not touch/play with my bp for almost 2 months

i'm often outstation and now i'm finally get to stay with my bp. but after left them for almost two months, seems like they became aggresive and i'm to scare to play or touch them. what should i do? already fed them but still too sacred to touch them.

Stop being scared and just pick them up... But do double check all husbendry to be sure the agression isnt from that first. Also you should start your own thread in the correct section instead of taking over another members thread.

I've removed these posts from the other thread and started this new one.

I agree with M.P.C. Face your fears and just swoop him up. It's a BP so it's not going to seriously injure you. Their bark is much worse than their bite. Put on a glove or use a hook if the animal is super defensive. They usually calm down after a minute or two once their outside of their enclosure. Many animals can also sense fear and will use that to keep you at bay. I would never keep an animal that I'm afraid of.

As said above, make sure their husbandry is all correct and their living conditions are ideal. After that, it just comes down to putting your hand in there and pulling them out. Pick them up from the side or back, not head-on. Be slow, but assertive, no jerking movements. Once you have them out, sit down and put them on you lap or in your hands and let them get relaxed until they're ready to move on their own.


Was someone else caring for them during the times you are away? Do they handle them at all? Hopefully someone was feeding them in your absence?

#1 - the BP is more scared of u and thinks u are a threat.

#2 - if u are scared of your BP and always back away when it strikes, it will be trained/conditioned to think that the aggressive behavior is acceptable. so it will always hiss or strike at u. it will associate it's aggression with being left alone.

#3 - you have to step up, find a routine to handle it until it becomes calmer and knows that you are not a threat.

I agree with Ax. Just go in there and handle them.

Leather glove and get back into handling more. Put the glove on your less dominant hand and pick up the BP. The bite does not hurt but it is definitely a mind thing and your first reaction (unless you trained yourself) is to step back or release the animal. The leather glove is more for you mental stability. Keep the other hand glove free. When you attempt to pick them up let them strike the glove until they had enough without you withdrawing your hand. After a few hits they usually (from my experience) go into a ball. That is when you pick them up with your ungloved hand and allow them to relax. If they get defensive again intercept with the gloved hand. Do this every other day or so and for a few minutes at a time and increase the time from there. I got a female hatchling in and she was a little monster. First bp to ever bite me. A ferocious little thing lol. Didn't hurt but i feared i might drop her in surprise if she caught me off gaurd. I did this for about a month and now she is 400g of sweet. I don't even handle her very often anymore since she has mellowed out. I can now clean her tub and do a health check without her trying to rip my face off lol. Good luck! :gj:

Easiest way to grab one that's snippy is from the rear. Just grab a coil and pick it up. If most likely will calm down quickly once in hand. Look for tongue flicking and an extended body. These are your best signs of a a curious non aggressive BP. Also if you run a finger down the midline a relaxed snake's body will ripple. If they're tense, it'll feel solid and not react that way. No here's the scary part. If they don't relax and are still in the "S" position ready to tag you, ball them up. From the rear, come over the top of the head and force them to retreat into a more defensive posture. They're called Ball Pythons for a reason! A few times of this and they'll get that aggression is not acceptable. I've done this and it's worked well. I've actually been thinking about posting a video on this as I have a snippy candidate now. Let me know if you want to see it and I'll work on it tomorrow. I fed yesterday.

Dave

where can i get this leather glove?

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Originally Posted by ihsanely

where can i get this leather glove?

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Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace, Walmart...In the hardware or gardening section.

Dave

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Originally Posted by AKA Dave

Easiest way to grab one that's snippy is from the rear. Just grab a coil and pick it up. If most likely will calm down quickly once in hand. Look for tongue flicking and an extended body. These are your best signs of a a curious non aggressive BP. Also if you run a finger down the midline a relaxed snake's body will ripple. If they're tense, it'll feel solid and not react that way. No here's the scary part. If they don't relax and are still in the "S" position ready to tag you, ball them up. From the rear, come over the top of the head and force them to retreat into a more defensive posture. They're called Ball Pythons for a reason! A few times of this and they'll get that aggression is not acceptable. I've done this and it's worked well. I've actually been thinking about posting a video on this as I have a snippy candidate now. Let me know if you want to see it and I'll work on it tomorrow. I fed yesterday.

Dave

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I would love to see this video to further educate myself and have a new technique in the tool box

Sent from my SM-G800R4 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by AKA Dave

Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace, Walmart...In the hardware or gardening section.

Dave

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lol +1 Dave. Its just your run of the mill leather glove. Get a cheap pair, doesn't have to be thick at all. Just get real leather not the fake coated ones as that coloring tends to come off eventually and i worry about that being ingested.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AKA Dave

Easiest way to grab one that's snippy is from the rear. Just grab a coil and pick it up. If most likely will calm down quickly once in hand. Look for tongue flicking and an extended body. These are your best signs of a a curious non aggressive BP. Also if you run a finger down the midline a relaxed snake's body will ripple. If they're tense, it'll feel solid and not react that way. No here's the scary part. If they don't relax and are still in the "S" position ready to tag you, ball them up. From the rear, come over the top of the head and force them to retreat into a more defensive posture. They're called Ball Pythons for a reason! A few times of this and they'll get that aggression is not acceptable. I've done this and it's worked well. I've actually been thinking about posting a video on this as I have a snippy candidate now. Let me know if you want to see it and I'll work on it tomorrow. I fed yesterday.

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I would also be interested to see your technique Dave.

Following would like to see Dave's technique

I would also like to see your technique, My boy is a sweetie, but the girl i just got is a bit snippy, i am just starting to handle her, she came from a large breeder and was only handled during cleaning, she is 223g. I used a glove the first time but she balled up and remained that way till i put her back 10 mins. later. Any suggestions to help her relax, would putting her on a blanket on my bed help.

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Originally Posted by blue roses

I would also like to see your technique, My boy is a sweetie, but the girl i just got is a bit snippy, i am just starting to handle her, she came from a large breeder and was only handled during cleaning, she is 223g. I used a glove the first time but she balled up and remained that way till i put her back 10 mins. later. Any suggestions to help her relax, would putting her on a blanket on my bed help.

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I would say keep up with the interaction. Let her ball up and just sit with her. Like i stated before make it every other day or so so not to keep it in constant stress or fear. Eventually ( i believe) they will see handling as nothing to fear. she sounds small yet so if you have a sweat shirt wear that and take her out of her tub and put her the pocket. Leave your hand in the sweatshirt pocket with her. This should give the sense of a hide and also give her some interaction with you while she is balled and hopefully that will help her relax.

This is just like when I worked at the studios! Talent is not cooperating. She simply won't un-ball and is just staring at me. I'll try again in a few days.

Dave

LOL Having stage fright :D

I've tucked young/nervous BPs in my shirt. They're warm, dark-ish, and hidey that way. If you don't have a natural shelf on your chest [emoji3], flop back on the couch/chair. Eventually they will relax and start tickling you/exploring.


Sent using software and hardware

She cooperated today and did her normal thing! Wa-pow! I'll start a new thread as soon as I put it together and post the link here as well.

Dave

Here you go.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...81#post2415581

Dave