How do i re-'tame' my ball pythons?

Question

i have two 5 year old ball pythons,and while they are usually fine pets they have seemed to turn on me quite quickly. i just moved and had to have someone else take care of them for a while. i guess they didnt handle them while i was gone because now when i try to grab them to feed them or just to hold them they flip out and strike at me.

i really like my snakes and dont really want to get rid of them. whats the best way with the least risk of getting bit to get them to be nice again?

Answer 1

Ball Pythons can be skittish animals. I think what we have here is a combination of several things; new smells being in your new place, being with someone else for a while and do you really know how they were cared for with them? Were there dogs or cats around them at the place where they were being cared for while you moved? Has anything changed in their cage set up in the new place?

Do you normally feed them in their housing or take them out and put them in a feeding tank to feed them? If you don't have a feeding tank for them, then get one and stop feeding them in their living quarters. By feeding them where they live every time you open the lid they will think its chow time, go into feeding mode and more then likely strike.

If they were mine I would take their cage(s) and scrub them down thoroughly, disinfect and deodorize them. I don't know what bedding you use but folded newspaper is fine. Do you provide them with hide a boxes? If not take a small cardboard box, cut a door way on one end tip it upside down to make like a 'cave' for them to go in and hide and feel safe. I would set their cage up and leave them alone for a few days. Make sure they have plenty of water and comforts and get them back on a light/dark cycle. Make sure the cage is set up in a low traffic, quiet area of your home and give them a few days (5-10 days) to acclimate themselves to the new place and back with you. I wouldn't handle them at all during this time. Don't tap on the glass (I hope you don't do that anyway)...no reaching in and lifting the box to check on them -- just leave them be during this time. They do not need to be fed during this time, if their weight is fine then a 5-10 day 'fast' won't hurt a healthy snake in the slightest.

If that still doesn't work then gentle handling several times a day with them, basically re-tame them is right. And make sure you set up a feeding tank. That way every time you reach in for them they won't know if its to be handled or fed. Don't wear perfumes or cologne when you handle them, keep loud noises away from them, if you have a dog or cat, don't let them near them and try not to have their scent on you when you are handling your snakes. You have to build their confidence back up and help them get over some possible trauma they had where they were kept while you moved. Also check to make sure they are not about to go into a shed. Many snakes will get pretty nippy when their eyes are clouding over to shed. Also before you set them up for a few days to chill, I would soak them in some warm water for 20-30 minutes to make sure they are well hydrated.

Give them some time to get adjusted to all the new smells and sounds and get over any trauma and I think they should be fine.  

Answer 2

the second person to answer your comment seems to know his pythonology, my computer had a nervous breakdown so i couldnt answer in time, however if your saying they didnt handle them my presumption is they just dropped your pythons diet in the cage, perhaps let the come out on there own, i like doing this cuz it gives them the choice to come out, evn though they are docile creatures they do have a mind of their own an i am their keeper but not the keeper of their thought aor ations, let them come out on there own and see what happens!!  

Answer 3

the best thing to do in this case is to grab the python without getting bit and basically hold its mouthshut and show them that you are the boss and that you can over power them.. once they know who's the master start from there

Answer 4

Hmm did the person watching your snakes take them out of their normal habitat to feed them? Maybe they were afraid to handle snakes?  I know if you feed them in their regular habitat, every time you go to open their cage (or whatever you're keeping them in) they can strike because they are expecting food.  You may just have to get them back in the habit of being held again, maybe handling them like 10 minutes a day.  You can use gloves to handle them without stressing them out further. Oh and make sure there's no chance that they are getting ready to shed, they can be very moody around that time. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Put on strong gloves, pick the snake up, then stroke it.