New to snakes

Hi all , I bought my first BP last Saturday and still haven't named it ! It's 5 month old.
Feeding has been fine and it has settled right into its hides. I tried to handle it last night but it is very snappy ! Does anyone have any tips on how to handle it properly ? Or just any general tips?! Any helped is appreciated. Thanks a lot !

Approach slowly maybe avoid his head region and handle frequently


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Time, patience and short handling times.

Dont be afraid of it. Handle it often and be gentle. When i bought my female spider she was a feisty little bugger! She use to strike at everything she saw. Now shes one of he calmest snakes ive seen. The young ones can be nippy at times but its all in self defense. Just be calm and show him youre not there to hurt him


Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy snakes and that's pretty close

thanks! its just scary when it strikes! but i reckon once i have been bitten i won't be scared anymore!

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Originally Posted by dylandevil

thanks! its just scary when it strikes! but i reckon once i have been bitten i won't be scared anymore!

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Ive been bitten by a couple of different snakes and it didnt hurt in the slightest. They always let go right away for me. Just make sure you dont smell like food to them and youll be fine. A hunger bite is worse than self defense and its also more preventable

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Originally Posted by Yamitaifu

Ive been bitten by a couple of different snakes and it didnt hurt in the slightest. They always let go right away for me. Just make sure you dont smell like food to them and youll be fine. A hunger bite is worse than self defense and its also more preventable

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right okay thanks for the advice! when is the best time to handle it? also i fed it two days ago.

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Originally Posted by dylandevil

right okay thanks for the advice! when is the best time to handle it? also i fed it two days ago.

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I recommend that you dont handle them for about 48 hours after they ate. Some people might only wait 24 hrs to handle but 48 is safer. If you handle too soon after feeding they might regurgitate the mouse/rat. When they are shedding or go into the blue I let them alone as well. Other than that you can handle him at any time. If you want to let him alone during the day and handle him at night since they are nocturnal you can but i handle whenever i feel like getting them out. I wouldnt handle too often just because you can stress them out. But make sure you enjoy him! ball pythons are the most enjoyable and addicting pets out there (my opinion). Soon enough youll want to get them all!!!

thanks for all that! i have decided to name him Heisenberg! also one more question , when i go to handle my snake how should i approach him ? i have read you should just go right in there and pick him straight up, but i have also read you should put the back of your hand towards him and let him smell you ?

When i get mine out i usually grab from the back and pick straight up. Once theyre in my hands i let them move around and then smell me. If you go straight in towards their face they might feel threatened and strike or just curl up. Most often people get bit while the snakes in the cage. Theyre going to try to protect themselves. Nice name too!


Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy snakes and that's pretty close

I generally try to pick up from behind them. It just depends on the snake and how they are sitting. With time you will learn to recognize their body language.

I just had my first tank transfer for feeding and i was worried about being snapped at when transferring back i just made sure to clean everything in the area and washed my hands in cold water. When grabbing him i use the same method. I put 1 hand in the tank to make him aware of my presence, take the other and stroke him to let him know im friendly the. Scoop him up. Oh and the transfer was a success.


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Thanks again guys ! I wish I knew how to put pictures on here ! Anyways I took my snake out and it seemed fine ! Didn't ball up at all and didn't strike at me once . He seems really cal, and doesn't even snap at me anymore !

Putting your hand out for smelling is great for dogs and cats but not snakes! Snakes are adapted for picking up scents so he smells you already. Besides, it is a threatening action to them. Even if it doesn't result in a bite it would be stressful. Generally avoid movement around his head. You can go right in and pick him up at the widest part of his body by lifting underneath him and then adding a second hand for support. However, I've found that opening the cage and giving them 30 seconds or so before I touch them seems to prepare them for handling. Some people will stroke that wide part lightly so they know they are about to be handled. I rarely do this with my BP though because he is so docile.

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Originally Posted by simplysalamander

Putting your hand out for smelling is great for dogs and cats but not snakes! Snakes are adapted for picking up scents so he smells you already.

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Dogs live by their nose. Cats have a far better sense of smell than most people give them credit for. Both of them smell long before you are anywhere near them.

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Originally Posted by 200xth

Dogs live by their nose. Cats have a far better sense of smell than most people give them credit for. Both of them smell long before you are anywhere near them.

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Very true. But it is a social behavioral thing for them to sniff each other (and us) it's either the face, hand or rear end. I prefer the hand lol. Again, just for dogs and cats- not reptiles or birds.

Who said anything about having them sniff you?


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