Handling

How often should i handle my ball pythons? I curently handle them one time a week when i clean there containers. If i handle them more will they become more tame? My smaller one year old female hisses at me when i disturb her. My older female 950 grams is just wild and always trys to get away lol. How often do you guys handle?

Since I have a larger collection, each one is probably handled for about 15 minutes every week. When I had just a few, I'd handle every other day for about 15 minutes.


Each ball has their own personality. Certainly, a little more handling can help to get them to accept handling more, as long as the handling sessions are short and positive experiences.

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Originally Posted by Tony25

How often should i handle my ball pythons? I curently handle them one time a week when i clean there containers. If i handle them more will they become more tame? My smaller one year old female hisses at me when i disturb her. My older female 950 grams is just wild and always trys to get away lol. How often do you guys handle?

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Well i kinda go by ach snakes attitude towards being handled.My largest female ball loves to come out and explore.Now my het albino male straight up hates being bothered and he lets me know it :P .If you handle them 2 or 3 times a week(not for 3 days after eating) i have found most will calm down since they understand you will not harm them.

I only have two snakes.

Currently my Ball is handled everyday, sometimes for 10 minutes, sometimes hes out for a few hours. He's very docile. Except after feedings for about 2 days.

My corn is held every few days, as he is still quite twitchy, but we've ben gradually working for longer and longer periods outside the cage, and I can now even put him on a flat surface without him zooming off right away.

That said, it can take a lot of time to get a nervous snake to calm down. But persistance pays off if you want to handle them. Start my putting something in the cage that smells like you (a washcloth that you carried around for awhile has worked quite well). Also start reaching in to the cage and touching them for a few minutes. If you are nervous about bites, wear gloves, and don't get all twitchy and jumpy if they do try to nip you, that just makes them more nervous. Then slowly start taking them out for a few mintues, but stay in a quiet area with no loud noises. Eventually you can start taking them out for longer periods, and even moving about the house.

The worst thing you can do is rush them. If you start something too fast, let them settle. Regular handling at a regular time should help.

My bp hangs from my shirt while I go about the house and loves to sit beside keyboard while I'm typing.

I guess it depends on what you want... None of my snakes are to the point that they will strike at me when being handled, but not every snake really seems to like it, either. My snakes are more for breeding potential and to look at than as pets I "play" with. That being said, I do take them out occasionally aside from cleaning. Sometimes I just want to hold one and sometimes I want to take a few pics, but that's pretty much the extent of it, and I don't have a problem with it, and they don't seem to either.

Are snakes okay with limited handling as well? How long is too long to leave one unhandled? (obviously not including the necessary moves when cleaning)

Again, this usually depends also on the individual snakes. Some are just naturally more docile while others are more defensive or aggressive. I handle my snakes equally, which as I said before, isn't a lot at all, and they have different feelings about it.

I handle mine every other day. Other then after eating. None of mine have attitudes and I hold em for 1-5 minutes then back to their tub or tank.

I'd handle my female Q a lot more, but she's a fiesty little scrapper and doesn't enjoy godzilla (me) picking her up unless he tub is do for a cleaning. She hasn't gotten the better of me yet, but I like'm fiesty.


-Jason

Thanks for all the replys. I have my 2 females for breeding purpose as well but i also dont want to underhandle or something like that. My smaller female i am kinda woried about her biting but ill have to get over that and show her no fear. Usualy when she hisses i say forget that lol Ill just call her bluff next time.

Tony

It's essential that you handle your balls often. It's a very enjoyable thing if they are clean and you are nice to them.

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Originally Posted by ballpnoob

It's essential that you handle your balls often. It's a very enjoyable thing if they are clean and you are nice to them.

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Why do you think it's essential? I happen to disagree with that, but I'd like to know your reasons.

mines are generally calm, and well-dispositioned, and i handle them about at least once a week

i try to handle all my snakes atleast once or twice a week . usually for 10 to 15 minutes at a time . i've got too many at this point for much more than that .

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Why do you think it's essential? I happen to disagree with that, but I'd like to know your reasons.

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I was trying to be funny. Sorry. :stupidme:

usually every day or every other day (except after feeding)
I handle them for about 15 -20 minutes at a time

Got it Chris. :rolleyes: I think they missed the italics.

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Originally Posted by Sadie

Got it Chris. :rolleyes: I think they missed the italics.

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I didn't miss the italics, but since this is a family friendly forum and his reference wasn't, I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

My bp dont come out of his hide until i take the top off then he trys to climb out so i take him out then he wont go back in