Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is there a way that minimizes stress on you and your snake or am I over thinking this and just need to reach in and pick it up?

hands works well for me...lol. just wash your hands first to make sure you don't smell like food. plus dont hold them tight and let it flow threw your hands but dont let go.

As the above poster mentioned, wash your hands...

More pertinently, however, do not approach from the head of the snake- the only time in the wild something does that, it is swooping down to eat them.

Instead, move your hands in slowly from the rear of the animal, and slide your fingers under it about one-third of the body-length back from the head. About two-thirds of the way back, slide your other hand to evenly distribute the weight. Almost certainly the animal (if it hasn't been handled a lot) will tense up, and possibly ball up. Don't let this dissuade you, just gently lift it, supporting the weight as evenly as you can. Over time this will become easier for both you and the animal. Once holding it, avoid touching its head (it will touch you with its head, periodically, but it won't like it if you do, and will probably recoil in fear) and let it move freely. Chances are it won't move at all unless it is so terrified it overcomes its "ball" response. Once it begins moving shift your hands to continue to support it, and its best to let it move from your hands back into its enclosure, rather than dropping it or sliding it down. Don't stress too much about this- handle your snake infrequently when you first get it, after it feeds once a week for a month, handle at will. You'll get comfortable over time, and so will most ball pythons.
Enjoy.

-SWA

I picked it up and held it for a minute or so, and always close to the cage so it knew it had the option to go back in if it wanted, which it eventually did. I have to say picking it up this time really made me feel a lot more confident about it. My biggest worry has always been that if it did bite me I might jerk in reaction and end up hurting the snake. I feel confident enough to try to take it to the vet on Tuesday to be sexed and get a fecal done.

I have a story.
One time I was cleaning cages when a freind came over. He asked to use the restroom, I said sure, then I remembered that I had a snake in there. I've learned from experience that it's polite to tell a guest if there's a snake in your bathroom before they go in there. (but that's a different story) Being a big, bad, macho type of dude, he said of course he didn't care. Well, I was ready for the snake and hollered to him that, if he didn't mind, would he grab that snake for me on the way out. He siad OK. I was finishing up with my other snakes, and began to wonder what was taking him so long, when I heard a slight ruckus comming from the bathroom. I went on in to see this big, bad, macho type dude grabbing my poor BP behind the head and wrestling with it in a most macho tpyr of way. Really, the image was quite hilarious, gut, obviousy I had to put a stop to it. So I walked up gehind him, tapped him on the shoulder and interrupted his macho wrestling by gently reaching out and lifting the poor snake from his hands. It promptly settled down, but the look on this guys face was priceless. All he said was "oh." "You mean it won't bite?"
This is how you do NOT handle a snake. This is a guy who said he'd had snakes before, so I thought nothing of asking him to pick up the critter. I will NOT make that mistake again!
By the way, inchoate gave a good description of how to do it right.

Nice and easy, and think what it's like to be a snake.....

Best of luck with your BP,
GratefulFred
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GratefulFred

Keep in mind that snakes don’t have eyelids, therefore you don’t know if it’s sleeping or not. I once surprised Mors (my BP) while he was sleeping (they are nocturnal by nature) and he got a little startle and striked (he missed me). From that point on I talked to him (“hi Mors, how are you today?”) before picking him up and the incident never reoccurred. It may be a little nutty to talk to sake but hey it works and I like it.
I guess the point is to let your pet know that your there.

Note that I also agree with Inchoate for the picking up of a BP.

PatB

Hey Mors I'm sure you know that snakes are deaf, with a strong ability to detect vibrations.
I agree with you about startling a snake. I always give mine a little tap on the side (if they don’t see me coming) to warn them before I pick them up.
TomChambers

You are absolutely right. Sorry I should have mentionned the no ears thing.

PB