Handling my ball python.?

Question

Well, if you've just read my recent question "is my ball python shy?" I have another one, I've gotten some advice to just take my ball python out of his hide to start handling him, but the problem is, whenever I put my hand in the cage, he'll shy away back into his hide, and it's barely big enough for him, so I can't get my fingers in there to take him out. It's basically three large flat rocks on top of eachother and he likes to go under the bottom rock. Should I just take the rocks apart? Will exposing him get him nervous? And when I handle him, how long should I do it for? [he's a baby and it's the second time i've handled him.]

Answer 1

i would recommend that you get a different hide for him like a one piece one so you can just lift it up and pick him up to make it easier on you. but you should not take away his hides thought because this would stress him out and possibly kill him. but you should not handle him for about the first week to get him used to his surroundings. then when you do start handling him make it short since he is a baby like 5-10 mins then gradually increase the amount of time you handle him

Answer 2

just take the rocks apart an just chill with him let him craw on you but watch him cause he will go into any hiding spot an hold him for a bout a hour.

Answer 3

if you have had him less than a week i wouldn't handle him as he needs to get used to his environment! if it's over a week then yes take the rocks apart as this early stage of the pythons life is important for both of you the sooner you start handling him the better 10 to 15 Min's a day would suffice at first and as he is nocturnal you are better off handling in the evening as this wont alter its pattern and will be less stressed out! also you probably know this but it's worth mentioning , its best not to handle him for 24 hours when he has eaten as you risk having him regurgitating and that not a good move! as for the hide they love small places so i wouldn't go much bigger as this is his main security and stops him from stressing! I wouldn' t worry about him being shy once he is used to you he will be at the front of his viv waiting for you too get him out! good luck with your snake and i hope you get as much pleasure as we do when we handling ours! Curious(thats my youngest ball python 4 months) is sat on my shoulder watching me type now, lol! sorry i forgot to mention ball python can be very head shy so try and pick him up from the the mid to back section as not to stress him out to much, god luck and enjoy!

Answer 4

Youll see that when you reach in there he'll curl up into a ball

Just pick it up and he'll mst likely just sit in the palm of your hand

Do it every day that he's not shedding or going into a shed

Also you shouldnt handle him before or right after he eats.

You might also want to get him something bigger to hide in if he barely fits in there.

Answer 5

Just place your hand in front of its hide so it can get used to your odor and your hand being in its cage. After a couple of days it might get used to you and become so curious that it will come out. I wouldn`t take the rocks apart, that would make it feel as if it had no safe place where to hide.

Answer 6

Yes. Move the rocks. He will be SUPER nervous if you never gt around to handling him. Handle him for around 10-15 mins at least once a day.