Bringing Home Your New Ball Python
There are certain measures to take when you bring home a new reptile. These are just some suggestions to help you settle in your new ball python.
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Quarantine
It is strongly recommended, particularly for those of you that have large collections, to quarantine all new reptiles before allowing them around your main collection. This should be done regardless of where you get your animals from. Preventing the spread of parasites such as mites, respiratory illnesses, and more serious communicable disease requires quarantine for at least 90 days.
Have Enclosure Ready
Be sure to have your snake's enclosure ready, with proper temperatures and humidity, prior to bringing home your new friend. Make sure the enclosure is in a quiet, dark area where the snake can remain undisturbed for a week. If you need a low-cost quarantine enclosure, check out our Essential Care Guide.
The First Week
Do not handle your new pet for at least five days. We know it can be difficult to resist cuddling with those cute little faces, but doing so will only stress the animal. Place them in their new enclosure and leave them be, only checking on water and removing messes through the first week.
Similarly, do not feed your new pet for at least five to seven days. For the first few feedings, try to feed them the exact prey type and size they had been eating previously. This is only true for some snakes as others are much less discerning. See our Feeding page for more tips.
Handling
With regular handling, ball pythons can become very easygoing. They typically do not strike except for food or when frightened. Once your snake has settled into its new home, you should handle it from 5 to 15 minutes a day to allow it to get used to you. Try not to handle your ball python for more than 40 minutes a day.
Many ball pythons are head-shy, meaning they do not like to be touched on the head. They will most often recoil if they are touched on their head. Some ball pythons are perfectly fine with being pet on their heads (or booped on the snoot), but expect a new ball python to be head-shy.
Snake scales go in one direction and, similar to cats and dogs, you should always pet with, and not against, the grain. This means that you should pet a snake in a direction from their head towards their tail. Be sure to support the snake's body during handling.
Do not handle a ball python that has recently eaten. It may regurgitate if it is moved or becomes too anxious, and this is unhealthy for snakes. Allow them enough time to digest. After a couple days or after it becomes active again you can handle the snake.
Defensive Hatchlings
It is not uncommon for baby ball pythons to strike. They do this as a purely defensive measure. Observing their posture can help you predict if they are going to strike. Try to expect it and not overreact. Bites are rare, but if your snake does bite you, try not to pull away quickly as this can injure the snake. If they bite and do not let go, try applying light pressure on the sides of their mouth.
Since you should be feeding your animal in its enclosure, it may associate your hand opening the lid or doors with feeding time. The animal will often track your hand as it moves around the enclosure with quick, darting movements of its head. If this happens pick up the snake from behind and remove it from the enclosure while you clean or replace water.
While ball python bites are not dangerous, they can be unpleasant. To avoid this, you can wear snake handling gloves. Low-cost alternatives are gardening or mechanic's gloves. These will keep the snake's teeth from your skin and help you handle your new buddy more confidently and securely.
Need more advice?
If you're looking for more husbandry advice or money-saving tips, reach out to us and we'll make sure you have everything you need.
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