What Do I Do?

[Quik Pic]

My bp is about 6months old and I have a lil problem. I know to grab her near the tail but what do I do when her tail is in front of her tail? It's like it's saying "Grab it I dare you." And I value my fingers. A lot. It's in a 30 gallon tank, two hides, eats either on tuesday or wed. I've had her for exactly a month. I wanna hold her as often as possible except during digestion. I held it the 2nd week after I got it and thats it. It's cage is in my bedroom and it eats every time. So if I just reach in and attempt to grab the WHOLE body will there be a bite or will it retract it's head? This is nerve racking for me because "the guy at the pet store" told my wife to carry it in her purse, etc. from time to time to get it used to being handled often.

[elevatethis]

"the guy at the pet store" told my wife to carry it in her purse, etc. from time to time to get it used to being handled often.

LOL...Don't ever go back to that store. Ever. Forever ever.

Ball pythons are generally reluctant to bite and if you pick them up with confidence, they generally submit and you have nothing to fear.

If you are reluctant and hover a little while before you pick it up...your snake may start to feel threatened, and become defensive.

And besides...if you keep snakes...you're going to be bitten at some point. Ball pythons are not that bad...your fingers are completely safe.

[JLC]

Wow. Ok....first off, welcome to BP.net! I'm very glad you found your way over here!

Second off....never, ever listen to the guys from the pet shop. In about 98.7% of all cases, they know NOTHING about the reptiles they sell. Point proved in your case, unfortunately.

Ball pythons are typically shy creatures who would rather hide their heads beneath their coils than to bite someone. This doesn't mean they can't, or will never bite...but in most cases, they will not and reaching in to gently pick up a snake from its enclosure is perfectly safe. Even if they DO bite...it's almost always more startling than anything else.

They also don't need (or want) to be handled all the time. Putting one in your wife's purse and carrying it around is just asking for a VERY unhappy ball python. Not to mention the risks of injury, losing the snake, and illness that comes from being over-stressed and exposed to less-than-ideal temperatures.

Don't be afraid to pick him up...but also don't feel like you HAVE to all the time. It's fine to take them out once or twice a week for brief handling sessions and/or while cleaning out the enclosure. That's plenty of interaction for a healthy, well-adjusted ball python.

Hope this has helped some. Feel free to ask additional questions or ask for more clarification.

[xdeus]

My bp is about 6months old and I have a lil problem. I know to grab her near the tail but what do I do when her tail is in front of her tail? It's like it's saying "Grab it I dare you."

Why do you want to grab her tail? All heavy bodied snakes should be supported by their body... actually all snakes should be supported that way.

When you go in to get her from the cage, just touch her gently on the back and grab her under her belly. Don't make any sudden movements and don't approach her from her head... just reach around and grab her slowly and gently.

And like Brad mentioned, a Ball bite is nothing to be concerned about. The anticipation is much worse than the actual bite.

[gibbrishclown]

I grab my ball by whatever part of him is most readily available (not the head or tip of the tail obviously, but other than that) he usually moves a little to check me out and I just grab him up in the palm of my hand... He's really never offered anything other than curiosity when I disturb him... I think they're a pretty chill species! We'll have been together a month on the 14th

Congrats on your new snake and welcome to BPnet!

ETA: my ball is tiny though!

[Christina]

when i take mine out i make sure that i rub her a bit so she becomes awake and aware of me. once their tounges start going, they're alert. and if i startle her, i move very slowly so she doesn't nab me.

[accr]

Those are some good advices for me being 1st time owner

I had the same problem, so I roll up a paper into a stick and unwind her tail. Well I found out that kinda stress her up even more(all tight up and hard rather than relaxed muscle), so now I usually just go in slowly and pick her up. That way she's just relaxed. I also find that slow stroke under her neck relax her a little.

[sg1trogdor]

Even if they DO bite...it's almost always more startling than anything else.

this is completely true when i got bit i jusmped and didnt realize i was actually bit till i saw the blood on my finger in a little mouth shaped outline. lol. it was actually quite releaving to know it doesnt hurt at all. there teeth are soo sharpe you dont feel a thing and like everyone else says they will not bite just for the hell of it. i got bit because i forgot i was playing with a mouse before feeding time and after when i tried to pick her up to put her back in her cage she smelled food and sruck at me. lol

[Quik Pic]

To my colleges that love bp's I thank you. For you have shed light for me when I was in the dark. I thank you, My baby thanks you, and the readers of this thread thanks you. Pardon me while I go and slap the pet store guy on the cheek with a feeder mouse ...... But seriously, I have been bit before I just want Quik pic to be comfortable.I'll drop you guys a line if I need any more advice,Thanks again

[Quik Pic]

Dummy pet store guy told me to grab her by the tail