Do your ball pythons ever actually ball up?

[Emily Hubbard]

Obviously, I do my very best to never intentionally startle my snake at all, much less to the point of balling up. But I always though BP were very shy and vulnerable are therefore prone to the behavior that gives them their name. But I have never seen mine do it!

When I first reach in to get her, she will often "duck" and flinch and pull her head close to her like she is trying to protect it. And when I am holding her, if I accidentally make a sudden move, she will do the same thing. But never any balling up.

Obviously, I am not at all CONCERNED that she never gets terrified and balls up, it's naturally a positive thing, and I am guessing just part of her personality. She just must be a little braver than most and prefers to asses the situation before resorting to a ball.

I'm just curious about you all and the behavior you see out of your snakes. Do you have any that ball up immediately without question at any perceived threat? Or are yours pretty chill like mine and only skittish when you first have contact with them, or sudden moves. Just curious.

[snakeluvr#3]

Mine is brand new still but have seem him go into complete ball mode twice now. The other night he already had poo in his cage so I reached in just to clean it and did the ducking move too lol

[Ashleigh91]

I've only had my little guy for two and a half weeks, but I've yet to see him ball up, or even hiss I was pleasently surprised, was expecting him to be a bit more shy/nervous just due to the young age. Not complaining at all though!

[satomi325]

Sometimes. It really depends on the snake.
For some reason all my males are social butterflies and never ball up. My little girls are a little more shy and will always ball up at the first touch then come out soon after.

[Royal Hijinx]

My very young Lemon Blast het Hypo will fully ball up sometimes, but the rest are more inquisitive.

[RestlessRobie]

Mine used to ball up then they realized I was at there mercy and now they just do things like refuse to eat or poop on thier hides and laugh while I clean it up

[luvmyballs]

I have a couple of snakes that will ball up all the time they are the timid ones . The rest hardly ball up but those snakes it seems like to be held. Then I have a couple that always take a defensive posture . Sometimes striking at me. Guess there like people they all have difference dispositions .

[ExotixTowing]

My new guy does... And will sometimes stay lime that for 10-15 minutes or until I leave the room. He was tub raised and not handled expect for cleaning.

But after he settles we will start working with him. No hissing tho that's a good thing

[MarkS]

Nearly all of my hatchlings will ball up. Some grow out of it pretty quickly, some take a little longer, and some never grow out of it at all.

[Rob]

My little mojave still balls up, everyone else seems to just wanna go go go when I get them out especially my lesser.
I think mine are the same as yours, just get nervous at first and with sudden moves