I accidently dropped one of my Ball Pythons, will he be ok?

[Lana's_mom]

Ok, a mistake I am very embarressed I made. But now I am worried. I was using a snake hook to get my big male out of his tank, since this is the way the people who had him before me did it, and I got him out and started to reach for him. He suddenly started to slither and fell off the hook, and hit the hard wood floor upside down from about 3 feet up. He rolled over instantly and i picked him up and held him for a bit. He didn't move around alot, not suprisingly, and when I put him up he just went into his hide. Should he be ok? I feel so horrible about it.

[Jessica Loesch]

He is probably okay but I would monitor him closely.

[Skittles1101]

A big male...ball python? I know hook training is good for larger snakes but unless your ball pythons are aggressive it seems it'd be more of a hassle than anything.....

Just keep and eye on him and watch for any abnormal behavior.

[Lana's_mom]

This was the way they had handled him before. So I was trying to keep the routine the same as possible for him. What kind of things should I watch for?

[Skittles1101]

IMO, I'd ditch the hook.....

But things I'd watch for is lethargy, any blood loss anywhere, maybe corkscrewing or star gazing which can be signs of neurological damage...but honestly from only 3 feet he should be fine. They are hardy and clumsy critters....

[Lana's_mom]

I will be ditching the hook. He has just been curled up in his half log. I will be watching him closely. Thanks for the help.

[angllady2]

Sounds like the people who had him before were idiots.

I don't use a hook for my 6' long, 7 pound female; I can't imagine using a hook for a male.

A RTB maybe, a Dumerils perhaps, a Hogg Island for sure, but not a ball python.

And by the way, they are tougher than they look. I don't condone throwing your snake or dropping it from ceiling height, but a little fall like that he should be fine.

Gale

[Lana's_mom]

Thanks. I adore him, and all my other pets, both no legs and 4 legged, and compared to most on this forum, I am still pretty new to snakes. But I am learning everything I can about them. I normally only use the hook with the 2 rescue snakes, a Ball Python and a Rosy Boa who are super aggressive. I've had Rosy's before and never met one so nasty tempered, and the Ball use to be mine and handlable, he was snippy but now after the person I had given him to due to bad situation with a ex completely neglected him for 6 months he has a nasty temper too, but he is calming down everyday. I think soon he will be easy to handle again. I apprecaite all the advice, and patience with me

[Skiploder]

Thanks. I adore him, and all my other pets, both no legs and 4 legged, and compared to most on this forum, I am still pretty new to snakes. But I am learning everything I can about them. I normally only use the hook with the 2 rescue snakes, a Ball Python and a Rosy Boa who are super aggressive. I've had Rosy's before and never met one so nasty tempered, and the Ball use to be mine and handlable, he was snippy but now after the person I had given him to due to bad situation with a ex completely neglected him for 6 months he has a nasty temper too, but he is calming down everyday. I think soon he will be easy to handle again. I apprecaite all the advice, and patience with me

A full grown ball python is incapable of delivering a bite that would necessitate using a hook. Yes, you'll bleed like a stuck pig for a few minutes and people will ooh and aah over the pictures, but once the blood is wiped away you'll be lucky to even see anything more than a few pin pricks.

You just found out one the best kept secrets out there - using a hook can actually be dangerous to the snake if you are not very adept at it. If you really are concerned about the bite, wear gloves and get the animal used to your hand coming at him.

As far as hurting him, the larger and heavier the snake, the greater the chance that he could have sustained an injury. Having said that, I would not lose any sleep over a 3' fall.

[AndrewGeibel]

A RTB maybe, a Dumerils perhaps, a Hogg Island for sure, but not a ball python.

Quick thread hijack then back to the topic. A hogg island boa is a "red tail" and why a hogg for sure? They are smaller then most other RTB's.

Back to the topic. I'm sure your little guy is fine. They are hardier than we give them credit for.