Handling larger BP

[jimmysmom]

I have had Lola for 10 days now, she ate a rather large meal 9 days ago. I have not gotten her out or messed with her, as I wanted her to settle in and digest her meal. I have not seen her out of her hide since getting her. She stuck her head out to strike and grab her food and she will lay with her head out but I have yet to see her come out. I plan on taking her out tonight or in the morning. I am a little weirded out by doing so. I know that I will have to take her hide off of her and pick her up with both hands. I have no issue with taking out my smaller bp. Any advice, tips, and tricks on picking up an handling a larger bp will be applied.

[Nathaniel1989]

Same situation for all BP - is she aggressive? she will be fine when up and in your hand. Just approach from the back. Lift up her body with 1 hand and lower her onto your other hand/arm. How big is big?

[BCS]

I wouldn't reach for her using two hands. One coming behind her with one hand will be enough. Pick her up and then support her body with both hands once out of the enclosure. Just remember the longer you hesitate, the longer she has had to think of you as a friend or foe, so do not hesitate.

[stickyalvinroll]

Get a lid or stick and poke her in the head gently and she will retreat. After she retreats just pick her up. Simple. Doubt she will strike after she is In your hands

[MidSouthMorphs]

Get a lid or stick and poke her in the head gently and she will retreat. After she retreats just pick her up. Simple. Doubt she will strike after she is In your hands

I don't know about poking the head, a simple misting of water does the trick.

[EL-Ziggy]

If you don't have a snake hook to help get him out, and you're apprehensive about handling him, I'd suggest putting on a glove and just reaching in and confidently swooping him up. Don't give him too much time to react or he may tag you but they're usually fine once they're out of their enclosures.

[Pug50]

Have you offered her food since? Especially if she's a baby, she should be eating at least every 7 days. Or are you just giving her extra time to settle before meal #2?

Don't worry about her hiding away - it's normal and you'll probably find she is out and about in the dark, especially once people stop moving about in your house nearby. My girl has a red light in her enclosure which appears to not bother her but lets me see her at night. She's pretty busy at night - particularly if it's nearly feeding day - but she stays hidden in the day.

As for handling bigger BP's? I wouldn't know (mine is about 320g now); but if you keep handling her regularly and give her good experiences when you do handle her, she should become much calmer and easier to handle than she is now.

Don't be scared of her! Even if she does bite, she's tiny and has tiny teeth. When she's bigger, she'll be unlikely to bite and still not big enough to damage you significantly.

[JodanOrNoDan]

I'd be more concerned about the baby. They tend to be a little more unpredictable. I have never had an adult try to get a piece of me just babies. With the babies I will let them strike against a balled up piece of paper. They soon give up. As for the adults my five year old daughter has managed to handle every snake in my collection including a couple of 3000+ gram females. Show no fear and be very deliberate with your movements.

[Coluber42]

I wouldn't do the poking-in-the-head-with-a-stick thing, just because well, no one likes getting poked in the head with a stick. Come in from behind and just pick her up. If she looks inquisitive when you lift the hide off, she might even come to you. And keep in mind that the worst an angry adult ball python can ever do is really not that much. They don't have giant fangs and they are just not very big.

[Slim]

Get a lid or stick and poke her in the head

Seriously? No. Don't do this.