Today, Im going to talk to you about how to handle a pet ball python for the first time. This article is intended for people who have recently acquired a pet snake but arent sure exactly how to handle it.
How to Handle a Ball Python for the First Time
While ball pythons are generally docile in nature and easy to handle, some of them can be a bit rambunctious. So the handling tips Im about to provide might not apply to your situation, depending on the temperament of your snake.
With that being said, these guidelines will help
most keepers
properly handle their ball pythons for the first time.
Here are some quick tips for handling your new snake:
1. Let it adjust
:
When you first bring your ball python home, let it settle into its new environment for a few days. In the wild, these snakes are very secretive and spend most of their time hiding. So it should be able to do the same thing in captivity. Make sure it has proper temperatures, at least one good hiding place (ideally two), and some fresh drinking water. And then just leave it alone for a few days. Transporting a snake can be stressful for the animal, so it might need time to adjust to its new surroundings.
2. Mid-body hold
:
When you handle your ball python for the first time, try to pick it up by the middle part of its body. Dont ever try to pick it up from the head. In fact, youll want to keep your hands away from the ball pythons head at all times. These snakes are very head shy. If you put your hand near the snakes head, it will likely flinch backward and roll into a ball (hence the name ball python). It might even bury its head with the rest of its body. To avoid causing this kind of stress, leave the head alone and handle the snake from the mid part of its body.
3. Support it well
:
When you handle your ball python for the first time (and every time after that), make sure you are properly supporting the snake with both hands. Do not let it dangle from your grasp. Support the
middle two-thirds
of the snake by using both hands, and allow the head to move wherever it wants. Do not try to restrict the head or steer the snake in a particular direction. Allow your ball python to move freely when you handle it, while giving it plenty of support.
4. No surprises
:
In my experience, ball pythons that see their owners coming are generally easier to pick up. If you startle your snake, it might be more likely to strike, flinch, or try to escape from your grasp. This is especially true when your ball python becomes more accustomed to handling. If it sees you coming and knows what to expect, it will eventually be okay with being handled.
5. Not too often
:
You dont want to handle your ball python too often. Some people handle their snakes every day, but in my opinion thats too much. Snakes are not like cats or dogs. They do not need or crave handling the way other pets do. With that being said, regular interaction
will
make your snake more docile and generally easier to manage. Handling the snake three or four times per week is a good guideline, but this is not a hard-and-fast rule. Give your ball python a break between handling sessions, to avoid over-stressing the animal.
6. Avoid shed time
:
Do not handle your snake when it is going into a shed cycle. They prefer to be left alone during these times. Youll know when your snake is going into shed, because its skin will become dual, cloudy and sometimes blue. Additionally, the eyes will become milky or blue. The snake will likely hide most of the time when this is happening. Wait until after it sheds its skin to handle.
7. Avoid feeding time
:
Do not handle your ball python immediately after meal, as this can lead to regurgitation and other digestive problems. Give it at least one day after feeding before handling. Better yet, give it a good 48 hours to start the digestion process, before you attempt to handle it.
8. Aggressive snakes
:
If you have an aggressive ball python, you might have to take some additional steps when you try to handle the snake. Ive covered this subject in depth
in a separate article
. Heres the short version. Using a proper snake hook can help you handle an aggressive ball python for the first time, and also for subsequent handling. Additionally, you might find it helpful to retrieve the snake from the cage when it is under one of its hides. That way, you can keep the head covered while you get a hand on the middle part of the body. (An aggressive ball python is most likely to strike when you first reach into the cage. Once you have it out of the cage and are handling it, it will be much less likely to strike at you.)