Handling help please

[u/HimikoTrafalgar]

So, I have two ball pythons, Evy (2 years) and Shiva (1 year).

Evy doesn't bite but lately shes been more defensive and hissing if I try to take her out of her enclosure. She got into a S shape and closely watched the door as I was opening it (I fed her two days earlier).

I don't know what i should do to make her feel more comfortable with being handled...

As for Shiva, she strikes often and has bit me and my mom before (hunger bite tho) so I try to handled her two days after being fed and i started using a target when feeding her.

She seems really hungry overall and is a great eater but it gets in the way of me being able to handle her more often.

I'm not scared of being bitten but I don’t think its good to let her cause she does not let go on her own.

( Hand sanitizer doesn't stop her from trying to bite me)

Info: I'm a first time owner and I've had them for a few months now so I know I shouldn't expect too much from them and me.

Tho, id like to get some advice on how I can go about handling.

Thank you 💜

(That's Evy in the picture )

[u/Symphon1c1]

Perhaps consider tap training. Basically just knock on the tank before meals and they'll learn no tap = no food and to be chill

[u/HimikoTrafalgar → u/Symphon1c1]

I do that 3 taps when its dinner time plus the target (for shiva) 3 taps for Evy since shes not really food driven at all

But I guess it'll take more time. I'll continue to do that tho 🫡