First time handling

I got my ball last week and he had his first meal 2 nights, so I was planning on getting him out for the first time today. I was curious as to how you guys go about getting them out of the cage. Do you usually wait until they are out and about at night and get them in or do you remove the hide they are under. Thanks for the input.

You can just remove their hide and pick them up. You should pick them up from behind, so as not to startle them. If you do not feel comfortable picking them up from their enclosure, or if they seem stressed out, you can use a snake hook to pick them up. You can them transfer them from the hook to your hand.

Good luck!

I hold on a schedule. 48 hours after a meal I reach in and touch them from behind. When I see that the muscles flinch a bit I know they are aware and pick them up. I use no hides, so no comment.:)

try to stay away from there face. My one snake does not like when I come to fast at her face. I usually just pick the hide up off of her, and scoop my hand behind her underside. Don't worry you will know if your gonna get bit. They have like a stance they go in, they look very deffensive. They will try to give you signs before they strike usually. Good luck!

I don't give my snakes time to freak out and strike at me, I just go in there and scoop em up. They sometimes ball up, but my older one is always fine and is just like "oh, I am not in my hide anymore"

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Originally Posted by dsmalex97

try to stay away from there face. My one snake does not like when I come to fast at her face.

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A lot of snakes, especially ball pythons, are protective of their vulnerable heads. Coming at them fast from the front or directly over their heads can trigger a "oh crud that thing is going to bite my head" instinctive response. Depending on the snake you might get a quick withdrawal of the head, a fast balling up of the whole snake with the head protected inside that ball (hence the nickname "ball python") or you may get yourself bit.

We start our snakes off right up front with simple routines for everything. Our handling routine is to open the enclosure, do a fast assessment of the snake visually to see if it's relaxing in it's hide, lurking looking for food, in a full strike position and putting out "I'd don't want you to mess with me right now" vibes. Once we do that and determine the snake's in the right place for handling we always give them a stroke or two down the second half of their body, avoiding the head area. If they accept this easily and don't have that "hard" feel when their muscles are bunched indicating they are stressed or unhappy or looking to strike, we lift them out.

Always hold your snake in such a way that you are in control of it, that your grip is firm and controlled and the snake feels safe in your hands. These animals may not be able to do higher math but their no dumb bunnies. They figure out pretty quick whose comfortable to handle them and whose going to screech and drop them.

If you feel nervous, use a hook or wear gloves until you feel confident to handle your snake. I'm sure you'll both do fine.

Well I followed everybodys advice on here and got the snake out for the first time today. Everything went well he stayed balled up in my hand for about 5 mins before he uncurled and starting moving around. He did also pee on my hand is this normal?

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Originally Posted by nathan52789

He did also pee on my hand is this normal?

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You are now one with the ball, welcome to the brotherhood:banana::rockon:

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Originally Posted by nathan52789

Well I followed everybodys advice on here and got the snake out for the first time today. Everything went well he stayed balled up in my hand for about 5 mins before he uncurled and starting moving around. He did also pee on my hand is this normal?

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Sounds just about right LOL. Sometimes you're the snake handler, sometimes you're just the handy dandy snake toilet. :)

just pick them up, the more timid you are the more likley you are at creating an "incident". Also I try to leave them alone if they hiss or act irritated, but if I have to handle them and Im worried about them striking I throw a towel over their head and keep them partially wrapped in it as I pick them up.

Funny you should ask this question today. I recently picked up a new Cinny boy from Adam at 8 Ball Pythons. When Adam took him out of the bag at the show, the little guy was perfectly behaved. I brought him home and put him in his tub and left him be. I fed him Tuesday night, and he hit F/T like a truck, and ate like a champ.

Well, tonight I was going to get him out of the rack and take my first really good look at him. My GF pulled the tub out and lifted his hide up. He tried to cling to the underside of the hide, but eventually she lifted it off of him. It was right about that time that he turned around in the tub and tried to eat her face. A pretty impressive strike by him, and a real fast move by her not to get eaten.

We made a mutual decision to let him chill out in the tub for another week or so:P I don't think he's quite ready for the world yet:D

Usually before I get mine out of the tank I wash my hands, then gently tap on the glass next to where he's at, remove the screen and if he's in a hide I pickup the hide and grab him about the middle of his body. My male is a very gentle relaxed snake so I haven't worried about being bit. My female spider I still don't have her but I'll give her a week to week and a half for her to settle down in her new home.

Got him out again today with no incidents like yesterday.

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Originally Posted by ARamos8

I use no hides, so no comment.:)

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Why don't you use any hides? That has to be stressful on your bp.

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Originally Posted by lmartelli77

Why don't you use any hides? That has to be stressful on your bp.

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many people who have their snakes in a rack system don't use hides.

We use hides in our rack system and just lift them off, reach in under their bodies and lift them out. My Pastel, Osiris, starts to make a run for the back of the tub but I just reach in and gently take him out. Once I've got my hand on him, he's fine. Unlike our new Cini (Mars), that Slim mentioned, who was NOT happy with lifelast night. We did take him out tonight and he was fine. A little tense and we only had him out long enough to change the paper in his tub but he didn't try to take anyone's face off. I'm sure he will come around once he settles in more.