Moved ball Python from a box to a terrarium, he is more out from the cave now

[Rodor]

Hi.

I got a two years old ball Python that i have been keeping in a plastic box to feed him up from he was young.
Increased the size of the plastic case after he keept growing.

Now he just got a terrarium exo terra 36x18x12.
Using a 3x bulb that makes a basking spot.
From the day he got this terrarium he is more out laying in the sun spot or explore vs hiding in the cave hide.

Is it normal that they are out so we can watch them on daytime?
I have read that they can enjoy a sunspot from time to another, but this guy here seems to turned the night into the day. He dosnt seems stressed either since most of the time on day he is laying still under the basket or in a cold side of the terrarium.

Another newbie question is how do you think he would react if i want to take him out while he is awake outside in the terrarium?

I have only picked him up while he have been sleeping inside the cave hide before :-)

[Zincubus]

I’ve never had any issues picking my Royals out at any time of the day tbh

Just approach it slowly , from behind when picking it up ..


Whenever I move my snakes around they tend to spend a day or two looking around ..

Have a few hides in there and some branches plus fake silk / plastic plants .

They love climbing !!

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[Bogertophis]

If I was a snake, I'd much rather you pick me up when I'm out & awake than out of a sound sleep & hiding in my cave...just sayin'.

I would guess that the radical change in his cage has him out more, checking out the new "scenery".

[Rodor]

I’ve never had any issues picking my Royals out at any time of the day tbh

Just approach it slowly , from behind when picking it up ..


Whenever I move my snakes around they tend to spend a day or two looking around ..

Have a few hides in there and some branches plus fake silk / plastic plants .

They love climbing !!

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Good to know. Yes i added some branches too and he did climb in it a couple times!

[Rodor]

If I was a snake, I'd much rather you pick me up when I'm out & awake than out of a sound sleep & hiding in my cave...just sayin'.

I would guess that the radical change in his cage has him out more, checking out the new "scenery".

I see your point :-) Agree about waking up and animal and same time lift it dosnt sound right, but he have been most the time in a cave, so i felt it was "safe" to take him out that way.
Now the opening in the terrarium is at front, so if he have his head pointing forward i just wondered if he could give me a bite to warn me. Would try to get him from behind like zinsubus said if it’s possible

[Zincubus]

You can get a cheap 3dollar snake hook off eBay or use a cardboard tube or anything .. just to ‘guide’ his head away from you then slide your hand behind his head about a third of the way down and gently lift ..them support the rest of his body with your other hand .. Royals are a dream to handle.


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[Bogertophis]

...
Now the opening in the terrarium is at front, so if he have his head pointing forward i just wondered if he could give me a bite to warn me. Would try to get him from behind like zinsubus said if it’s possible

As Zincubus said. It's just like working with dogs who don't know you...dogs want (& need) to sniff you but you risk a bite (typically a very small %) by just offering
your hand, but another way to accomplish the same thing (without risk to your hand & that actually WORKS with MOST dogs) is to extend a tennis ball that is mounted
on a stick instead of your hand: they sniff the ball as an extension of you, & actually many of them also recognize the ball as a toy & want to play. Snakes aren't
going to play with your snake hook (or other item used) but the harmless touch &/or scent does distract them, re-assures them & establishes that you aren't prey. Make
sure your hook has no prey scent on it, btw.

The more you use the best senses of a snake (touch & scent, NOT vision!) to let them know what's going on, the fewer mistakes they'll make (the fewer bites you'll get).