Does your ball 'ball up'?

[TheNunciate]

Mine doesn't. Even when I startle her, I've noticed she doesn't go into a ball. Is this normal or should I be concerned that she's getting stressed? Do they ball up when they're scared? Maybe she's just not scared of me.....

[LadyOhh]

Some do, some don't...

Depends on the personality of the animal in question.

Sounds like you have a very friendly one!

[piper]

They do a lot more when they are very young from what I've noticed. If you lift the hide up to hold them/clean and they are coiled up, when you touch them they should tense up a bit, but after a while I think they get used to you picking them up and don't stay balled up long. Plus I'm sure it just depends on the snake.

They are more timid I believe when they are small/young.

My large female doesn't stay balled long at all when I take her out, but the 2 late 08 ones I just received do for a little while.

My spider does too but she freezes in any position she's in when you touch her.. she's just not normal though haha

Cheers,

Mike

[rabernet]

Piper's avatar is one of my girls that always balls up (that's how I can get tons of pictures of her! LOL). I have probably 5 out of 40 that ball up and the others rarely do.

[TheNunciate]

I'm just curious because lately she's been acting like she want to chomp me.

I'm still not familiar enough with her to read her reactions or predict her behavior.

Newbie...

[Joe Cope]

Mine have only balled up once or twice. And it was because they were frightened.

[Creeptastic]

Mine doesnt ball up, but often sits in the S position...but never ever has struck at me...she just thinks shes a bad ***

[abuja]

My '08 bp balled up when I first got him, but he rarely balls up except for the first minute after I've taken him out of his cage. I figure since he's a he, he is just showing off his bravery!

[jamesa2580]

My larger snakes just lay in a tight coil for a moment after being picked up - not the traditional ball. My little ones used to ball, but have just decided to be nippy lately instead. I wish they would ball up. I prefer it to being struck at
Once I get them in my hands, they are usually fine, again, with the exception of my little girl - the hatchling who is the most defensive. She'll strike in my hands. She's getting a bit better with each feeding, though, and I'm sure will mellow out over time.

[Scatterheart]

Mine has never balled up, not even when I took him out of the Fedex box.

He gets rigid when I remove his hide and pick him up, but relaxes after he's been out for a while. If I startle him, he just draws his head back, and as long as I sit still with him for a moment after that he just goes back to crawling around as if nothing happened.
"You're not going to eat me? Oh, ok."

He's definitely gotten better with each handling too.