Handling a BP

So, I've been handling my new baby a lot and I just got to thinking if there we different ways that people go about holding their snake. Do you have a certain routine that you do while handling your snake? Do they like to sit on a certain part of your body? I'm pretty curious about this. Never really thought about it before.

What say you, forum posters?:snake:

I have 14 ball pythons and I try to handle them as much as possible except for my snakes that are breeding. But I have a spider who hangs out with me everyday, he sits on my laptop keyboard, lays on my chest while Im watching a movie or just taking a rest. Sometimes he even takes a nap with me but I make sure that he cant slip away in the process. He realy likes it when I wrap him up in my shirt. Hes my best little buddy lo

Lol. That's cute :P
I'm still trying to make that bond with my newest baby. He's hardly 16 inches and he's a curious little guy so I hope he'll come out of his shell soon! He likes being held after you have him out for a while and he takes a look around and realizes "okay, nothing is trying to eat me. it's okay to relax"

Neemo likes hanging out around my neck while I do dishes, and he'll chillax with me and watch a movie, usually curling up in the crook of my arm and going back to sleep

When I see my guy cruising around his tank looking for an out I open the lid and extend a hand. He comes out and hangs on my shoulders or I let him do some well supervised exploring. If I think he wants back in the tank I bring him over and let him slide back in on his own but sometimes he wants to stay out. I like to give him the choice. He's full grown and I've only had him a couple of weeks but so far he seems unstressed by this method.

you can usually tell when a snake is "comfortable" in a position, if they aren't they squirm more :D There are lots of ways to "hold" a ball python, and it all depends on whether you are standing or sitting, stationary or walking, and the size of the snake is also a factor. Just keep an eye out for the snake feeling non-stressed, happy, and comfortable. That's what you're shooting for, so both you and the snake have a happy handling experience.

My snake loves to climb into the front pocket on peoples' sweatshirts..

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Originally Posted by MDB

I have 14 ball pythons and I try to handle them as much as possible except for my snakes that are breeding. But I have a spider who hangs out with me everyday, he sits on my laptop keyboard, lays on my chest while Im watching a movie or just taking a rest. Sometimes he even takes a nap with me but I make sure that he cant slip away in the process. He realy likes it when I wrap him up in my shirt. Hes my best little buddy lo

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How you train that Spider? My Pastel will try to go away every time I handle him. He is very active but never shown any sign to strike or bite. I got him around 3 weeks and hope he will used to me soon. Jealous ~ you have a good boy ~ LOL

That really depends on which snake I'm handling at the time.

For Hadrian, if he doesn't do it first, I'll guide his head down my shirt so he calms down for the first few minutes. After that, he's squirming all over the place, curious, sniffing. After THAT he calms down. A lot.

Lucius is a little boy, so he's kind of a squirmer.

Ophi is the chill one of the group. She'll curl up at my feet and watch TV under a blanket with me. She'll help me wrap presents. She likes to do dishes. She's not too fond of Grandma(my mom) opening the freezer to get ice, but she loves to cuddle. The child is so bizarre.

heres my way..

Grab snake.
put snake in holding tub.
clean tub.
grab snake.
put snake back in tub.

LOL. No I do hold some of mine more than others. My Mojo female and male pin gets a lot of attention for some reason. :D

I'm of the mind that ball pythons tolerate handling, they don't necessarily enjoy it (but they can't really tell us, so who knows for sure). Handling is really for our pleasure.

All of mine are "tame", and very predictable, even with minimal handling (15 minutes at a time, max).

They all have distinct personalities, and I adore them all, even with my minimal handling approach.

I just brought my guy back from the vet from his last shot. He had a respiratory infection from when I got him a couple of weeks ago. He does not like going to the vet because it stresses him out. When I get him home though he does not want to go back in his tank because he wants to be held. I put him in anyways and he is cruising around the top of the tank like crazy right now trying to find a way out. It seems to me he likes to be held.

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Originally Posted by 8Ball

I just brought my guy back from the vet from his last shot. He had a respiratory infection from when I got him a couple of weeks ago. He does not like going to the vet because it stresses him out. When I get him home though he does not want to go back in his tank because he wants to be held. I put him in anyways and he is cruising around the top of the tank like crazy right now trying to find a way out. It seems to me he likes to be held.

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It actually sounds more stress related than desiring to be held. Just let him have time to settle down.

He seemed like he really wanted out so I ended up taking him out. He went up on my shoulder, plopped he head down and just lay there for maybe five minutes. After that I gently put him back in he tank and he seems fine now.

Mine is just sitting here on my laptop screen at the stop right now. Snoozing away. Lol. Before though he was sitting on my leg and he "yawned". Dunno if it's really a yawn but it looks like it :P

My guy does the "yawn" too. I love it when he does things that I can relate to. Like if his head is itchy he rubs it against something. Simple things like that are new to me so I find them fascinating. I find myself wondering what it must be like to live in a body that shape. Then I try to figure out what would make him comfortable in his environment and also what is the most comfortable way for him to be held. Definitely support with two hands as not to put too much pressure on any one spot.

Yeah I always handle him with two hands, too. My cousins were over last night because we have the family over on Christmas Eve and of course all of them want to touch the new baby ball I have so I was trying to keep my BP safe and watch his motions and monitor 6 kids under the age of 11. It was mayhem lol. He was really good though. Didn't strike or S up his neck once. Granted, he wasn't content like he is when I hold him or when he's chilling on my bed, but he wasn't pissy either. I was really impressed.

I felt bad that I was probably stressing him out though so when everyone left I let him wander all around the living room :P

Our 700 gram bp is finicky - head shy and always goes on S-mode when the tank is opened. My husband handles her a lot and she's usually wrapped around his wrist like a bracelet.