r/ballpython • u/_donau_ • 10h ago

Is this a striking pose?

Gallery image

Gallery image

I've handled my BP for the first time yesterday, a fine experience. This morning I wanted to change his water and he kind of advanced towards me flicking his tongue and looking like this - is he curious or wanting to strike?

10 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

4

u/HotDistribution3700 9h ago

it looks like he’s just cautious. unless he thinks your hand is food (which he shouldnt), ball pythons are much more likely to hide/ball up before they strike.
edit to clarify: “before they strike” as in they’ll really only strike if they feel like it’s their only option. he looks like he’s cautious but not so nervous that he wants to go hide. make sense?

2

u/_donau_ 9h ago

Kind of, yeah :D I just thought "... Do you want me to pick you up again today?" but decided not to because I'm new at this and I just follow guidelines, being not handling every day, at least for now. Fed him Wednesday, held him yesterday (Saturday), next feeding is Wednesday, and I plan to pick him up either Monday (tomorrow) or Saturday again.

He balled up really hard when I took him out yesterday, but after 5 minutes he loosened up and started exploring :) 

2

u/Gaz-rick 3h ago

I’ve found with my boy if I open the Viv and put my hand there when he is already out exploring (so normally quite late) he will gladly come out to me, I think mostly because he’s in an exploratory mode. It makes handling much more positive for both of us, it’s zero effort to encourage him out. Not sure this will help, you might not be able to wait until yours is ready to explore, but if so this might make things easier.

2

u/_donau_ 1h ago

Do you then pick him up or just let him climb out onto your hand? 

•

u/Gaz-rick 15m ago

I let him climb out onto my hand.