New to Ball Pythons??

[haveacrouton]

Hey guys!! I'm new here. I just got my very first ball python (Orion) yesterday!! I have other pets too, but they are axolotls, and I have three of them.

Anyways, I know that handling your BP can be extremely stressful for them. But I picked him up before my shift at work, and he sat curled around my bra strap for my entire shift and I'm pretty sure he was asleep.

Anyways, I was wondering what are signs of a stressed BP whilst handling and such? (Other than not feeding well). I'm wondering what kinds of things he'd do / act like that I could pick up on when handling? He seems inquisitive and never balls up. I was sitting on my bed on my laptop here with him and he crawled up and sat in my shirt again, I'm pretty sure he thinks that's his hide now? lol.

And just a side note:
I know it's bad to handle them excessively especially when you first bring them home because they need to get used to their new tanks and surroundings but I took him out today because he's in shed and I gave him a bath and I also am somewhat fearing for his safety at the hands of my mother, who hates him and told me she'd kill him, so I kept him with me for a bit when I went out. YES I know that is not the best idea for him, I'm trying to find a temporary home for him right now as I'm moving out within the next month.

[Daybreaker]

Going off feed and excessive roaming are signs of stress IMO.

I wouldn't bath your BP, especially if they're going into shed. This can actually make them have a bad shed instead of a good one. Only if I have a snake have an incomplete shed (pieces stuck to them) is when I let them crawl through a wet towel or leave a damp towel in their tub overnight so they can work it off themselves.

Hope you get your guy to a safe place, especially if you're mom is threatening to kill it (which is ridiculous, balls are harmless).

[Blubb]

As mentioned above, you should not bath your ball python before the shedding process. That could wash away all the oils produces prior shedding. Stuck shed pieces should be washed away though, with a wet towel or anything so they can rub against. Good luck !

[cmack91]

In my experience, when you handle them and they move around alot, it means they're trying to get away. If you give him a chance, he'll find a nice little spot to curl up in and never come back out, in this case it was your shirt, and he probably chose that because it was close by and warm.

Things that i've noticed mine do when the're stressed are:

Excessive, quick movements, in different directions I.e, when he's in your hand, and is elevated, he might try to dart in a direction, realize he can't, try to dart in another direction, realize he can't, etc. until he finds a place he can go. If he can't go anywhere, he may ball up right there.

Look at his respiration rate, if you notice quick, heavy, spaced breaths, he's most likely scared. And during this time he may make some popping noises.

When they're startled, they may also freeze in place, hold their breath, and stop flicking their tongue. My interpretation of this is that you have triggered the brain to go into the "fight or flight" mode, and after a few seconds they will decide to either ball up, run, or strike (which is VERY rare).

If he's just kinda wandering around, flicking his tongue alot, and isn't jerking to go in different directions, then he probably isn't in any actual stress. But keep in mind that these are snakes, and they don't "like" interactions with humans, they simply tolerate it, and I think it would be safe to say that he would much rather be crammed in a small, warm, dark hole where he knows nothing can get him.

[KMG]

he'll find a nice little spot to curl up in and never come back out, in this case it was your shirt, and he probably chose that because it was close by and warm.

I know I like to crawl in my girls shirt cause it is close and warm. HAHAHAHA!!!!!

but she makes me leave.


On a serious note. Get a lockable tank or cage. That will keep your mom from it and it will keep your friends from disturbing your buddy when they come to visit. Or kids if thats an option for you.

[haveacrouton]

Okay awesome. He's got a bit of white scales just on the top of his head?

And since I just got him 2 days ago, is it bad for me to take him out so soon in order to protect him from any harm my mom could do? Knowing her, she would probably just throw the entire tank out, lock or not. (Which I do have a lock for it.)

[chet1028]

Sounds like you should have waited to get him until you moved out. Yes, it is bad to keep taking him out. You know that already. Sounds like you know the right things to do, you just choose not to do them. Maybe you should give him to a friend to protect him until you move.

[Poseidon]

If it comes to a critical point: wad some paper or something and put it in your tank's hide. Make sure you can only see a dark shadow. Now go buy a Tupperware container and set up his environment in that (with gauges and a heat source and all that).

But ideally you could have him stay with a friend.

But honestly, if your mother is so afraid of the snake that she'd kill him, I doubt she'd come near him to do so. Education can go a long way.