question about spending time with python

[riddikk]

hey guys, have a 1 foot ball python, had him for about 3 weeks, still getting used to eachother, i'm handling him real well, hes never struck at me or anything, been working on handling him every day for at least 15 min, just holding him and lettin him move around on my bed with me there, but he always absolutely always gently, trys to get away from me nad crawl off the bed, and sometimes hes kind of jerky when he scares himself, i move very slow and such, but sometimes he scares easy, but im slow going and patient, an idea i had , i had him on my bed watching friends with me haha, and he chilled for a little, he seems to not mind tv, but an idea i had was to have a hide on my bed next to me where he can go in and feel safe while hanging out with me , do you think this is a good idea? so at least hes used to being next to me, etc? he is eating well and the temperatures are great in the tank, cool side an dhot, just a general question on hanging out/handling. hide on bed while watching tv good idea? or no

[Pythonfriend]

not a good idea

[BWyant]

not a good idea

How come?

[kylearmbar]

Depends if he's truly comfortable with how often you hold him. If everything in your cage is truly good, then he should be shedding in one piece or maybe 2-3 if your snakes not the best at it, unless he is stressed, this will cause a snake to not shed well.

[Daybreaker]

I'd just leave him alone: he doesn't care to spend time with you and probably doesn't care to be handled. I'd handle him when you want to but I wouldn't over do it as it can stress him out. I don't handle any of my balls unless they need to be cleaned or when I feel like taking pics and none have become aggressive or "wild". Some are just more lenient with handling while others seem to stress more over it.

[jwill226]

I guess I'm the odd ball here. I hold my ball just about every day when i'm just sitting and watching TV. She never acts stressed she will normally crawl around my head and neck slowly exploring. She has ever been aggressive or stressed based off all my reading of what to look for. She has never balled up so I couldn't even tell you what it would look like for her to do it. I also keep in mind that they are nocturnal and mainly hold her at night when I have the lights dimmed a fair amount. This sometimes lasts up to an hour.

I can even handle her during shed with out problems if for some reason I have to take her out of her tub. Out of respect for her I try never to do that though but it has happened. I also give her 48 hours after feeding before I get her out to just hang out with her. Maybe I'm just lucky and scored a mellow BP.

As far as making a hide on your bed I wouldn't do it. It would be too easy for her to get lost if you turned your attention away to long. Also I'm guessing you don't keep your house to the proper temp and humidity. While I pull mine out nearly daily I also take into consideration the temp of the room. If its not warm in the house I either leave her alone or only hold her for a few minutes


I have no delusions that she "likes" for me to hold her. I'm sure she would be just fine with me only opening the tub to replace water clean up her poop and throw in a rat every now and then. But at the same time she doesn't seem to mind.

[Pythonfriend]

im fine with handling, handle them if you want to, but when you are not handling them they should be able to rest and relax.

and i dont think a hide next to you on your bed would be a place for the BP to rest and relax. if you move around, the whole matress will move to a degree, i think the BP will stay aware that this big strange mammal is still nearby, right outside the hide. different temps, different smells, different substrate, different hide, i think the BP will stay aware that this is not her enclosure/tub/home and will stay tense.

i dont quite understand whats in it for you to have her nearby in a makeshift hide on your bed, as opposed to putting her back into her enclosure or tub when you lose interest in handling her. And i dont think there is anything in it for the snake either.

thats why i said: not a good idea.

[rickm]

Depends if he's truly comfortable with how often you hold him. If everything in your cage is truly good, then he should be shedding in one piece or maybe 2-3 if your snakes not the best at it, unless he is stressed, this will cause a snake to not shed well.

first off, a ball python will not shed in one piece because the humidity is not correct....this has NOTHING to do with stress. stress will cause an animal not to eat correctly or to become defensive...which in the long run can be detrimental to their health...but stress has nothing to do with proper shedding, humidity does. I do not believe this for one second, unless somebody does some kind of study and PROVES otherwise, this is ridiculous. a snake, any species, will usually shed in ONE PIECE if the humidity is correct. I have sixteen foot female retics that will shed out in one piece every time. I also believe that your snake will tolerate handling, but does not 'like or enjoy' it. reptiles are incapable of human emotions. they live their lives in modes, not moods. as long as your snake is accustomed to being handled, and is still eating...I think it is okay to handle them. I love to handle mine, but I usually keep most sessions short unless they are outside for some sun, which I strongly believe is helpful to some species...but balls are crepuscular, which means active in early morning and evening(sometimes even at night). I will only handle my ball pythons for about ten mins at a time...my boas and retics get more of the longer term, outside handling sessions. I don't think I would handle your snake every single day, that is just a little much in my opinion...but it is your animal and it is your choice. I think the animal would be better off if handled only a couple times a week, but again...your animal, your choice. good luck

[bcr229]

I wouldn't because my BP's tend to poop in their hides. As for the handling, 10-15 minutes daily shouldn't be a problem as long as you wait for at least 48 hours after feeding or he's not in shed.

[SlitherinSisters]

How come?

Because you'll lose him in no time. They aren't like a cat or dog that you can call back to you or coax with food. If you aren't paying attention for 2 minutes, he'll be gone and you'll be posting a thread titled "I CAN'T FIND MY SNAKE!!!!!!" If you want to hold him fine, just don't open yourself up to losing him, you'll regret it dearly.

And we're not trying to be mean, or think you're an odd ball for wanting him to hang out with you. We just know how easy it is to lose a snake and don't want you to lose him.