Problems with my new ball

[Seprico]

I just got a 2yr old ball from a friend he is in great health but was handled quite a bit by the previous owner. he is always trying to get out of his cage and now he is being very standoffish with me. if i walk up to his cage he constantly watches me no matter what i do he is looking right at me kinda makes me afraid to handle him not that he could really hurt me but i really dont want to get bit any advice on what i can do or handling tips.

[BoidKeeper]

Make sure the cage is in a low traffic, quite area of the house. Give him a few weeks to settle in. Some snakes adjust to their new homes better than others. I got two snakes a week ago today and they were both pets and held a lot too and one of them now hisses every time I open the cage to check the water. Sounds to me like your snake might be stressed out a bit. So like I said make sure it is in a quite part of your home and then don't touch it until it's eaten at least 4 times back to back. Also make sure you husbandry is correct and you and the snake will be fine.
This is what I've always done with my ball pythons and mine are all doing great. Good luck and keep us posted.
Cheers,
Trevor

[mykee]

Your snake is not being "stanadoffish" your snake is being a snake. Like Trevor said, allow him to settle in, keep him in a low-traffic areas, and after a few weeks, feed him, and then slowly work into handling him. It's a gradual process. Good luck.

[Seprico]

i have already fed him twice and he just finnished shedding so im about to feed him again. he seems to be doing better spends most of his time by his water dish but i have never actually seen him go into it.

[Jeff_Favelle]

he seems to be doing better spends most of his time by his water dish but i have never actually seen him go into it.

Access to standing water is probably NOT a common thing with Ball Pythons in nature.

[Seprico]

he's doing alot better now just fed him yesterday has no problems eating what so ever and i talked to my friend about how he used to hold him he said just to hold him up to my chest and watch what happens so i did and turns out that he likes to wrap around my neck and chill for hours at a time every once in a while he crawls up and sits on my head so everything is going great now. thanx for the advice

[Canada_Club]

Yeah, your BP is sitting on your head, so everything must be fine now.


??

[mykee]

The only reason your ball is wrapping himself around your neck is not for affections sake, it's because you have him out for hours on end without a heat source, and your neck is the warmest thing around. Personally, I would keep the "handlings" below 1/2 hour or you may end up with a stressed ball.

[Kevin McRae]

When I handle mine I like to put him in my shirt so he stays warm and is not stressed as much.....and its fun for me....lol