how much is too much?

[flyingsqueak]

how much handling is too much?

I recently purchased a young ball python that I know was not handled much at all before I got him (very shy and defensive at first, never actually struck but postured to strike frequently).

I'm trying to handle him quite a bit to get him used to people and the presence of a cat in the apartment (they're just noticing each other's existence, there's no interaction). I take him out for half an hour to an hour two times a day.

At first he would stay in a ball or other nervous position for about fifteen minutes before starting to move around and explore. Now it takes about five minutes. Am I doing the right thing to handle him so much? I don't want to over-stress him, but he does seem to be acclimating to being handled. He perches on my shoulder and seems to love getting tangled in my hair, and he doesn't posture to strike anymore unless something unusual happens (ex: somebody else suddenly walks by looming over him, he gets stuck under the couch cushion and I have to move the cushion to get him out).

So am I doing the right thing to handle him so much? How can I tell if I'm over-stressing him?

[cinderbird]

If he's eating, i would say handle however much you want. That's really the litmus test for that. Some animals tolerate a lot of handling, some don't. Balls for the most part will tolerate a lot of handling.

[mommanessy247]

i only handle my girl for 20 minutes at a time and about 2 x's per week. i DO NOT touch her when she's in shed and during the 2 days after a meal.
honestly though IMHO, keeping in mind that balls are by nature very shy and timid creatures it would suffice to say that alot of handling (like every day for example) would only stress them out.
there's a phrase going around and it's "a hiding bp is a happy bp."

[TheWinWizard]

If he's eating, i would say handle however much you want. That's really the litmus test for that. Some animals tolerate a lot of handling, some don't. Balls for the most part will tolerate a lot of handling.

I concur, if he's eating handle him the way you want. Just give him some time after eating to digest.

[flyingsqueak]

Thanks so much! He's eating great, just took too fuzzies. He's really skinny; I don't think they were feeding him enough where I got him. Hopefully he'll fatten up soon. Since he's eating well I'm going to keep handling him a lot (other than after feeding of course).

[mark and marley]

annnnd shedding.they like to be left alone for a shed. and thanks for asking that question flying squeek.im a fairly new bp owner as well.ive only been handling my baby 2-3x a week for 20-45min at a time.shes a pig so i think i can handle more.

my bp acted the same at first too.super shy and did the defense pose when i went in her tank.after my mentioned handling whenever i go in her tank she pops out and stares at me curiously not defensively.
"foooood,nope its that mammal again,what the heck is he doing with my water,whats he doing with my water,wheres he going with my water,oh man oh man,ok new water,now hes bringing the rain again,oh man,hide,hide,rain gone,oh man,maybe if i stare at him hel go away,oh man hes picking me up,oh man,oh oh nice hes warm,im not getting eaten,cool a warm mammal to climb on and hiding spots everywhere,sweet."