say he's stressed being handled, but most snakes including bps don't "like" being handled, they tolerate it.

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I think this is up to the individual ball python.
I have numerous snakes that will insist on being held by coming out of the tubs on their own and right into my arms, it's pretty obvious that they more than just tolerate being held.

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

I think this is up to the individual ball python.
I have numerous snakes that will insist on being held by coming out of the tubs on their own and right into my arms, it's pretty obvious that they more than just tolerate being held.

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Well what we interpret as "liking" may not necessarily be them liking it. I've looked into scientific studies of this stuff and keep coming up empty handed unfortunately. I'd LOVE to see proof that they are capable of those emotions because I find it fascinating, and I like to think my snakes enjoy my company and enjoy being held and feel more than just "trust" towards me, but I haven't seen any of the scientific proof behind it, which is why at this point I said "I think" they just tolerate it, or trust us, or know our scent. Whatever it may be, I wish the studies were readily available like the stuff on cats and dogs.

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

I think this is up to the individual ball python.
I have numerous snakes that will insist on being held by coming out of the tubs on their own and right into my arms, it's pretty obvious that they more than just tolerate being held.

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I'm inclined to disagree with the majority of our community and instead agree with you. I'd say less than 10% of my balls are like this, but the behavior is undeniably there.

My favorite BP is my little 500g axanthic girl and she loves being out and absolutely refuses to get off of me to go back in her tub :P

The act of coming out and insisting on being held is all the proof I need that they enjoy being held :)
I don't believe a snake that just tolerates us would do that.

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

The act of coming out and insisting on being held is all the proof I need that they enjoy being held :)
I don't believe a snake that just tolerates us would do that.

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I completely agree that my snakes are all "lovable" to me, I mean it appears to me that they really do enjoy it, but whether that's scientifically true is what I was getting at.

There's a lot of things that can't be proven (or dis-proven) by science. Like the existence of a God. Or that human love is anything more than nature's nifty little trick of forcing men to stick around to protect the women/children.

You either feel it or you don't, and other peoples' "science" (opinions) aren't going to change that.

haha i didn't mean to stir the ball python world with a philosophical debate.

I think we normally do try to anthropomorphize our pets and attach human emotions and feelings and perspectives to our animals, and thats natural. And theres nothing wrong with that, until you start thinking more about what you want, over what the animal wants. Science isn't be all, end all. But i enjoy trusting scientific facts, over that ambiguous cloud of faith.

My little mojo was like that at first. I make a habit of holding him every evening and he eventually mellowed down. Some days he wants to look around and some days he buries himself in my bra and nothing will get him out until he's good and ready.

Just keep holding him. If you don't feel that he's being to stressed out than all is good. In time you will know your snake's personality and be able to read his moods. :w00t:

My girl's the same way. I only let her out on my bed, but she's always cruising towards the edge of the bed or trying to squeeze under the pillows or covers. She doesn't seem to mind being held, but she doesn't like the initial getting picked up out of the tank. But once she's out she's always periscoping and sniffing around.

She does seem to recognize familiar scents though. She's climb all over my boyfriend and I, but with new(er) people she'll sit stock still and flick her tongue like crazy to figure out what's going on. We think she's attracted to higher body heat, because she'll beeline to my boyfriend and curl around him because he's always toasty warm. :D Each snake has its own quirks, just like any pet.

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Originally Posted by xFenrir

My girl's the same way. I only let her out on my bed, but she's always cruising towards the edge of the bed or trying to squeeze under the pillows or covers. She doesn't seem to mind being held, but she doesn't like the initial getting picked up out of the tank. But once she's out she's always periscoping and sniffing around.

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That pretty much sums up me and my bp's experience together. He hates being taken out, but once he's out, he seems to do fine. Always looking for crooks and nannies on the sheet of my bed to hide in. If I let him go, he'll fall off the bed.

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Originally Posted by Keyboard Warrior

... But now he's always on the move. He seems really sensitive to body heat, like he'll touch his nose to my arm, and he'll jerk back, and won't go anywhere near my arm.

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Sorry but I can't resist.

Your not turning into a werewolf by chance are you? ;)

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Originally Posted by MoshBalls

Sorry but I can't resist.

Your not turning into a werewolf by chance are you? ;)

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are you asking if I have robin williams arms? haha no. i didn't know they were weird about body hair. I thought it was body heat

I say in my own personal experience that some snakes do enjoy been around and or people luna my normal girl. Loves been carried tries to escape but most of the time stays with me rudy on the other hand doesn't seem to like it that much he tries to hide and sometimes run away but luna as soon a she sees me by her cage she will try to find a way out...... She is like a dog always wetting for me to come even better she don't bite :colbert:

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Originally Posted by Keyboard Warrior

are you asking if I have robin williams arms? haha no. i didn't know they were weird about body hair. I thought it was body heat

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Actually it was a New Moon reference. According to it the wolves run about 10 degrees hotter. ;)

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Originally Posted by MoshBalls

Actually it was a New Moon reference. According to it the wolves run about 10 degrees hotter. ;)

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I guess thats why I'm a winter guy ;) and why my bp doesn't like me holding him.

It all does depend on the snake, mine for instance likes to get ontop of my head and sit curl up in my hair, i dont use gel or any hair stuff, other then shampoo and conditioner lol, but he seems to love that spot most. he lays in my hair and then sometimes rests his head and neck on my ear, its really cute. hes a baby. idk if he will change he only does it to me and i think he really likes me im also the only one he doesnt really flinch from i think its mostly trust goodluck! :D

My 2cents, when I take Monty out of his tank and put him down, he will ALWAYS move back towards me or my daughter and won't crawl away. He seems to prefer contact.