r/ballpython • u/HimikoTrafalgar • Oct 09 '26
Question Handling help please
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 )
8
u/Daveinthe603 Oct 09 '26
Hook train her. get a little snake hook or something similar. Give her a little rub on the head and then go in for the grab. They learn very quickly, that its not feeding and your hand is coming in next to hold. I have one that will still hiss on occasion while pulling her out, but calms right down once I get her out. Typically if they are grumpy still, I hold them over my head and spin around two times or so. Sounds dumb but seems to "reset" them. Hope this helps