couple noobie questions

[NCKarlov]

1. Is it ever too late to start handling? like can a snake be too shy and jumpy to ever handle her and calm her down? i have a ball right now that is always very striky when the lights are on (it's because i have her in a glass enclosure, and the lights do stuff with shadows that freak her out...i wouldn't mind fixing that either) i gently rub her sometimes at night when she is out of her hides and moving around, but i am a bit frightened just because she is so jumpy during the day. She hasn't been handled for about 2 months...is it too late? or can you always tame a wild snake.

2. if i was going to go to a second snake after my ball python..what would be a good beginner/intermediate snake? i was thinking a blood python but they seem more on the upper intermediate level. Should i just do another ball? seems kinda boring to me but eh. I would like a blood python the most (i have some weird obsession with them) but if you don't think i am able to keep one. of course i won't attempt it. Some suggestions would be nice as far as what kind of snake i should move to.

[joepythons]

1. Is it ever too late to start handling? like can a snake be too shy and jumpy to ever handle her and calm her down? i have a ball right now that is always very striky when the lights are on (it's because i have her in a glass enclosure, and the lights do stuff with shadows that freak her out...i wouldn't mind fixing that either) i gently rub her sometimes at night when she is out of her hides and moving around, but i am a bit frightened just because she is so jumpy during the day. She hasn't been handled for about 2 months...is it too late? or can you always tame a wild snake.

2. if i was going to go to a second snake after my ball python..what would be a good beginner/intermediate snake? i was thinking a blood python but they seem more on the upper intermediate level. Should i just do another ball? seems kinda boring to me but eh. I would like a blood python the most (i have some weird obsession with them) but if you don't think i am able to keep one. of course i won't attempt it. Some suggestions would be nice as far as what kind of snake i should move to.

Well to be truthfull some snakes never calm down,most will though.Sounds like you need to work on your calming down also .If your worried about getting bit get a pair of gloves,i have a pair of welders gloves and i never feel a single bite(even a retic).I do not have any biters at this time.Now as far as a second snake i think you should work with this one for awhile before expanding your collection .I am not being rude just giving my opinion.

[snakedude56]

If you are going with the overhead heat try using a ceramic heat emitter, they put out heat without giving off light. Some snakes don't calm down but it is pretty rare. If you are afraid of getting tagged put on some thick winter gloves when you take it out. Handle for a couple minutes every other day and your snake will get used to the idea that you are not there to harm it. What size is the enclosure and how big is your snake? If the enclosure is too big for your snake that will freak them out a lot. As for a blood python I'm not sure that'd be a good second snake. They get quite heavy and because so can be injured if not handled properly.

[NCKarlov]

yea, she is still kinda small for my tank..i have a 30 gallon long glass enclosure, and she's almost at 3 feet, probably more like 2 feet 8 inches. she has to get some liight tho right? for her day time night time cycle?. could i like drape a blanket over here enclosure during the day? to get rid of those shadows she is seeing from the outside of her tank. or maybe some kind of film that would allow me to see in but her to not see out?

no offense taken on the blood python comments i just love those darn snakes! maybe a good 3rd or 4th snake. I understand i need to get better with this snake (which is coming i can tell). but if i were to move on to the next level of difficulty...what would it be? JCP? red tail boa? just give me a good 2nd and a good 3rd snake. I'm a very commited owner and i do just about all i can to keep my snake mentally and physically happy

[joepythons]

yea, she is still kinda small for my tank..i have a 30 gallon long glass enclosure, and she's almost at 3 feet, probably more like 2 feet 8 inches. she has to get some liight tho right? for her day time night time cycle?. could i like drape a blanket over here enclosure during the day? to get rid of those shadows she is seeing from the outside of her tank. or maybe some kind of film that would allow me to see in but her to not see out?

no offense taken on the blood python comments i just love those darn snakes! maybe a good 3rd or 4th snake. I understand i need to get better with this snake (which is coming i can tell). but if i were to move on to the next level of difficulty...what would it be? JCP? red tail boa? just give me a good 2nd and a good 3rd snake. I'm a very commited owner and i do just about all i can to keep my snake mentally and physically happy

Not really as ball pythons prefere close areas.She could live in that 30g all her life.Is it possible to place her enclosure in a low traffic room? If her enclosure is in a room with a window then there is no need to a extra light.

[tmlowe5704]

Whatever you do, do not put her up if you get bit. You do not want her to associate hissing or biting with getting put back. My friend had a boa mean as can be as he was scared to get bit and anytime he got hissed at he would put it back. After a month or two working with it he got to the point that he barely hissed at me when I would pull him out.