Hello! So a young ball python fell into my lap essentially five or six weeks ago with very little info other than it was male, was used to being fed two live adult mice once a week and simply hadn't been handled a lot and needed a home. He has the MOST intense feeding response I've ever seen on a ball python (comparable to my kingsnake, boa and a few corns). He switched to f/t fuzzy rats with no issue and I just bumped him up to small rats as he is just over a year mark and seems to be growing well. My only real problem? Is he tracks any and all movements he sees outside of his enclosure and always seems to be in feed mode. Anytime I open his enclosure he goes for my hands and if he gets me he instantly wraps and will hold on until I use a little cool water to persuade him to release.

Any suggestions on how to help my little guy get more comfortable with handling and break whatever association he has with bare skin and food? I've started hook training but it doesn't seem to snap him out of feeder mode. It seems like he just equates any movement and his enclosure opening with food and I worry about the level of stress constantly being in feeder mode will do to him. Should I just keep trying to handle him once or twice a day and take the bites as they come until he breaks the association? Or does anyone think he is too old to break this habit? He's just over a year mark based on what the previous owner said and his size.

I've dealt with bitey babies and defensive ball pythons, taming them and getting them used to handling has always been quick and easy but this is a new one for me and has been a bit more challenging. Any tips are absolutely welcome.