1yr ball python and 1yr old child

[ksaul]

I purchased my ball python when he was 2weeks from his first birthday and consequently my daughters birthday is 2days before his. Anyway I feel uncomfortable having my daughter around the python because I see him eyeing her up sometimes when shes around.

There is no doubt that my daughter isnt ready to be around the snake alone, she is just to rough and doesn't understand how to be gentle yet lol, but is it safe for the snake (while being held) to be around my daughter? Or when is a good time to introduce him to her?

[chrispouliot55]

well i have a little sister and i trust my snake not to bite. just make sure she is gentle with the snake and try to get the point around that the snake will bite if not treated right. if possibe with 1 year old. lol. my little sister doesnt mess with her cuz i said that she bites. and i will sometimes let her touch the snake and shes ok with it. just be careful. i say try to introduce them asap. and get them used to eachother. but its your choice.

[CoolioTiffany]

I'm sure the snake wouldn't be much aggressive towards your daughter. You may see the snake "eyeing" her, but that doesn't necessarily mean the snake is looking at her thinking "food" or "kill". A Ball python couldn't kill a human being, nor has the intention to kill a human being. Remember, they are more scared of us than we are of them. Besides, Ball pythons will ball up when they feel threatened rather than bite, hence the name 'Ball' python.

Make sure your daughter isn't rough with the snake if she does handle it, and always watch her when she handles it. Also, Ball pythons are head shy, meaning, they do not like their head being touched so they will put their head underneath their body or try to move their head so your hand doesn't touch their head. Some Ball pythons can get defensive if you are trying to touch their head and may bite. When people take pictures of their snakes and try to position them and touch their head the snakes may try to bite.

[ksaul]

I did try to introduce them to each other yesterday (6weeks of ownership) but his feeding day is on mondays and he went for my pinky yesterday when i went for a pickup, this is very uncommon for him, hes never bitten on even lunged for me i think he was just hungry but it did have me think twice about my daughter rubbing him.

I need to weigh him, but I am feeding him rat pups and I think it might be time for something larger, or maybe 2 pups in a week.

[CoolioTiffany]

I did try to introduce them to each other yesterday (6weeks of ownership) but his feeding day is on mondays and he went for my pinky yesterday when i went for a pickup, this is very uncommon for him, hes never bitten on even lunged for me i think he was just hungry but it did have me think twice about my daughter rubbing him.

I need to weigh him, but I am feeding him rat pups and I think it might be time for something larger, or maybe 2 pups in a week.

Well maybe introducing them after feeding for a couple of days would be best. Messing with the snake within 24 or even 48 hours after it has eaten could cause it to regurgitate and spit up the meal.

[ksaul]

Yeah I dont touch him after a feeding until Wednesday after work (48hours)

[CoolioTiffany]

Yeah I dont touch him after a feeding until Wednesday after work (48hours)

Yeah that's pretty good. How's his temperament when you handle him and in the enclosure?

[Elise.m]

Rat pups are WAY too small for a one year old Ball Python. Try an adult mouse, or maybe even a small rat.

[jjc]

How hard is it to keep your BP away from your daughter? A BP shouldn't be much of a threat to any human, but there's no need to worry yourself about your BP's potential to cause harm to your 1yo daughter. It's easy enough to keep the two separate.

Even if your BP is no threat, it would still be traumatic to have the BP get defensive and bite your child. Why tempt fate, when it's easy enough to keep the two away from one another for the foreseeable future?

Personally, I don't see any real reason why a 1yo child needs to interact with a snake, BP or not.

[kjay]

How hard is it to keep your BP away from your daughter? A BP shouldn't be much of a threat to any human, but there's no need to worry yourself about your BP's potential to cause harm to your 1yo daughter. It's easy enough to keep the two separate.

Even if your BP is no threat, it would still be traumatic to have the BP get defensive and bite your child. Why tempt fate, when it's easy enough to keep the two away from one another for the foreseeable future?

Personally, I don't see any real reason why a 1yo child needs to interact with a snake, BP or not.

agree totally no offense but is it for her sake or yours to be able to say your 1year old daughter handled a bp. reptiles do carry disease not even worth the pro to con factor. i see no valid point in trying this for her or the snake