Do Ball Python to like back rubs?

[herpocrite27]

This may sound odd, but I was wondering if anyone else has a BP that seems to like to have its back and head scratched? She will bend her tail back and forth and arch her back up, pushing her body against my fingers. It's sort of funny to watch, I have never seen a snake do this before. In case anyone is wondering, she does not have ticks.

[Chu'Wuti]

Interesting. I really haven't noticed that behavior in my BP, so I don't know what to say.

Welcome to the forum, though! Hope you get some answers!

[Aaron_S]

Ever thought maybe your snake bends it back to push you away?

[Smilts]

Not to be mean but they dont have limbs to push away with like dogs and cats.

[Aaron_S]

Coy, you obviously have never seen a snake use it's body as a defense then. Snakes can and do actually use their body to push you away, or "throw" their body at you. It's a defense in between hissing and biting.

[Chu'Wuti]

Actually, I think Coy was agreeing with you, Aaron--Snakes don't have limbs--arms, legs--to push something away with--just their bodies. I hadn't thought about it, but I have seen/had several of my snakes do this. It's as much push you away as it is push away from.

[Kmef07]

hey my brb will sometimes when im holding it almost lung its front half of its body forward. if i dont catch it with my other hand it would defiantly fall cuz it lets go with it's tail end. do you think that is her way of telling me to leave her alone? i usually put her back in her tank after she does it and she usually crawls around in there for about 10 mins then goes back in her hide.

[citysnakes]

do you think that is her way of telling me to leave her alone?


you got it.:D but shes still young right? just dont stress her too much too soon and i think she will eventually calm down with regular handling.

[Kmef07]

thanks and yes she is not even a year yet. i haven't really gotten a chance to handle her the last couple weeks cuz she was shedding and i fed her right after that so tonight will be the first time in a while i will be able to "play" with her. i rarely hold her for more than about 10 mins anymore

[Smilts]

I was in fact in agreement with you Aaron S. But no worrys and I have been witness to just about every defensive means they have. Sorry I should have been more clear.

[Aaron_S]

Sorry I misunderstood you Coy. My mistake. I just didn't read your words correctly.

[xXKATRINAXx]

yah, i had a ball python that loved to have his chin scratched it was so funny! then he would get tierd and take a nap.

he was an odd snake...... he also watched south park with me

[herpocrite27]

Well, thanks for some of your comments. I would have never of guessed she was pushing me away. She has never acted like she was upset, she has never bit, hissed or tried to launch off my shoulders. But, I dont know, I have read alot about my snake and have never come across anything that talked about this subject. Since everyone has convinced me that I'm crazy, maybe I am. So i guess I'll knock it off. Thanks again foryour help

[Chu'Wuti]

BPs don't hiss or try to jump off someone, and they rarely bite. They simply push away or, if they are really frightened, ball up. That's why they're called ball pythons.

We're not saying that you're crazy, herpocrite. You're just anthropomorphizing your snake, which is actually very common--lots of people want to believe that their snakes love them. But they're snakes, not people or even mammals who can feel an emotion like love.

[citysnakes]

its always fun to believe your snake loves you and communicates it back in its own snakey way but at times we also have to understand the snakes behaviour and what it is really trying to communicate to us. have fun with your snakes just dont stress them out too much and then expect them to eat right away...

Chu i have a few balls that scare people away with their hiss. needless to say, they are my favorites.:)

[Chu'Wuti]

Julian, BPs that hiss?! Wow. I've looked at a lot of BPs & never heard one hiss. Rat snakes, hognose snakes, others . . . yes. BPs? not once. So you must have the weirdest BPs!:rolleyes:

Just teasing! I'm sure that even BPs can hiss, but I guess it's somewhat unusual?

Julian, what color morphs do you breed?

[mykee]

Chu: not uncommon for balls to hiss at all! When my females are touched for "no good reason" I get a hiss out of almost every single one of them. Hissing is a pre-cursor to a bite.

[Aaron_S]

My baby pinstripe hisses at me just for lifting her hide! My bumblebee does it as well. The others don't.

[Phoenix446]

BPs don't hiss or try to jump off someone, and they rarely bite. They simply push away or, if they are really frightened, ball up. That's why they're called ball pythons.

We're not saying that you're crazy, herpocrite. You're just anthropomorphizing your snake, which is actually very common--lots of people want to believe that their snakes love them. But they're snakes, not people or even mammals who can feel an emotion like love.


My Ground boa loves me...doesn't he? Sniffle...

[citysnakes]

of course he does Phoenix! im sure of it.;)

[herpocrite27]

Thanks Chu'Wati I appreciate the input.
I was just trying to relate her actions to my observations of when she is rubbing her head on the edge of her hide (and no, not during shedding cycle). I assume she does this when she has an itch. I know snakes dont have feelings, I guess I was just misreading her body language for something else. Thank you all for your help, I appreciate it.

[Chu'Wuti]

All the disappointment is almost more than I can bear! [wipes a tear away]

Sorry, Phoenix & Herpocrite! I really hate being the bearer of "bad" news.

oh, phooey . . . i feel like such a meanie . . .

[Phoenix446]

Don't feel bad...I always wondered why Severus (my ground boa) was always more interested in what I was doing when I was holding a mouse.

[Chu'Wuti]

I always wondered why Severus (my ground boa) was always more interested in what I was doing when I was holding a mouse.

Oh! FOOD! LOL!

[GoodSmeagol]

Who holds the snake near its head?
Mine will back off or pull their heads away if I even come close to the head.
Simple solution, dont hold their heads.

[Chu'Wuti]

Who holds the snake near its head?

Not I! All of mine have always been really leery of hands coming near their heads.

[Will0W783]

I had to work with my male BP about the head thing, because he had gotten an eyecap stuck that got infected and I had to rub ointment on it twice a day for a month. Now he doesn't even flinch if you pet his head, but I'm sure he doesn't "like" it. I know snakes don't form an attachment to you or even have any emotions beyond scared, angry, hungry. But I would swear some of mine actually ask to come out and enjoy attention. My male carpet python, Voodoo, will start rubbing up against the screen of his cage as soon as he sees you come in the room and when I bring him out he gets so excited he breathes heavily (not a hiss, just a "talking" that carpets sometimes do when they're "excited"- hard to describe without plugging in a mood?. He really seems to enjoy being out of his cage, while others I have freak out and just want to be left alone. Snakes can have different temperaments and "personalities" (for lack of a better word) just as any animal can, but they are much more simple than cats and dogs.