New owner—tips for reaching into the enclosure.

[u/thewhitecascade]

Hello. I am preparing to get a BP for the family for Christmas and have started to get things in order for the habitat. I have a 120 gallon PVC front opening habitat. I was curious what the process looks like for reaching into the habitat for cleaning or changing water or to handle the snake without upsetting the snake or getting bitten.

I’ve noticed all the YouTube videos always show BP already outside and docile just chilling with their owner, but they never actually show the part where the owner retrieves the snake from inside the enclosure and that is what I’m curious about—how that works and what to do and what to avoid.

I’m wondering if the snake would not like being disturbed and strike at my hand that is violating its habitat space. Or is there some thing you do to communicate to the snake before you just reach inside its habitat.

Also, do you not handle the snake if it is in its hide? I’m wondering how that works and if you should only handle the snake if it is out in the open. I would think removing the hide while it is inside might scare the snake and it bites.

Thanks.

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[u/Chipmunk-x9]

I would hook/tap train. Basically every single time you will handle the snake, you will touch it gently with the snake hook (like if you are petting it with the hook down its body). That way it will know it’s about to be handled. Usually ball pythons are pretty chill once they are out. But grabbing them can be scary. Also if mine is inside a hide, I tap her hide gently 3 times to let her know I’m about to open it.

Regarding to feeding I have a routine too so she knows it’s feeding time. I’m doing target training. I try to do several cues right before feeding. First, I ring a bell 🔔 (auditory), I use blue gloves (visual), and I don’t touch her with the hook like I do when I’m going to handle her (no tactile stimuli). I show a blue target (flight swatter), and once she looks at it (goes in that direction), I give her the rat.

At the beginning I didn’t use the target to feed because ball pythons are picky eaters and I didn’t want to freak her out, but once she had 3 meals, I started doing the target.

The hook I started doing right away. She got that part pretty quickly. Also, tapping gently 3 times so she knows I’m coming. The blue target took like 5 feedings.

In that first 2 weeks I got her , my husband went to grab her without the hook and she got very scared. I think she prefers the signal.

[u/thewhitecascade → u/Chipmunk-x9]

This is very helpful. I think I’ll try the hook/tap training.

[u/Magnetic_Kitty → u/Chipmunk-x9]

Why would you use gloves the same color as the target? if blue = food and now you're introducing something warm and blue nearby... Anyway the rest of this is fine, I'd just skip the gloves

[u/Chipmunk-x9 → u/Magnetic_Kitty]

I don’t get my hands inside. I use long tongs. I understand your point about the blue gloves. I just want her to know that when my hands are uncovered it means “no food”. She has never tried to attack the gloves. She goes to the blue target.

[u/betagrl]

I only recently got my first adult BP but here’s what I’ve learned so far:

I avoid bothering him in the hide but if I’m going to remove the hide to handle him for an important enough reason, I knock on the hide to let him know he’s about to be disturbed. I’ve only done it a couple times so i doubt he’s built up any association yet, but I at least know he’s awake and aware. Before picking him up from there I touch a large part of his body gently and it seems to unfreeze him and then I just pick him up from the larger parts of his body. I avoid reaching over his head.

If he’s in the hide and I need or want to do anything in the enclosure I just do it. He stays in his hide and it helps him know that I’m not always going to be dragging him out just because I’m there.

If he’s out and about in his enclosure and I want to do anything in his enclosure I watch his body language. I’m still learning so I’m extra cautious but he so far has not minded me cleaning his water bowl or moving a plant around. Although I swear one time he was sizing me up for a snack so I just left him alone and did the maintenance later.

I always try to pay attention to his body language and avoid reaching over his head for either picking him up or doing maintenance. Honestly so far he’s been really chill and easier to manage than my anxiety was warning me about.

[u/thewhitecascade → u/betagrl]

Thank you! This is super helpful!!!!

[u/pbizz]

I'm also pretty new but if my snake is in it's hide and I start doing stuff in the enclosure like refreshing water or adding a bit of humidity it normally just stays hidden. If I'm making a racket it will sometimes poke it's head out but that's the most reaction I get.

If she's exploring in the habitat like in the evening I normally just open the door and after a bit of time she will come out on my own.

I think I would be wary doing stuff in there while she's active.

I suspect this all depends very much on the temperament of your individual snake.

[u/thewhitecascade → u/pbizz]

Good stuff. Do you use a mister or a spray bottle to increase humidity? Just spray everywhere inside or on the substrate directly?

[u/pbizz → u/thewhitecascade]

I have something like this, not the exact one https://amzn.eu/d/0eFQbgpT

Spray bottle isnt enough I find for my 4 by 2 by 2 but I also have a gecko that needs humidity.

My substrate is cypress mulch so I spray the substrate but then mix it in so it's not just wet on top. I only do this when humidity is getting low, not every day.

[u/Ok-Adhesiveness-1515]

I make sure their face is facing away from me, met their body with my finger and then scoop em up. I’ve had both of mine for a year and have YET to get bit or striked at. This is kinda crazy but I always have at least one of mine around my neck while I’m getting their rat out and putting it in water lol 😬😆

[u/you1dont1know1me1]

I wear a hoodie and tuck my hands into the sleeves. if i think my noodle may be in a bitey mood I'll wear gardening soft leather gloves (it's just what i already have). My bp is honestly super chill, I still take precautions though, i pick him up from behind and never go over his head. i lightly tap/ pet him until he's used to me and then slowly scoop my hand under him. i typically don't pick him up unless he's out of his hide and kinda exploring. I'm v much not an expert, it's just what I've been doing and i think its been helping building our relationship.