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Handling question
So my ball python is 9 months old, eats perfectly, never struck at me, but he seems a bit shy. Any time I take him out to handle he doesn’t seem to like to leave his enclosure, and when I do take him out he tries to squirm away. If I don’t constantly control him he’d slither off of me and go somewhere into my room.
I handle about 1-2 times a week at most, and my question is is this enough handling to try and combat his shyness? I’d like to just be able to lay down with him and watch a movie without having to constantly prevent him from trying to get away.
My other question is: Once they are Adults is it harder or impossible to change their temperament/personality such as his shyness?
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Re: Handling question
That’s just how snakes are. Rarely if ever will any of mine of any species just sit without moving for any duration while out of their enclosures.
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Rather typical snake behavior- it takes patience & some will just do better than others at staying calm while handled.
Try to remember why BPs feel safest in their hides, & try to "be his hide" when he's out & being handled. In other words, his fear is instinctive when he's out in the open- so many snakes feel safer when cuddled next to us (as if we're a big rock to hide behind), & you might also try handling him in a pillow case or under a towel, to limit his vision & wandering, until he learns to feel safer with you.
I don't think his being an adult now will make any difference, by the way. Just be patient & try to empathize with where he's coming from.
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Re: Handling question
It’s actually unnatural for snakes to be comfortable during handling sessions for the most part. They usually just tolerate it and some are less tolerant than others. There is a existing article on the way that pythons move and how they need stationary objects to press their bodies against to feel safe and secure. The article defines this as a term that escapes me at the moment. I will try and get that term for you.
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Re: Handling question
I tried to get my ball python to do the same thing, but it never really worked. I just take him out to check on his health or to take pictures. I used to take him outside sometimes (like in my avatar picture) before SFD started to spread through Indiana.
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Re: Handling question
Thank you everyone for the responses. It makes more sense now, that I understand that’s just their nature to act that way. I will try to make him feel more safe [emoji4]
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I have 8 different snakes. I have 2 ball pythons. My 4 year old took about 6 months to trust me, now he is no longer head shy and will lay on the bed with me, move around and come back to me. My 9 month old is very calm and relaxed, i got him at 2 months old. Both pythons lay on my chest at first, while i run my fingers all over them. In about 5 min they are now ready to explore. All of my snakes trust me, and hang on my shoulder, or around my neck or they crawl inside my hoodie. I have a job where i work from home for the last 15 years, so my snakes get handled every day.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...Morris-Dec.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...220-113010.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...218-220948.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...220-113000.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...831-170225.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...831-094157.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...520-195112.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...6-210205-1.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...213-210034.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...6-104057-1.jpg
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Re: Handling question
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hilroy48
Pretty snakes! I guess handling slightly more but making sure he’s comfortable might help a little. Just a question out of curiosity, have they ever peed or pooped on you? I’m now scarred and won’t bring mine on my bed anymore because he peed all over me and my bed. [emoji23]
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Re: Handling question
Quote:
Originally Posted by EthanMG
Thank you everyone for the responses. It makes more sense now, that I understand that’s just their nature to act that way. I will try to make him feel more safe [emoji4]
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I think that's mostly the issue- they're 'wild' animals so they rely on their instincts (in the case of BPs, mostly to hide)- they just don't understand that we're going to protect them, so when we handle them, they feel exposed.
But there's so much variation among snakes, & also for our own ability to transmit calmness. My all-time winner for the most mellow snake to hang out with (& watch a movie for hours) was my late boa (BCI)- who knows, maybe she was even following the plot? hahaha! :D
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Re: Handling question
Quote:
Originally Posted by EthanMG
...I guess handling slightly more but making sure he’s comfortable might help a little. Just a question out of curiosity, have they ever peed or pooped on you? I’m now scarred and won’t bring mine on my bed anymore because he peed all over me and my bed. [emoji23]
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You do need to watch out for that tell-tale bulge above the cloaca that means their most recent meal is nearly ready to check out, especially when your snake is still fairly new & may be a bit nervous.
But you never know: I once had a very friendly, mellow & mature rosy boa (that I'd raised for years) that snuggled around my shoulders for a while one evening, before she slid into my shirt & sent a river of feces down my back! :O :rofl: It happens to most of us sooner or later. But a whole bed...UGH! :(
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Re: Handling question
@ Hilroy48
[IMG]Hilroy48 Hilroy48 is offline Registered User Join Date 10-06-2021 Posts 12 Thanks 0 Thanked 19 Times in 6 Posts I have 8 different snakes. I have 2 ball pythons. My 4 year old took about 6 months to trust me, now he is no longer head shy and will lay on the bed with me, move around and come back to me. My 9 month old is very calm and relaxed, i got him at 2 months old. Both pythons lay on my chest at first, while i run my fingers all over them. In about 5 min they are now ready to explore. All of my snakes trust me, and hang on my shoulder, or around my neck or they crawl inside my hoodie. I have a job where i work from home for the last 15 years, so my snakes get handled every day.[/IMG]
If that works for you it’s one thing. Your reptiles are not living a natural life being handled every day. Not being critical of you but just advocating for the captive reptiles who deserve to be in a more simulated natural environment. It’s very unnatural for them to be held and exposed on a daily basis. Doing so is more of a anthropomorphic behavior on the human side.
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LMAO. ok. Have a great life. Whatever.
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Suffice to say that we don't all agree on how much handling is too much for our pets. Different species react differently, and just like us, they have their own personalities too.
We all need to pay close attention to how they respond to handling- if they stop eating or act defensively, that's a pretty big hint that handling is excessive, or that you're doing it wrong.
On the other hand, while our snakes did not evolve being handled & handling may not be "natural" for them, they DID evolve with some ability to adapt, & they certainly did NOT evolve living in cubicles with perfectly-controlled "weather" either.
So let's all play nice (respect our differences of opinion) & keep an open mind, OK?
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Re: Handling question
Quote:
Originally Posted by EthanMG
So my ball python is 9 months old, eats perfectly, never struck at me, but he seems a bit shy. Any time I take him out to handle he doesn’t seem to like to leave his enclosure, and when I do take him out he tries to squirm away. If I don’t constantly control him he’d slither off of me and go somewhere into my room.
I handle about 1-2 times a week at most, and my question is is this enough handling to try and combat his shyness? I’d like to just be able to lay down with him and watch a movie without having to constantly prevent him from trying to get away.
My other question is: Once they are Adults is it harder or impossible to change their temperament/personality such as his shyness?
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That term I was looking for is Thigmotactic
Understanding Ball Python behaviour…
Ball Pythons are considered to be thigmotactic meaning they keep large areas of their bodies in contact with surfaces of the environment in order to feel safe, limiting how much of it is exposed to open space and therefore predators.
[IMG]Snakes are often kept in small enclosures or rubs ( really useful boxes ) as they feel more secure. Not all snakes like large roaming areas and/or open spaces as this makes them feel vulnerable to Preditors, and causes stress.[/IMG]
The less we handle them the less stress and difficulty.
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Thigmotactic eh? My new word for the day- gotta remember that for Scrabble, too. (tactic + thigmo...) :sweeet:
That's a perfect description of ball pythons too, & something to keep in mind when furnishing their homes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Albert Clark
...The less we handle them the less stress and difficulty.
See, I think that's your assumption, & I think that one could argue that it's not so much the "handling" that matters as it is the WAY snakes are handled by some people.
For me, the word "cuddle" is a lot easier to remember than "thigmotactic". ;) It's also about being respectful & having empathy with snakes.
While I don't handle my snakes all the time, when I do, I'm pretty good at settling down even the most panicky snakes so they feel safe with me. Keeping their stress level low also helps their appetite, the function of their immune system, & ultimately, their longevity.
I actually think it's better that our captive snakes learn not to fear us, rather than having a snake that's never handled always feeling cornered & thinking that there's some huge predator (us!) lurking nearby all the time. Remember that in the wild, snakes must learn their way around to survive- so as pets, we're part of their environment which they can also learn about & accept as "harmless".
You can't tell them they're safe...you have to show them. The only way I know to do that is with patient handling, & keeping their "need to feel safe" in mind.
(ie. By not swooping over & picking them up suddenly, not dangling them out in the open, not expecting them to enjoy roaming across open spaces, but instead, holding & supporting them so they feel sheltered by us. And by the way, this is not likely going to happen when young children handle them- they're too young to really understand.)
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