Ball python still seems scared/stressed around me

[mleonard]

Hi Everyone!
I've had my new young ball python for about two weeks or so now. She eats once a week and I don't handle her for about a day or two after. I've only handled her about 3-4 times a week so far. She warmed up some one day and crawled around my neck and arms but she still hasn't warmed up all the way I believe. I don't know if I'm not handling her enough or if it is something else.

I was just wondering how often I should be handling her and how long others snakes took for them to warm up to them.

[Eric Alan]

I don't know if I'm not handling her enough or if it is something else.

I was just wondering how often I should be handling her and how long others snakes took for them to warm up to them.

It's definitely something else - it's a snake!

In all seriousness, you have a pet ball python, not a puppy. Some will seem to "warm up to you", while others will never be comfortable with you. The best you can hope for is to eventually break the "my person won't eat me" barrier. Expecting much more than that is setting the bar too high IMO.

[MontyAndMelissa]

Unfortunately ball pythons are kind of "ornament" pets most the time. Being handled can stress them out. So if she doesn't like it, don't bother.

[bcr229]

How old is your ball python and how much did the prior owner handle it? If it's young it hasn't had time to learn that you're not a big Godzilla monster that will gobble it up. It can take months before they realize we're just weird warm walking trees.

[mleonard]

Not sure how old. But I don't think she was handled a lot before I got her.

[mleonard]

It's definitely something else - it's a snake!

In all seriousness, you have a pet ball python, not a puppy. Some will seem to "warm up to you", while others will never be comfortable with you. The best you can hope for is to eventually break the "my person won't eat me" barrier. Expecting much more than that is setting the bar too high IMO.

I know I don't have a puppy but I have handled plenty of other ball pythons that have been very relaxed while I handled them.

[AerialArtist]

My boy took several weeks to calm down with me. Several months to reach the super relaxed, yawning, lounging, nearly vegetative state he is now. She'll get there!

[Eric Alan]

I know I don't have a puppy but I have handled plenty of other ball pythons that have been very relaxed while I handled them.

I get the feeling that I may have inadvertently offended you. That was not my intention at all - quite the opposite actually. All I meant to do was to put a ball python's natural behavior in perspective. They're not exactly what I would call "affectionate" in the way that puppies are known to be. So many times new owners set the bar to high thinking they've just acquired a new "lap pet" and that's just not the case most of the time. That's the light bulb moment I was going for. Nothing more - nothing less.

Maybe I should have said just give it time and good luck?

[albinos_rule]

If it is a juvenile, it will most likely get better. If it is older it will probably most likely continue to be the same way

[Tigerhawk]

Yes some of them never get beyond the pet rock personality. Then to some are always exploring every were. If you want an interactive snake try a boa.