my bp's hate me?

ok as I have posted before I have two balls and am new to them and snakes. I have tried all things suggested but they are just always grumpy and hiss/strike at me when I try to pick them up? they don't always strike but they never have wanted to be picked up? except for the days that I got both of them. is this just how balls are? I have a corn snake who is always wanting to be picked up and never has even looked like he would bite me so whats up with my balls? I think there so cute and want to hold them.

give us some details on there living environment like are they housed together what kind of hides are you using and so on. =]

Are they babies, i have a het albino hes still under 200 grams and he hisses and stikes he is just not use to being held, just got to stick it out and hold them so they get use to it. It might hurt but its pretty much the only way is to hold them and remeber no quick movments nice and slow and steady, hope this helps bite marks are like gold metals lets you know your a snake owner haha good luck

thanks for the replies so far. they are both in 15qt(I think) tubs. they both have identical hides(plastic bowls) on both sides and a water dish. there temps are all good they both eat good. I have had one for a couple months now and the other I just got over a week ago and he has eaten. I guess maybe I haven't had them long enough. but they both act the same so shy and grumpy.lol.

They are shy and also nocturnal. Have you tried taking them out at night, when they are awake and active? As Drew said, sometimes you just need to hold them and take the tag :oops:

Do they strike at you often?

What do you do when they strike at you? Leave them alone? Or go ahead and pick them up?

not that often. the new one has not struck at me just hisses,but the one I have had the longest has a couple times. I like the look of balls but I do understand they are shy and will never really like to be handled I just thought it would be easier to handle a little.

I love watching videos such as snakebytes and am amazed at how he just picks his snakes up and they curl up. mine get in the S shape and fallow my movement. I guess I will just keep trying they are just so beautiful and I want to hold them lol. are there any snakes that get bigger and act like a corn snake? maybe my balls are just look and no touch type of balls.lol.

I dont pick her up when she tries to bite I am not wanting to hold them that bad yet.lol

I suspected that you might leave them alone. They are actually learning that their bluffing is keeping you away - you're still a huge predator to them.

If they are "S"ing their neck, get something (a water bottle for example) and lightly touch the top of their head to get them to duck their head and just pick them up.

Keep handling sessions short and positive. Ten minutes should be enough, let them learn that you aren't a threat to them, and when they are calm, they get to go back into their enclosures.

You can do this every other day if you'd like, but over time, they'll start to learn that a) bluffing doesn't work and b) you aren't a threat.

Hope this helps!

Im pretty sure i read that you just got one of them, let them settle for about a week dont try to hold them just replace there water and let them just chill for about a week and then try and see what happens they still might be stressed from moving ext, good luck and keep us posted :gj:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I suspected that you might leave them alone. They are actually learning that their bluffing is keeping you away - you're still a huge predator to them.

If they are "S"ing their neck, get something (a water bottle for example) and lightly touch the top of their head to get them to duck their head and just pick them up.

Keep handling sessions short and positive. Ten minutes should be enough, let them learn that you aren't a threat to them, and when they are calm, they get to go back into their enclosures.

You can do this every other day if you'd like, but over time, they'll start to learn that a) bluffing doesn't work and b) you aren't a threat.

Hope this helps!

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I know I should just pick them up but I feel so bad stressing them out like that.

I have been trying the water bottle thing and they don't duck there head they just pull back and act more ticked. I have seen balls ball up and hide there head but mine never do this.

I am going to leave them alone I feed them on Thursdays so next monday I am just going to pick them up if I get bit oh well its bound to happen someday. I just have felt like I was doing something wrong if they bit me. but maybe once they are used to me picking them up they will calm down.

I have read about putting them in a pillow case until they get used to being touched anyone try this?

Here's a crazy thought: Are they WC? Do you know about what age they are? It's seems so unlikely that a ball would be such a hissy in the first place, but to have TWO like that?!?!?! I would absolutely follow Robin's advice and remember that these snakes just go on instinct and also can be conditioned. Like Robin suggested, you are currently conditioning them to throw a fit in order to make you go away!! Best thing: Pick one up and hope for the best! :D

They are training you not to touch them when they hiss. One thing that helps is to never let them get their way when they hiss. Any snake that hisses gets picked up for a few minutes (unless they are in shed, gravid, etc..). The exact thing they were trying to prevent.. ;-)

All of mine will tolerate being picked up and messed with. I have a few that are pretty bomb proof and come up to the front of the tub to interact - often coming out to visit on their own. Give it time, they will get used to you...

I found that I don't know how many people do this I know it's highly recommended but I sanitize my hands before and after holding Furio and he seems to associate my smell is not a heated up stinky old mouse. Can handle that little guy for hours at a time if I felt the need. Just gotta get them used to it. I agree with Robin, hold them for maybe 10 minutes every other day for a month or two then up the time and how often. Good luck!

When mine is in a pissy mood and I need to pick her up, I cover her with a towel. It disorients her just long enough for me to scoop her up. Once she's in my hands she goes back to being timid and manageable. I've been handling her for so long, though, that this behavior is rare.

Something else I would suggest that hasn't been mentioned yet is to put something with your scent on it - probably a shirt or a sock - into their tubs and let them get used to your scent. I did this when I first got my ball python, and I feel that it really helped move things along.

Yes i use hand sanatizer everytime before i pick up my snakes or even open the tub, dont need to get bit if i can prevent it :D:D:gj:

How are you coming at them to pick them up? If I come at mine from the front they tend to get upset, but if I come from the side, pet their side and then pick up I have no problems.

Younger snakes usually strike because they are afraid and as mentioned, it's just part of keeping snakes.

One of the best things that I can recommend from personal experience is when your going in to handle them, keep all of your fingers tucked in as if you are going to try and cover them. Most of the time my younger ones don't strike when my hand is cupped but if I leave a finger dangling out, they go for it ;)

Once they are in my hands they are usually pretty good.

HTH
Mike

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Originally Posted by Timbuktu

so whats up with my balls? I think there so cute and want to hold them.

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Sorry, I just thought that was hilarious. :rofl:

Maybe beginner nerves? Sometimes snake may seem twitchy, but you get used to this once the years have passed :)

I rescued a adult corn snake last year that made me really nervous with her striking and twitching, now Im over my nerves Im fine with it..

You'll get over the nerves, or your snakes will settle in and they will be less "grumpy"

Try to remember too that these are young snakes and are very new to you being that you've only had the one for a week and the other for only a couple of months. Combining a young, defensive baby snake with an inexperienced handler and you are more likely to have these issues.

I wouldn't even worry about handling issues with the newest one. At only a week of ownership your focus should be on getting the little one settled in and on a good, regular feeding program. The one you've had a couple of months is likely doing a lot of defensive bluffing. Pick a quiet time about 3 days after a feeding - that way digestion is done but the snake isn't hyped up and close to another meal quite yet - and pick the little one up.

Our snakes are trained by routine that we reach in and stroke them down the lower part of their bodies. This is only done when they are going to be picked up and after a time most recognize what this means and react appropriately. Baby snakes are baby snakes though and right now you are no more to them than a big heat emitting thing that may just want to eat them. So they react - driven by their instinct to survive. Just stay calm, wear gloves if it helps you feel more confident and go about your business with them. Even if all you handle is for 2 good calm minutes, that's enough, you can work up to a bit longer handling time slowly over the next few months.

Everything with ball pythons seems to be about patience. :)

Mine were the same when young. Like a few have mentioned, I'd stroke them a little bit before picking them up. It let them know what was going on and it also calmed my nerves. Being a new snake owner who had never been bitten, I wasn't sure what to expect. If it helps at all, at that size, you'll barely feel a bite! Completely painless in my experience.

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Originally Posted by Timbuktu

not that often. the new one has not struck at me just hisses,but the one I have had the longest has a couple times. I like the look of balls but I do understand they are shy and will never really like to be handled I just thought it would be easier to handle a little.

I love watching videos such as snakebytes and am amazed at how he just picks his snakes up and they curl up. mine get in the S shape and fallow my movement. I guess I will just keep trying they are just so beautiful and I want to hold them lol. are there any snakes that get bigger and act like a corn snake? maybe my balls are just look and no touch type of balls.lol.

I dont pick her up when she tries to bite I am not wanting to hold them that bad yet.lol

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never had a problem with any of my snakes. Had a few hiss' but thats from my blood. I actually think my snakes are to the point where handling is welcome.

i think snakes can sense fear. dont be scared of them their bites dont hurt when they are small. just scares you. but thats all i can think of, everyone else has given you great advice. i like what robin said to do.

I have a new het albino boy who is wicked! lol

I just pick him up... and he doesn't strike at me (he strikes at my man though, much to his annoyance). I hold him behind the head just in case, and just let him chill... then put him away. He will not get tame by never being touched... all my other balls love being handled and exploring.