i dont think my bally likes to be handled

[seaner]

when ever i holed my young ball python i can see her breth heavy and when i touch her side she kind of gets the chils and shys away. she has not tried to bite me or hiss i dont want to stress her out but i do want her to get to know me should i try holding her longer but less often or more often but shorter sesions.

[recycling goddess]

welcome to the forum! first... how long have you had her? did you give her a week of no touching, no bothering except to change her water?

once that week is over (and of course, if you fed her you waited 48 hours before handling)

i would start with short, once a day holding sessions. so... if you feed on monday morning the first time you hold her would be wed evening. then friday evening.

now you don't want to hold her the day before feeding or on feeding day... and you are back to twice (maybe three times) a week holding.

10-15 minutes is good in the beginning. i never hold my ball longer than about 30 minutes. i find giving him 100% of my attention and time - 30 minutes is long enough for both of us

[elevatethis]

Keep in mind also that some ball pythons are going to be skittish no matter what you do. I've got a couple that I interact with on a daily basis and they are still just as jumpy as they were the day I brought them home. Nothing to worry about so long as they are eating and shedding well, and otherwise healthy.

FWIW, my most skittish, unfriendly ball python is also my most aggressive eater. I got her in January weighing 600 grams...she's now over 1300.

[frankykeno]

Also depending on where you are touching her she will naturally sort of wiggle like that...it's just a natural nerve reaction to stimuli. If you run a finger down their bellies they sort of undulate (pretty cool really....okay so I have no life and spend Friday nights watching my snakes wiggle....geesh! )

[Vomitore]

Welcome back Franky! Haven't seen ya in a long time.

[frankykeno]

Well geesh I've been back for a few days now Mike...where you been! LOL Thanks for the welcome back...I missed you crazy folks while the computer was dead.

[Vomitore]

Well geesh I've been back for a few days now Mike...where you been! LOL Thanks for the welcome back...I missed you crazy folks while the computer was dead.

Well, since you've been gone, I got rid of my computer at home and only have the one at my store. My store was closed all last week so I just got back on, on Tuesday. Hope all is well with you

[wildlifewarrior]

well i would have to think that no snake "likes" to be handled, they are a secretive animal which don't show real emotion. They do tollerate being handled some better than others. Some people think they are ticklish,so think of it as someone running their fingers in your arm pit or on your neck, your gonna react, some people get sqwirmy, while others aren't bothered. Snakes are the same way.


~mike