Tips on handling a jumpy/defensive ball python?

[Shadowy]

My newest baby I got is even worse with handling than my other one. Which I didn’t think was possible. He’s very jumpy and he does the cute tail wag thing basically saying “back off, I’ll bite” which is adorable but I know he’s probably extremely afraid so I feel bad. Any tips to make him not panic during handling? I’m trying so hard to get him used to me. I don’t think he was handled at all before I got him.

[pretends2bnormal]

I'm not the most experienced here, but this is what I've done for mine.

Incidentally, how big is this BP?

My shy ones seemed to snap out of it by 300-400g without intervention so far and behave more calmly.

But when I handled them, I was calm but deliberate about picking up. When possible, I reached from the side or behind them. Once in hand, most of mine reflexively ball up, and I just hold them cupped between my hands like a small, dark hide until I feel them relax or they decide to push out of my fingers (or if it's been 5 minutes or so without change in body tenseness, I'll just set them back down for the day).

Alternatively, I set them on my lap and cover lightly with a blanket and set my hands around their body for security for 5-10 minutes. Eventually they learn my smell or get more comfortable and start poking out from under it to explore and seem less scared.

A few weeks of 2 or 3 times a week seems to be all mine have needed, but none of mine were quite to the tail-wagging state. (I did get two that were strikey with poor aim, no landed tags, that this helped out nicely, though)

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[bcr229]

It will just take time and patience.

One trick I found that works well with the babies, especially if they ball up, is to make a "hide" out of both your hands with a small gap for the snake to peek out at the world. They learn to associate your scent with warmth and security pretty quickly. Once they settle in and relax put them away gently so as not to spook them again.

[Shadowy]

I'm not the most experienced here, but this is what I've done for mine.

Incidentally, how big is this BP?

My shy ones seemed to snap out of it by 300-400g without intervention so far and behave more calmly.

But when I handled them, I was calm but deliberate about picking up. When possible, I reached from the side or behind them. Once in hand, most of mine reflexively ball up, and I just hold them cupped between my hands like a small, dark hide until I feel them relax or they decide to push out of my fingers (or if it's been 5 minutes or so without change in body tenseness, I'll just set them back down for the day).

Alternatively, I set them on my lap and cover lightly with a blanket and set my hands around their body for security for 5-10 minutes. Eventually they learn my smell or get more comfortable and start poking out from under it to explore and seem less scared.

A few weeks of 2 or 3 times a week seems to be all mine have needed, but none of mine were quite to the tail-wagging state. (I did get two that were strikey with poor aim, no landed tags, that this helped out nicely, though)

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He’s very small still. I’d guess around 120g. Haven’t had the chance to weight him yet but I will tonight. I’m very smooth about picking him up, even though he follows my hand around while vibrating his tail. I’ll try the blanket thing. He seems too spazzy to try the hand cupping, I feel like he’d freak out more. He not only curls up in a ball when scared but he thrashes his tail like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It’s quite hard to calmly hold him lol

[pretends2bnormal]

He’s very small still. I’d guess around 120g. Haven’t had the chance to weight him yet but I will tonight. I’m very smooth about picking him up, even though he follows my hand around while vibrating his tail. I’ll try the blanket thing. He seems too spazzy to try the hand cupping, I feel like he’d freak out more. He not only curls up in a ball when scared but he thrashes his tail like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It’s quite hard to calmly hold him lol

Another option is to hold him up against your body in the palm of one hand, particularly useful when trying to get to a chair/couch and a blanket. It gives him some "back pressure" like their hides do and keeps one hand free.

I'd be curious to see how it looks that he is so spazzy that 2 hands wouldn't work despite being balled up. It certainly sounds pretty funny when I try to picture that. I always thought the ones who balled up were the easiest to work with like I described, but none of mine were ever quite this scaredy.

At around that size, I'm sure he'll calm a bit more with age and size, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just keep sessions calm on your end and relatively brief and he'll figure it out.

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[Bogertophis]

... He not only curls up in a ball when scared but he thrashes his tail like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It’s quite hard to calmly hold him lol

Well, he's heard it works for rattlesnakes... Many snakes do vibrate their tails when nervous/threatened, and some even do caudal luring (wave the yellow tip of their
tail to entice their prey to come closer while investigating what they think is an edible worm, lol). He sounds pretty cute, but I'm sure he'll outgrow it...hopefully you both
survive.

I assume he's been feeding regularly for you? That's more important than calming him down, at least while he gets 3 or more meals in him. Handling can (should) wait.

[Shadowy]

I'd be curious to see how it looks that he is so spazzy that 2 hands wouldn't work despite being balled up. It certainly sounds pretty funny when I try to picture that.

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I’ll maybe try to get a video of it when I hold him next. It’s pretty entertaining lol

I assume he's been feeding regularly for you? That's more important than calming him down, at least while he gets 3 or more meals in him. Handling can (should) wait.

He’s been eating great. My feeder supplier was out of the size rats he needs so I got a bunch of rat pinkies and I’ve just been feeding him every few days instead of every 7. He was on live before but he didn’t even hesitate taking F/T.

[Moose84]

What are you housing this snake in and what was he housed in before you purchased him? I would venture to say if he was from a breeder he was in a rack?