A question about handling / playing with my ball python Stan?

Question

I take out Stan usually twice a day (except of course after he has eaten), he never balls up and is extremely curious. He wants to go everywhere and see everything.

I take him out and I let him crawl up my arms and all that stuff. I also sometimes take him when I walk to the front of my apartment complex, he likes to go in the front pocket of my hoodie and peek out and he is very friendly with the neighborhood kids, (though I don't let them hold him.)

Lastly, when I'm watching tv sometimes he has a favorite blanket (ie, he moves around fast when he is on it and when I set him on the floor he usually goes on it) and I'll put it on the floor and kind of bunch it up around the edges so there are little caves and tunnels and let him roam around that. He goes and hangs out in the caves for a while, peeks out a bit, and since there is white carpet all the way around it, it's easy for me to keep an eye on him.

The question is - is all this handling bad for him? I’ve had him 2 months – he is farm bred and raised and has never balled up much or shown much stress and he has always been very curious. He has two hideys in his tank but he spends much of his time draped across his ‘jungle gym’ and not hiding. I’ve been watching for signs of stress but he is eating just fine and when I put my hand in the tank he crawls up my arm.

Is he enjoying these handling/playing sessions? I’m not stressing him out, right?

Answer 1

Sounds like you have a happy, well-adjusted ball python. His confidence is probably a consequence of being captive bred, and not wild caught. As long as he doesn't show signs of stress or illness, I'd say you're fine to keep handling him in this way.

Answer 2

no no i can tell he must be very happy and lucky to have an owner like you.

Answer 3

Give him a break when he's shedding too, of course, but other than that, it looks like you have a happy, healthy ball python. As long as he isn't cold or anything ( it's very important they're kept warm) you can take him out as much as you want. ( Just so you know, a sign that he is healthy is if he sheds in one peice)