Help With New Baby Ball Python Handling

[BugToxin]

I got my first snake about three weeks ago. He is a beautiful and healthy baby normal ball python. My question is on handling, as I have no previous snake experience and I want to do it right.

I waited a good week before handling at all, and know not to handle for a couple of days following a feeding. When I finally did handle him he was as timid as you would expect a ball python to be, balling up first, and then relaxing a little bit within 10 minutes or so. I have limited my handling to about three times a week for 15 minutes a session. Each time I hold him, he seems to get a little bit more relaxed, but then again it could just be me who is getting more relaxed.

Here is the strange part. The snake likes to hang outside his hide in the evening (he hides during the day), but he strikes at me when I come close to the glass. He will usually do this several times, often slamming his head against the glass. If I open the cage and pick him up at this point he doesn't bite (not yet anyway), but does the normal ball python thing (balls up). He has never actually bitten me yet, but has struck at one hand from the other hand as I was placing him back in the cage after handling. He also did this at the checkout when I was buying him (BTW He is captive bred and from a trusted source). Anyway, is this normal behavior for a baby ball python, or is my boy more aggressive than most? Will this aggression subside with regular handling? Finally, should I be doing anything different?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[leoares27]

When we got our ball python, he did the same thing, and only at night. Its like his instincts kick in to hunt and when he saw us, warm ppl, by his cage, he thought, mmmm something warm and struck. Ours is a year old now and we handle him almost every day. We are more careful when we take him out at night, make sure we move in slow and touch him on his "back" before we take him out...and he is fine. He has never bitten us, thankfully. And he is so much less timid than he was when we first got him. Also, since hes gotten older, i think he figured out that we are not food cuz he doesn't strike at us through the glass anymore either.
So, everything sounds about normal from my experience...
Good luck and enjoy!

[Cristina]

Bps are noctural so coming out in the evening is normal..mine do the same.

All babies can be scared when seeing this huge thing going up to them. Make sure he is not in a high traffic area, and mabey dont go straight up to the cage and stare at him..usually once picked up they calm down like you said..just give it some time..it sounds like you are doing the right thing

[Yungair23]

I handle my snake at night (its more convienent for me with work hours). They are out and on the prowl and depending on the snake you must be careful about how you approach them. If they look defensive take it easy with them and go slow.

[mlewis_24]

It is perfectly normal for baby ball pythons to be a little nippy. They can also become nippy when hungry or shedding soon. What is your snakes normal feeding schedule & what size rodent are you feeding?

[BugToxin]

Originally Posted by Cristina

Make sure he is not in a high traffic area, and mabey dont go straight up to the cage and stare at him.

He is in my home office, which is shut up during the day (nobody goes in at all including me) to keep the dog and cat away from the multiple terrariums kept in the room. We don't have any kids, but I do go in and out of the room in the evenings while playing on the computer and taking care of my bug pets (tarantulas and centipedes). His cage is right by the door. I'm not sure if this qualifies as a high-traffic area, but I suppose I could move his cage into one of the bookshelves or further away from the door. Would this help?

Originally Posted by mlewis_24

What is your snakes normal feeding schedule & what size rodent are you feeding?

He gets one adult mouse every seven days.

[Cristina]

like we said its normal for baby Bps to be nippy..so just handle him gently so he an get use to u.

an adult mouse for a baby bp?? that seems kind of big..does he eat it?
is it the same size of his girth at the widest point?

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

[muzixman]

Originally Posted by BugToxin

He gets one adult mouse every seven days.

He is hungry mice are like rice cake the just don't cut it. Switch him the right size rats and you will see a big difference. And keep handling him he will calm down for you in time.

[BugToxin]

Originally Posted by Cristina

an adult mouse for a baby bp?? that seems kind of big..does he eat it?is it the same size of his girth at the widest point?

Perhaps baby isn't the correct term. He is a little over a foot long I would guess, so juvinile might be better. And yes, it is roughly the same size as his girth at the widest point. He snarfs it down with gusto and I don't even notice a bulge.

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.