signs of affection? trust?

[JohnnyBoyy128]

Hey just curious, does anyone know what ball pythons will do as a sign of affection more so trust? cause in all my years of ball pythons Ive never had one bite or even strike at me, any one got any ideas? roflbanana

[mr. s]

They don't bite you.

[Punkymom]

They don't bite you.

Tell that to my hatchling. He strikes at me ALL the time! He's getting better but for a while he was like a rubber band trying to bite me.

[maria1232]

well...BP don't have "affection" per se, but its more of them knowing your not going to harm them, so they don't freak when your around

[j_h_smith]

Like with most wild animals, a quick movement from you will cause a reaction from that animal. No telling what will happen. I would almost bet you have never bred ball pythons. Them babies can be more nippy than a dog when you're wearing a T-Bone suit.

Congrats!
Jim Smith

[JeffD]

i have a normal that is calm and relaxed. He never has struck at me, and doesn't pull back when something moves around him. THEN I got an Albino.. This one strikes at everything, pulls back into defensive posture when someone walks by on the other side of the room, strikes at a space heater 10 feet away (because of the heat signature). I think the difference is the albino can't see as well, and younger. I believe the albino will get better with time.

[WingedWolfPsion]

The little ones under 200 grams are the worst. They usually outgrow it by the time they're 300 grams. There are a few that remain unpredictable and strike at the drop of a hat their entire lives, though. If you're a breeder, you will no doubt meet one, one day. lol...

No, they're not affectionate. They simply do not have the hardware required for that--they do not display affection toward one another, toward their offspring, or toward humans. They are not social animals, and they don't care for their young, so they have no use for affection. Their parental care of their eggs is purely instinct-driven...while on eggs, the female simply bites and hisses at anything that disturbs her. The moment she's off them, she forgets all about it entirely. Most of my females seem confused for perhaps 5 minutes after I remove them from eggs, then they go back to essentially normal, non-breeding behavior. I have never had a single one try to strike or act defensively once I had lifted her completely off the eggs.

Trust, however--yes, they get used to us, and learn to trust that we will not harm them.