So, I've had my first BP baby Sapphira for about 2 weeks now, she seems to be settling in nicely and we get along great. I have read lots about how they get cranky and defensive and all that fun stuff, but so far Sapphira has been very tame, timid, and curious. A friend of mine who owns a BP told me her BP bit her not long ago because she was cleaning her rat's cage and the BP caught a wiff of it on her hand. That's pretty reasonable, but it got me thinking...
I wonder if ball python's have a somewhat similar brain structure as ours - when we smell, it triggers powerful memories and emotion. When I smell an ice cold Miller Lite it takes me back to PNC park, sittin there watching the Pirates (go Pittsburgh!). So my hypothesis is: If I use the same hand sanitizer or lotion on my hands every single time I handle my little Sapphira, she become accustomed to this smell and associate it with me. If so that would allow us to strengthen our relationship and the relationship with the humans that I allow to come into contact with her. Maybe an aloe vera hand sanitizer or something like that? Idk, just an interesteing thing. If anyone has ideas or suggestions to better befriend the magnificent ball python; post away.
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