New Owner

[Caligirl0113]

I got a ball python about 3 weeks ago. "She" (unsexed) Kaya has eaten twice with no problems. She is pretty aggressive with her food. The last time she fed I dumped to mouse in and didnt even get the cover on before she grabbed it and she was coiled up at the other end of the cage! I will start to put her in another enclosure for feeding but the owner of the reptile store I got her from told me to wait to pick her up for 2 feedings. Two days after she fed I went to pick her up, something I had been so good at waiting for and found I was really nervous. I was shaking. I have always wanted a snake, went to different places and handled them. I hold other peoples snakes quite a bit and they were much bigger then this baby ball python. She is about 20 inch. but I cant tell for sure till I have her out more. Well the day after I picked her up, I made myself hold her for 2 minutes, I noticed she had blue eyes so have left her alone. She shed 2 days ago and I did help get the caps off. But now I need ideas on what to expect from her. Is she more likely to be bite when I pick her up or can she bite while I am holding her? She is a captive bred but I dont know if she was handled much before I got her and I only handled her 2 times in three weeks for about 3 minutes total. I am not scared I just dont know what to expect. Please give me a game plan to get us both comfortable. Also she seems to follow me, I know it sounds weird but she is in my bedroom and when I leave the room she goes to the cool side of her tank and when I come back in and lay on my bed she goes to the side of the tank closest to me. Just wondering if anyone else has noticed this kind of behavior. I thought it was just a coincidence but it happens about 90% of the time so much so that when I didnt see her I had to check in her hide to make sure she was ok, that was when I found she was getting ready to shed. Thanks. Here is a picture of her taken off my cell phone, sorry its not too good.

[ani15174eva]

Hello and Welcome Congrats on the new baby!

Everything seems normal to me. My baby follows me too. Its kinda funny...

Many people have told me that when owning a snake expect that you will be bittin eventually.

My advice is that she prob wont bite you. To get over the fear of the unknown, just reach in and do it. Easier said than done, I know. I am still teaching myself this trick.

It will be the strike that scares you if anything. But to be honest, at this age they tend to "ball" up and hide before doing anything. After holding her a few times you will start to read the signals she gives off mood wise. Just take your time.

Mine comes out on his own now. But to get over the fear of what to expect you just have to do it. Someone on here told me that I was "overthinking" things to much before I picked him up, they were right. Don't think on it, just reach your hand in and maybe touch her side for a moment and pick her up. It will be fine...

Hope this works... There are some awsome people on here!

~Hollie~

[Caligirl0113]

Thanks, you are probably right. I ride 1200 lb horses. I have been bit, bucked off, ran away with, had to get 17 stitches after my horse ran me into a rail and I am afraid of a little snake. Seems kinda funny I know. I guess I just need to Cowgirl up! lol

[Mindibun]

I was the same way when I got my little one. I'd owned a large female but not anything small, and for some reason it made me more nervous than the large one.

Here's a trick that helped me. When I first got the snake, I put an article of my clothing in the tub with her. I just used an old shirt that I never really wore anymore. It helped her get used to my scent.

If she is in feeding mode when I go to pick her up, I'll sometimes touch her nose with a t-shirt. It snaps her out of it, and she instantly goes back to her usual self. If she really REALLY doesn't want to be picked up, she'll hiss at me. If I push the matter, she'll ball up. Striking is always her last resort. She's only ever struck at me once, and that was a feeding day after a long shed.

[ani15174eva]

Its kinda funny that you say that, because I too ride. And I compared my fear to the feeling of haveing my barefoot, stepped on my the clydesdale! Believe me its NOT that bad. You know the fear that you may be thrown ar fall at some point? thats the fear of holding snakes! you obviously got past that, you will get past this SO much easier!


~Hollie~