Help with handling

[blafiriravt]

I purchased my new baby ball on Saturday, and she readily fed on a hopper. I have given her 3 days now to digest and relax, and tried holding her a bit tonight. She was very hissy, so I let her be. I realize she is very new and is to be expected, but was wondering is there a time frame I should give her before I start to pick her up? I have already been struck on feeding night (not as big of a deal as I have always feared). I am completely new to snake keeping, and have read and watched several articles and videos, but severely lack in the hands on department. Any advice is greatly appreciated

[swansonbb]

Generally, you want to give them a week or two to settle in before handling them. Keep in mind, hatchlings are often very hissy. From her point of view you're a giant predator. They usually calm down as they get bigger.

[Don]

She will do better as you become more comfortable with her. Babies are nippy and skittish. Use short periods frequently for handling. Ten to fifteen minutes at a time, three or four times a day. Then slowly increase the time.

Don't worry about being bitten. A cat bites harder than a baby ball. Once it happens you will be embarrassed that you were afraid of being bitten. Be calm, be confident and be patient. Good luck!

[blafiriravt]

Thank you both for the advice!! I'll be patient nd give her some time. She is a really chilled out snake, just peeking out of her hides to scope out some enclosure maintenance, but is iffy on being touched. I can't wait to hold her

[Annarose15]

Out of curiosity, how were you bitten on feeding day (or am I misinterpreting "struck on")? Were you offering the prey by hand (instead of feeding tongs), or moving her to another enclosure for feeding, etc.?

[blafiriravt]

I put her in a seperate feeding tub. I offered a F/T hopper with tongs which she readily ate. I had reached in (very slowly) and was wacked on the thumb, after giving her about twenty mintutes to eat. It was a smaller tub though, like a plastic Rubbermaid shoebox, so maybe she felt threatened? I have a larger plastic tub I can use I needed.

[Annarose15]

I put her in a seperate feeding tub. I offered a F/T hopper with tongs which she readily ate. I had reached in (very slowly) and was wacked on the thumb, after giving her about twenty mintutes to eat. It was a smaller tub though, like a plastic Rubbermaid shoebox, so maybe she felt threatened? I have a larger plastic tub I can use I needed.

This is precisely why I recommend AGAINST feeding in a separate tub. She was either defensive because she is more vulnerable during/after eating, or she was still in feeding mode. Feed her in her enclosure. She is obviously more likely to assume your hand is food or a threat when you reach in to handle her right after eating, than if her food always comes via metal tongs.

But hey, at least now you know a bite is nothing to fear. ;-)

[swansonbb]

I'd suggest feeding her in her enclosure. Cage aggression is largely a myth with bps, despite what the pet store says.

[royal constrictor]

ive been feeding my ball in his enclosure and never had a problem with handling ... probably because when i feed i use pliers so when he sees my hand he already knows its not feeding time. Although i have been worried about him swallowing the aspen substrate.

[barbie.dragon]

Taking her out into another feeding tub is just stressing her out and possibly making her even more defensive. I wouldn't even dare reach into my snake's tank when I'm thawing a rat in my room. She gets all predator mode and tracks everything with a heat sig which include my hands! (she eats like a pig).

And you really have to leave her alone for at least a week. It's way too stressful for her. I would even say 2 weeks!