How to do I hold my snake?

[Maddumpling]

My ball python lives in a pretty big enclosure because he is a big guy. And I can't get him from the top, but have to get him from the front. He's in a ball and as I try to get him from the side, he keeps following my hand motion. Will he bite?

[Maddumpling]

i can hold my other two snakes cuz they are in a tub and a screen lid cage, but can't hold my big pastel thats in a glass door cage.

[Anatopism]

I've had a lot of snakes that will watch me attentively like that and will never bite, but prefer to hide their head when my hand gets too close. If you're concerned, use a towel to place gently over him then pick him up. You'll get a feel for how he's going to react, and if he bites, he'll get the towel, if he doesn't, you'll become more confident with taking him out of the cage =)

[Kinra]

I can't say for certain if he will bite or not, you basically just going to have to try it unless you want to invest in a snake hook. All of my BPs are in tubs, but a few still like to act like they are going to bite me. My boa does what your BP does and will follow my hand sometimes. So far she hasn't bitten me, but it does freak me out a little. With her I just go slow and she seems to accept me. You could also try distracting him to draw his attention away from you hand. I do that with my sister's rat snakes. I take a paper towel roll and draw there attention away with that before I pick them up. Most snakes in my experience are fine once you get them out.

I hope this helps, good luck!

[Maddumpling]

okay so i held him and looked at his belly, it's a bit pink and i know he didnt get burnt because the thermometer is reading 87 degrees so im pretty sure he is in shed.

[Kinra]

I haven't encountered a burn yet, but I know some of my snakes get an extreme pink belly when they are going to shed. My largest normal's belly looks almost red when she's in shed.

[blueberrypancakes]

I was really nervous about taking mine out at first, too, so I totally understand! The towel trick is a great suggestion. Ball pythons are pretty chill little dudes, I dont think he'll bite you.

[AliCat37]

My ball gets a COMPLETELY pink belly too when he is about to shed. Scared the bejeebes out of me the first time I noticed it. As for the potential biting, it is possible, but if he has a similar personality as other balls I have seen, he'll just duck away fast as you get close. My boa on the other hand, has tagged me before, but it was so fast I didn't even get a chance to feel it and I proceeded to pick him up.