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12-18-02, 09:01 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Dec-2002
Location: Toronto
Age: 49
Posts: 41
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Afraid of your ball?
I know that this may be a silly question, but I am just wondering if anyone if afraid of their ball biting. I have read somewhere that you should be able to read your snakes body language and tell if its going to bite.
Honestly I do not know if he is going to bite. My snake does not hiss at me or anything. ITs just that everytime I take him out I get a little bit nervous.
Oh BTW i have had this baby ball for about 10 days now.
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12-18-02, 09:10 AM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2002
Location: Brampton, Ontario, CANADA
Age: 70
Posts: 478
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Not a silly question at all, I'm betting this is your first snake? Regular handling of your ball python will get you over your nervousness and you'll learn to "read" him with experience.
__________________
:eb: Scotty Allen :eb:
"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." -- Leonardo Da Vinci
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12-18-02, 09:28 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Dec-2002
Location: Toronto
Age: 49
Posts: 41
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Yeah this is my first snake. In fact I was scared of snakes before until my friend let me play with his Ball Python. From that point onwards I wanted one of my own.
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12-18-02, 09:30 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2002
Location: Brampton, Ontario, CANADA
Age: 70
Posts: 478
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Just a side note, do not handle your snake for a couple of days after feeding. He may give you a smelly surprise.
__________________
:eb: Scotty Allen :eb:
"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." -- Leonardo Da Vinci
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12-18-02, 09:39 AM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Oct-2002
Location: southern ontario
Age: 43
Posts: 370
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Well a Good friend of mine once said to me and made perfect sence
"The only stupid (silly  ) question is the one you DON'T ask" Jason H,
jay
__________________
Jay
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12-18-02, 10:16 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Nov-2002
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 103
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hey I think thats natural with any snake no matter how long youve been dealing with snakes...each snake has its own personality and body language so learning what is unstressed natural movement and what is scarred im-gunna-bite-you movement just takes regular handling sessions. remeber not to handle him for at least a week after you first get him and not mess with him a few days after eating or a few days before/after/during shedding. he'll either puke crap or bite you hehe.
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12-18-02, 12:37 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2002
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Age: 48
Posts: 1,850
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He will know if you are nervous...so try to stay loose and calm and that will help your snake to accept you as a non-threatening thing.
__________________
If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist, it's another nonconformist who doesn't conform to the prevailing standard of nonconformity.
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12-18-02, 12:48 PM
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#8
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Former Moderator no longer active
Join Date: Feb-2002
Location: Christchurch
Posts: 10,251
Country: 
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All I can recommend is that you keep handling your new little snakie, like Scotty said leaving him to digest for at least 48 hours after every feeding. Eventually you will become more comfortable with your ball and become more familiar with his body language. Balls are great snakes to gain confidence with as they are typically reluctant to bite, since their natural defense is to tuck their head and curl into a ball. Just make sure that your hands don't smell like rodents - any snake has the potential to take a feeding reflex bite.... and those don't tickle!
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12-18-02, 12:55 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Dec-2002
Location: Toronto
Age: 49
Posts: 41
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thanks guys. Once i get him out of the tank and play with him I get used to him. The only intital scare is putting my hand in cause thats when i heard most of the bites takes place.
I make sure I wash my hand before and after handling him. Also i do wait 48hours after he ate before handling him.
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12-18-02, 02:12 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Aug-2002
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 4,971
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It sounds like you're doing all the right things. Now you just have to gain some experience and your confidence will come with it. Keep at it and you'll be fine
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12-18-02, 03:09 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2002
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Age: 48
Posts: 1,850
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One thing to try is not looming over him when you pick him up. It may seem that you are a big predator comming to eat him. If you try to slide you hand under him from the side he may not think it's an attack. My BP will acctually come out onto my hand when I open the enclosure. My king on the other hand...he hates to be picked up and it took me a while to get up the courage to just pick him up really quick. Maybe try using a snake hook (coat hanger) to pick him up until you and he both adjust to each other.
__________________
If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist, it's another nonconformist who doesn't conform to the prevailing standard of nonconformity.
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12-18-02, 03:12 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Dec-2002
Location: Toronto
Age: 49
Posts: 41
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well a lot of people have said its better to be bitten now by a baby ball then by an adult. OUCH!! that must hurt.
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12-18-02, 03:12 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Sep-2002
Location: Upstate NY
Age: 39
Posts: 457
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I was afraid of my first snake ,Fox, a Grey Rat . He ws already about 3 feet and wirey (spelling?) like you wouldn't believe. He never has taken even a snap at me though. i do use purell on my hands after i handle any mice/rats to get rid of the smell.
__________________
"a tolls a toll, and a rolls a roll, and if we don't get no tolls... then we don't eat no rolls "
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12-18-02, 03:49 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Sep-2002
Location: Toronto
Age: 41
Posts: 179
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i rather be bit by a baby corn then a ball lol *so many times my corn bit me in the beginning lol*
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12-18-02, 03:59 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Mar-2002
Location: Longueuil
Age: 41
Posts: 1,637
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My ball pythons are one of the snakes that I trust the most..
It just takes some times to understand your little snake and lots of observation.
I was standing for hours in front of the first snake My Boyfriend got..
When you feed it, look at him strike to the prey... Look at his reaction when he sees it, Just before the strike..
Like I said, Lots of observation will let you know alot about him
__________________
"Just be yourself. It doesn't matter if it's good enough for someone else."
Mary 
snakehive
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