shy snake

[SnakeGeorge]

My pastel ball python always jumps back when I put my hand near his face or put a mouse in front of him. Is this normal when first getting a snake?is there a way to get him to stop doing it? Any explanations? Also he doesn't like when I touch him a few inches behind his head

[PsychoSnake]

My Daisy (Rosy Boa) was like this when I first got her. It was simply an issue of not being used to being handled. After a few months of regular gentle handling she became more comfortable with it ane now allows me to stroke the top of her head. She is a very calm snake. She gets herky jerky about being touched while in blue still (can't see well).

[Minkness]

I'm not a BP person, but I'd say it's very common for most snakes, especially young ones and newly aquired ones.

My suggestion is just to move a little more slowly, and when handling move up its body towards it's head. My baby MBK was pretty head shy when I first got her but after a few weeks of these methods she is totally fine so long as I don't move to specifically touch her head, but if I move up to her head from her neck, she's fine, and even pushes into the touch a bit. I hate relating snakes to mammals but she reminds me of a cat when she does that lol

[FWK]

Ball Pythons are typically very head shy. Don't touch his head or neck if you can help it, handle him by his body only. Don't put a mouse right up in his face, keep it a few inches out in front of him and allow him to strike out and grab it. Move as slowly as you reasonably can when working with him. Ball Pythons are slow moving snakes and anything that moves fast will be intimidating to him. He will likely calm down a bit as he ages but even my calmest Ball Pythons are still pretty head shy. Any sudden movement or a touch to the head/neck area will spook them.

[Cmwells90]

Many babies are very shy, and BPs are notorious for being shy. Imagine it from the snakes view, you're a predator for the first few months IMO. If a predator touched them in the wild, they'd run or fight. When your snake jumps back it's because he needs to know if he needs to attack or run. I always handle my snakes from the mid-section of their body, so they feel both secure that they wont fall, and that if they get startled, I'm less likely to be bitten.

[Jrich]

With my jumpy snakes I always get them out initially with a snake hook before handling them with my hands. It just makes everything less stressful for everyone because instead of coming overhead like a predator would do I just gently and slowly lift under their midsection until I place my hands underneath to fully support the snake. Of course some snakes are too small for a hook but my baby ball was able to ride a hook really well. I think it helps in minimizing the risk of being bitten out of fear and let's the snake know overtime they are being taken out instead of being fed. Just a thought, there are so many different ways. Good luck! With regular handling your snake will be more comfortable with you, I know that a lot of snakes are not particularly fond of being touched on or near the head.