Ball python handling

[Bogertophis]

I know handling questions get asked a lot, but I just have one quick one. I got my ball python multiple weeks ago and he’s been acting completely normal. He’s been hiding all day and coming out at night (if he hadn’t eaten recently). He’s taken two meals so far with no issues. His last meal was 4 days ago. One weird thing though l, is he has not pooped yet. I’m not sure if that’s normal or not, so I guess that’s another question of mine. Anyway, I’ve already handled him twice. One time was about 10 days ago and I handled him once yesterday. Now that he’s ate consistently and is acting normal (other than the possible poop problem) is it fine to handle him once a day now to work with him to get him more comfortable with me? It would only be for 20 minutes a day, not before or after feeding or while shedding. Is once a day too often? Is this too soon to be handling him regularly like once a day?


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It's too early to say he's eating regularly after only 2 meals. Your handling is "pushing your luck" IMO, & might result in him going off eating. Daily handling is not what I'd recommend.

There is also plenty of disagreement about how long to handle a snake- but just keep in mind that the most stressful part of that is being approached & picked up by a giant strange creature (that would be you, lol), so 20 minutes is hardly enough time to feel safe with you- I'd be surprised if his breathing rate even slowed down much in 20 minutes.

Much also depends on how good you are at handling snakes- are you calm, & sitting down? & holding them near you so they feel "sheltered", or holding them at arm's length, essentially "out in the open" where they instinctively feel at risk from predators? Try to be sensitive to how your snake is responding to all this- it's hard with BPs, because most are fairly stoic, but that still doesn't mean they're comfortable with you yet.