Handling question.

Ive been taking out my snake everyday for about 10 mins max since saturday.
I can pick him up fine...but once hes in my hands he stays very still
and in kinda a striking position his head is kinda c or s shape.I had my hand in front of his face cuz i was trying to move his tail...and he kinda striked me..i think..i didnt really feel anything but i think he did. Is that normal. Everytime i hold him he stays very still and doesnt go anywhere.And when i try to put him back in his tank he puts his head up like he doesnt want to go back in.Am i doing somthing wrong?

sounds to me like he's probably stressed. How long have you had him? could you describe your enclosure and temp/humidity situation?

Ok...well i had him for about a month and a half.
The temp and humidity seems fine. 90 on warm side
and 80-85 on the cool side. I mist it 3-5 times a day.
Hes a good eater a couple failed ones but hes doing really
good now ..he eats better when i Pre-scent it ..so he takes it right away now.
He has 2 hides ..and seems to like the cooler side one. He comes out somtimes but most the time he stays inside his hide.I just started handling him last saturday..so maybe hes just not use to it...i donno.

Sometimes it just depends on their mood or what they were doing when you picked them up! If Milton is sleeping and it's the middle of the day he's not as active as if I see him out and about and handle him... then you can barely keep him in your hands! :)

Did you get him from a breeder or a pet store?

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Originally Posted by Swingline0.0.1

Sometimes it just depends on their mood or what they were doing when you picked them up! If Milton is sleeping and it's the middle of the day he's not as active as if I see him out and about and handle him... then you can barely keep him in your hands! :)

Did you get him from a breeder or a pet store?

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I got him from a pet store. Petco.

I got mine at a Pet Warehouse (I think they're the same thing). He was used to being handled, and we handled several before choosing him... he just seemed chilled out.

The workers at the one here were clueless! I'm really glad I found this site!

Milton only does the S-thing when he's a little scared of something, so it could just be getting used to you.

Sounds like a wee little baby snake that is just really scared. I'm glad he's eating for you and seems to be settling in. Just be patient. It could take weeks or even months before he begins to feel truly comfortable in your hands. Remember that they live life at a much, much slower pace than we do so any change can take a great deal of time to get used to. Not to mention the fact that the little babies are hard-wired to be wary of predators because they're pretty darn close to the bottom of the food chain at that age.


I would suggest that you keep the handling sessions short, as you are already doing. Just sit quietly with him in your hands and let him decide when he's ready to begin moving around and exploring. Don't force it.

I would also recommend that you don't handle him every day, but start out just once or twice a week at the most, until the little one has a very solidly established eating routine. And even then, handling every day is not ideal for ball pythons. Some will adjust to it, but it can create a stressful environment for most and could cause them to stop eating.

Thanks.Ill take things more slower and be more patient from now on.

I have another question.Do u guys have any tip or tricks to keep it humid in glass tanks?

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Originally Posted by Riyuu

Thanks.Ill take things more slower and be more patient from now on.

I have another question.Do u guys have any tip or tricks to keep it humid in glass tanks?

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If you learn nothing else from your ball python, you WILL learn patience! :P

There are TONS of threads on glass tanks and humidity. Here's one:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=32800

3-5 times a day??? Isn't that a bit much? I like using a towel to covor up part of my balls enclosure. keeps the humidity anywhere from 65-75, depending on how much i cover the top ( i can get up to 80 during shed). i usually keep it a little below 70%

okie dokie.So...just keeping the water bowl under the light and maybe misting it a couple times will be enough?

hmm.. maybe a lamp is whats killing your humidity. I dont have a lamp for my snake, she's faring perfectly well with the heat provided by the UTH

Ooh..but i need the lamp..or eles it will get really really cold.

Actually, no. Unless it's the dead of winter you really don't need the lamp. This is coming from someone who used to give a lamp to every reptile because it was 'needed'. Then I tried taking the lamp away and just using the UTH on a suggestion...and it works! Honest, the temps are just fine with only the UTH controlled by a t-stat or rheostat at least. Just make sure your tank isn't too high and your screen top is mostly covered as it instructs in the stickies.

Ooh ok...but i think ill just continue using a lamp because it drops below 70 with out it.especially at night...so i have the blue moonlight lamp on to.Ill just mist it a few times a day and leave the water bowl closer to the warm side.

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Originally Posted by Argentra

Actually, no. Unless it's the dead of winter you really don't need the lamp. This is coming from someone who used to give a lamp to every reptile because it was 'needed'. Then I tried taking the lamp away and just using the UTH on a suggestion...and it works! Honest, the temps are just fine with only the UTH controlled by a t-stat or rheostat at least. Just make sure your tank isn't too high and your screen top is mostly covered as it instructs in the stickies.

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You really can't tell someone how their temps will behave with or without a lamp because everyone's houses are completely different. Not only do we often live in different climates, but almost all of us keep our ACs running at different levels. Some people keep their homes quite chilly and a heat lamp may be an absolute necessity to keep a tank warm enough even with a UTH.

It IS possible to maintain proper humidity with heat lamps and glass tanks...it will just take some tweaking and maybe a little bit of creativity.

Yeah i have the Ac running all the time...cuz here in Az its hott!
I keep it at...like 70-74.Sooo...if i dont have a lamp it will drop that low in my
bp's tank. I just bought a new light bulb for my lamp and now its already dead!
Can i just use the blue moonlight bulb and leave the room light on during the day.Will that work intell i can get a new light bulb?

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Originally Posted by Riyuu

Can i just use the blue moonlight bulb and leave the room light on during the day.Will that work intell i can get a new light bulb?

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Absolutely, you can. In fact, it'd make life easier for you 'cause you won't have to worry about switching them around each night/morning. A BP doesn't need any bright lights shining in its cage to know it's daytime. Whatever ambient light happens to be in the room each day is plenty.

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Originally Posted by JLC

Absolutely, you can. In fact, it'd make life easier for you 'cause you won't have to worry about switching them around each night/morning. A BP doesn't need any bright lights shining in its cage to know it's daytime. Whatever ambient light happens to be in the room each day is plenty.

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Thank you...i think ill just do that from now on!