Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok... I've had my bp almost two weeks now. And the problem is i just cant pick him up(he struck at me when i was cleaning his cage, and i still recoil at the thought of it) I know im not going to be able to enjoy my snake just sittin and watchin it near as much as i could by interacting with it. i just cant force my self to grab him... idk what my prob is, but is there anything i can do besides mope...?

any advice at all would be greatly apprectiated.

Put the fear aside and pick him up. Worst case scenario, you get bit. You're not gonna die. If you want him to stop striking at you, you've gotta pick him up and let him know that you mean him no harm.

ok what if im bitten and just on instinct i jerk away, will it hurt my snake and/or sling it across the room?

If he does bite you, it will probly be so fast that you will jerk away after he lets go.

How big is he??
I am going to assume since you just got him a few weeks ago that he is young. Most people don't buy adults as pets.

The fear of getting bit is far far far greater than the pain of actually getting bit by a young ball.
If you have ever played rough with a cat and it bit and scratched you that hurts much worse.

You can always put on a pair of gloves during handling until you get comfortable with each other.

Don't reach in to pick him up coming directly towards his head, come in from the side and pick him up about mid body. Does that make sense??

good luck
TomChambers

Use a hook to bring him out of his cage. I have found that reptiles are far more aggressive in the enclosure so get him out and work with him. Trust me, the bite won't hurt. AND if you are going to work with herps, you are going to get bitten!

where do i purchase a hook?... how exactly is it used?

Relax, it really doesn't hurt that bad. You're getting yourself all worked up for nothing. The thought of getting bitten by your snake is worse than the actual bite. It kind of feels like getting poked by a thumb tack or something like that. If he does bite and hang on whatever you do-do not try to pull him off...you can potentially hurt him. Best of luck.

I know this definately sounds silly but I had had the same issue and took to wearing a sock over my hand to touch him the first few times I handled a bp. My boyfriend at the time was snake obsessed but had never been allowed to own one. I talked his mother into it (as he wasn't living at home anymore)and bought him one last year as a surprise when he was out of town for a few weeks. I learned averything I could and had it in my charge until I gave it to him. Try wearing gloves. The thin layer makes all the difference in dispelling that little fear that you know is ridiculous in your head. And he won't get any more accepting until he knows the handling doesn't mean harm. End of story: I'm now as addicted to them as he is and as I've moved out actually bought my own little beauty two weeks ago. I'm sure she won't be my last!!!!
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- Shelby

1.0 ball python, Captain America
1.0 Han/TB gelding, Tristan
1.0 fluffy kitten, Dizzy
1.0 chocolate lab, Coop
1.0 adorable boyfriend
6.0 crazy roommates

Looking at my stats, I feel like I should be suffering from testosterone poisoning

Ball Pythons are tippically very head shy, so like the other guy said come from the side, mid body. Usally when you hesitate is when you get bit, and in a perfect world normally a snake wont bite the hand that holds him, it's like their branch, or steady ground. they will bite your other hand, so just keep it away. And if you get bit...it's really not that bad.

okay first like everyone else says if you own snakes your bound to get bit at least once. 2 year olds bite harder so no worries.
but if you are really afraid of hurting yourself or snake here is a long term way...(still might get bit though) let it know you not out to eat it. Open the cage at night when it is active. Let it crawl out a ways on its own stand there in front of it and dont move crasy just stay calm. It might dart back in when it sees you. do this for a couple nights. third night right vefore it gets normally active..open cage and take out hides. let it sit there and watch you for a minute. come up from behind..place washrag on head if still scared so it cant see you. then just lift it up..it will move alot at first(flighty) but will calm down..try this again and again till it trusts you.
Or just reach in unafraid and hope for the best get bit..feels good to get it out of the way and let it know whos boss..LOL
Have Fun
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0.1 Leos
1.1 Corn snakes (1 Lav & 1 Ghost)
0.1 Banan California King
0.0.1 Childrens python
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
1.0 Rat (as pet not food)
1.2 Ball pythons (1pastel 2 normals)
"whats with you and all those dang reptiles?"

Everytime I go to pick mine up, here's what I do. First, like most other people are suggesting, I go in from the side or back. Instead of just immediately picking him up, I lightly stroke his skin with my hand for about a minute or two (usually around the middle part of his body away from his head). Sometimes when I first do this he may jerk slighty when I first touch him but after doing it for about a minute, he seems to really settle down and sometimes he'll even crawl right to my hand and just smell it. Give it a try and see what happens. I think it's the best way to pick one up since you're easing your way into it and not just grabbing it. My BP has never bitten me or even attempted to bite me doing it this way. All BP's are different, but this is what works with mine. Hope that helps.

I had this same thing happen. My snake would strike at my boyfriend (only when he had a hat on for some reason) but she has never bit anyone. Just pick the snake up in the middle of his belly (NOT BY THE HEAD THAT WILL SCARE HIM) make sure that you try to hold him everyday and he will get used to you. If he does bite you, I don't think he will, it doesn't hurt. I am guessing you haven't held him since you got him?..if this is the case you need to hold him more. My snake goes everywhere with me..she is on me right now..lol. Just don't be afraid of getting bit..Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Jean