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any tips on handeling my ball?

Posted by steven shook at 2/21/2012 10:47:53 AM

hello all, im new to the snake world and handeling them is something i have been reading about but i like a persons 2 cents when it comes to tips and tricks.

so heres the rundown, got my bp friday 2/17, fed her 2/19. she is still getting use to her new home and hides under the aspen all day, i havent attempted to actually get her out and let her get use to me being i want to do it with the least amount of stress as possible

but when is a good time to get her out and handle her for a bit? what do i do just hold her so she gets use to me? maybe dumb questions but im new and dont want to stress her out and make her not eat bc shes doing so well right now

thanks

steven

Comments:

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KCB Constrictors,	Posted At: 2/21/2012 11:02:52 AM
	Moving can be very stressful on a snake. The fact that your BP ate just two days after you got her is a great sign! As far as handling her goes, just be sure to support her body well. Be gentle and let her go where she wants to go. As she slithers out of your hands, reposition your rear hand to support her front half again. If she's tense, and balls up, don't try to force her out of her coils. Just let her rest in your hands. As she realizes you're not a threat, she'll feel secure enough to come out and explore on her own. If she gets defensive and strikes at you, try not to jump, and for gods sake, don't drop her (I've seen it happen..lol). If she bites you, don't freak...it's not nearly as bad as your mind makes it out to be. If after a couple minutes she doesn't settle down and relax, it's best to put her back and try again in a few days. At the start keep your handling sessions short. 10 -15 minutes is plenty, even if she seems totally relaxed with you. As she grows, and you get more comfortable with her, those sessions can be extended. Congrats on getting your frist snake! Welcome to the club!

Michael ,	Posted At: 2/21/2012 11:05:25 AM
	Mid Day would Probably be fine ( almost any time is ok for a B/P ) aproach her from behing and gently scoop her up and make sure to give her lots of support so she feels safe .. ( kinda like most girls ) and always try to end a handeling on a good note .. if she poops or bites and you put her back down she will learn thats the dont mess with me answer ... Good Luck

Emily Russom,	Posted At: 2/21/2012 11:24:23 AM
	Night time is fun. If Banana comes out at night, then I'll go scoop her up because she's already active. Keep them very close to you. You're much warmer than they are and they like that. Let her play through your hands and fingers like a tree branch. Or let them crawl on your face and remove your glasses (Banana's favourite game). The lap is a good place to feel secure, just don't let them get TOO adventurous, else you'll be removing couch cusions to play, "find the python....." On nights where you notice they don't feel like being social, just let her stay and chill. She'll explore soon enough :) Not sure of your knowledge level, but give it a good 48 hours after eating before you pick her up - digestion time :) Welcome to iHerp!

Tiki108,	Posted At: 2/21/2012 11:25:13 AM
	The title of this blog sounded like a set up for a good joke and reminds me of the "Look at my new rack" blogs, lol When handling make sure you always allow time for them to digest, I avoid handling for at least 48 hours after I feed. When you handle just be gentle, bps in general will just sit there or only move a little bit, they are not very active snakes compared to something like a corn snake. I agree with Michael, it drives me nuts that people don't think about certain things logically. If you want your dog to stop barking ignore them until they do so, then give them attention. If you fall off a horse, you or someone else must get back on so they don't learn that if they don't want to work all they have to do is throw you. Best of luck!

Pendragon Pythons,	Posted At: 2/21/2012 11:40:35 AM
	I would usually leave a new snake alone for the first week to give it time to get used to the enclosure but eating right away is a good sign.

Lisa ,	Posted At: 2/21/2012 11:40:54 AM
	Be Calm and gentle and move slowly. I just watched my baby BP's body language. After about 5 days of leaving her alone I got her out. The first couple of times I held, her it was for 15-20 mins. But she was good, no signs of stress at all. I could sit there with her for a while, up to 2-3 hours sometimes. I let her tell me when she was done by paying attention to how she acted. When she was done exploring and tired of being held she would start trying to get into the cracks of the chair I was sitting in and trying to get behind the blanket on the back of the chair, basically trying to get away and hide. When I have her out now she is the most sweet and chilled little girl she is not the typical head shy BP, she will put her head between my fingures and hangs out there while she gets a little head and neck rub..lol She only retreats if something comes quickly at her head. The time I spent handle her and us getting to know eachother, I believe has helped in the shaping of her temperment.

Lisa ,	Posted At: 2/21/2012 11:49:52 AM
	As far as them being still and not moving much, well mine are BP's in disguise then. Mine are active, sometimes they are in a slower mood, but they do not just ball up and sit there at all...So if yours is one that is active it is ok...she is just smarter and more curious than the lazy ones..lol

L & A Lopez =0),	Posted At: 2/21/2012 11:50:58 AM
	I agree with everyone's input. Balls are super easy to handle. Just don't get jumpy or discouraged if he makes a sudden move to hide his head. Thats their first defense, and very rarely will they ever strike at you from being handled, as long as you don't put your hand in their faces.

Tiki108,	Posted At: 2/21/2012 11:56:19 AM
	Lisa, I mean compared to my corns, my bps can be active, but none have ever moved like some fo my corns do, I have one that as soon as I pick him up I have to keep grabbing him cause he's moving SO fast, I've had bps move, but none move like my corns.

steven shook,	Posted At: 2/21/2012 12:01:38 PM
	tiki: i find the posts hilarous like "check out my balls" must be the guy in me lol

gfx,	Posted At: 2/21/2012 1:58:54 PM
	I can't help but think that there will be plenty of helpful suggestions for handling your balls.

Michael ,	Posted At: 2/21/2012 3:29:05 PM
	Just always be firm but gentile while handeling your balls !!

Cynthia Chaplin,	Posted At: 2/21/2012 4:42:06 PM
	There's a lot of good advice here - also remember that most snakes don't like to feel restrained. So you just let her slither through your hands freely. If it's your first time handling her, you might want do so seated on carpet so that if somehow the snake does fall, she won't land on a hard floor and break ribs! My BP is head shy; it's fairly common, so don't worry if she jerks away from a movement toward her face, that's normal. Scoop her up from underneath whenever possible. It's a lot more threatining to see your hand coming down from the sky than to be lifted from beneath. BP's are typically very chill snakes. Once she learns to trust you, she'll be fun to hang out with :)

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