panic attacks when trying to handle my ball

[zer213]

About 2 years ago I got bitten by my ball, totally my fault. She had just fed and I open the feedbtub and came at her from above. The feedbtub still smelled like rat so I figure she thought she was getting seconds. Anywho, I didn't give it time to air out before coming in to get her and she got me pretty good. Nothing bad, a good chomp and wrap for a minute then just a bit of blood and some wrecked nereves.

Since then I get a panic attacks every time I go to handle her for feedings, cleanings etc. I wear my BBQ gloves to get her out, the nice padded ones that go up to your elbows. I hate that I don't handle her anymore and feel sorry for the poor dear, I used to love to take her out and let her wander around. Now I just give her the basics and leave her be.

I'm on meds for panic attacks, I already had them long before owning a snake, but I still get one every damn time.

Advice? Take off the gloves? Handle more frequently to give myself more confidence? I'm not afraid of pain, its a switch that gets flipped in my mind and its hard(almost impossible) to control.

Sorry this is a bit long but I just got done feeding her and cleaning the tank out and finally figured I'd ask for help. I'm seriously debating giving her up.

[Aaron_S]

She's no worse for wear being left alone. Snakes don't need interaction.

If you want for your own confidence then more steady handling. Start small. Work with her for an extra couple minutes when you remove her for cleaning.
I would feed her in her enclosure as it's less stress on both of you and less chance of this ever happening again.

[zer213]

I have thought about that but I would rather her associate a separate container as a feeding area. I've seen it on plenty of threads and in books that its best to keep the two areas separate for behavioral and sanitary purposes. Plus I do tank maintenance while she is feeding in her tub. We stay out of each others way that way.

[EL Ziggy]

I agree with Aaron. It's much easier and less stressful for both you and the snake to feed inside the enclosure. I think it's just a myth that snakes become more aggressive when fed inside their enclosure. All of my snakes are fed in their enclosures and they're all puppy dog tame. I used to feed in a separate container when I got my first snake too but after joining this forum and listening to the other members I quickly realized it was totally unnecessary. I also believe the best way to overcome fear is to face it. You shouldn't own an animal you're afraid of. They can sense fear and that makes them more likely to be defensive. Be confident when handling your snake and he should calm down with some gentle, consistent handling. Best wishes!

[BIGT FROM F.B.]

You're not alone on the panic attacks, my friend. However, mine don't happen when being bitten, even though the results are the same. Just try to train you mind that it's not venomous and nothing is going to happen. I know it's easier said than done. Could be, it brings back a sub conscious thought from your youth that scared you in the same way. Our brains tend to take over and make us do whatever it wants us to. Hope you get over it. Stress and panic are fickle B***hes!!

[CosmicOwl]

I have thought about that but I would rather her associate a separate container as a feeding area. I've seen it on plenty of threads and in books that its best to keep the two areas separate for behavioral and sanitary purposes. Plus I do tank maintenance while she is feeding in her tub. We stay out of each others way that way.

Feeding tubs are nonsense. It just stresses animals out more to be removed from their enclosure, fed and then moved back again. Basically every breeder feeds their animal in the enclosure and they deal with thousands of animals.

[zer213]

Forgot to mention one bit of a therapy/quirk(all aboard the mental illness train!): when she's roaming and sniffing the screen I put my hand on the screen so she associates my scent with being an OK person. I know it bs but I like to think I'm doing something right.

Since the incident she's never struck or reared back at me.

[Derek1]

Look into taking a Magnesium and Omega 3 Supplement. Magnesium has shown to help the brain create new response patterns.

[shaunyboy]

I have thought about that but I would rather her associate a separate container as a feeding area. I've seen it on plenty of threads and in books that its best to keep the two areas separate for behavioral and sanitary purposes. Plus I do tank maintenance while she is feeding in her tub. We stay out of each others way that way.

the whole out the tank feeding thing is a myth mate.....

when feeding in the tank,saying the snake will associate the doors opening with food,so get bitey every time the doors open is flawed

why ?????

because if you apply that same logic to taking it out its tank to feed...

then surely it would associate getting taken out with food,so get bitey every time you go to take it out,no ?

it's always best to feed a snake in it's enclosure,that's where it feels most secure and is best for the snake

re panic attacks
what if you tried handling a smaller species of snake,something like a Garter snake ?

build confidence with the smaller snake,then work up to your ball python


re hygene
if your worried about substrate being ingested,lay the prey on a plate

imo you should have no issues feeding in the tank regardless of what substrate you use


cheers shaun

[Mikoh4792]

I feed all my snakes inside their enclosures.

I have never gotten a food response bite(except from a kingsnake(no brainer here)... and that was OUTSIDE the enclosure)

[Mikoh4792]

Look into taking a Magnesium and Omega 3 Supplement. Magnesium has shown to help the brain create new response patterns.

This and so does high intensity exercise.

[zer213]

My multivitamin has it :)
I've been reading about brain plasticity so I'm hoping with continuing meds, working with my therapist and doc I can get a grasp of it all.

She ate today so I'll give her about 48 hrs to digest it all and try to not take her out to clean up. I'll try it bare handed as well. I used to use a snake stick but found gloves to be much more weildly.

Details to follow Fri. I'll check back in here for more advice or personal experiences. I know that if you own an animal you can expect to get bitten one day. I accept that part, its the panic attacks that get me.

[shaunyboy]

She ate today so I'll give her about 48 hrs to digest it all and try to not take her out to clean up.

what do you mean clean up ?

i spot clean when required,but only clean the whole vivarium once every year give or take a month...

imo over cleaning and making a snake tank too sterile is not great for the snakes immune system


cheers shaun

[zer213]

the whole out the tank feeding thing is a myth mate.....

when feeding in the tank,saying the snake will associate the doors opening with food,so get bitey every time the doors open is flawed

why ?????

because if you apply that same logic to taking it out its tank to feed...

then surely it would associate getting taken out with food,so get bitey every time you go to take it out,no ?

it's always best to feed a snake in it's enclosure,that's where it feels most secure and is best for the snake

re panic attacks
what if you tried handling a smaller species of snake,something like a Garter snake ?

build confidence with the smaller snake,then work up to your ball python


re hygene
if your worried about substrate being ingested,lay the prey on a plate

imo you should have no issues feeding in the tank regardless of what substrate you use


cheers shaun

This is all awesome info, thank you. I use tongs to replicate an rat messing with her. She's stupid picky about temp, size and color. It took a lot of pinkies when I first got her to get her to eat. She won't touch it if its lying there, I've tried that. She will only take the rat if its white and dancing in her face.

[shaunyboy]

This is all awesome info, thank you. I use tongs to replicate an rat messing with her. She's stupid picky about temp, size and color. It took a lot of pinkies when I first got her to get her to eat. She won't touch it if its lying there, I've tried that. She will only take the rat if its white and dancing in her face.

i give my prey a good heat with a hair dryer,especially the head,i make them so they feel the same temperature in your hand that a live rat would feel to the touch,then wiggle the prey around in front of the snake on a pair of ten inch feeding tongs


cheers shaun

[Woody33259]

Zer213 I iwll tell you that feeding in or out oof the your snake enclousre is a personnel preference thing at best. I can find you 100 experts and 50 will say never in the encloser and 50 will say in the encloser for different reasons. A trick I learned along time ago that i know really works with every Pyhton no matter its age or if you rasied it or not. I always touch my snake with a snake hook around there mid section this tells my snakes thru reputition that its not feeding time if you do this everytime it will not only help your snake but it will insure you your snake wont bite out of a feeding response. Additionally until you get over your panic attacks you can run the hook up the body while grasping the body with your other hand then the you have the hook between her mouth and your hand until you get here picked up. Second always take your snake out of the cage for numerous reasons but the two best reasons are 1. Excercise exploring time keeping her fit and trim 2. You dont want the snake to become to independant they often get bity when not handled ( at least 2 or 3 times a week ) I have 12 snakes but my two tails are a perrfect example of wht reputition with my snkes accomplishes Bonnie and CLyde will come out of the cage and crawl on me I dont have to pick them up. Yes it took a long time but i rasied them from newborns to there present lengths Bonnie being over 6 ft and Clyde over 5 ft. I have 10 Pythons and only one has every took a bite out of me when she was 2 yrs old till today i dont know why but they have bad days to I guess she is 4 years old now and never has she done it again. Every post on here is a good one and it works for them as my techniques works for me so I will just say reputition is so important to you and your snake she will learn and then your chance of getting bit is next to 0%. Good luck Kid and stay on your medicine.