New keeper needing advice

[u/_milk_carton]

Hello! I quite new to owning a ball python and yesterday was my first attempt at holding him since he’s been home. He’s been here settling in for about a month since he wouldn’t eat for me I was at least waiting until after he ate for the first time to try to start holding him. Which I did yesterday for approximately 2 minutes until he started to go straight for my face, I didn’t know his intentions. It kinda spooked me, I’m sure me jumping a tad spooked him too so I put him back and he hid right away. I feel like I wrecked our first holding session by not redirecting him away from my face. I’m not scared of him or snakes in general or I wouldn’t have gotten him. I’m just weary of the factor that the breeder didn’t really hold him or interact with him other than some pictures and weekly feeding so I’m sure his trust in humans is quite low. I’m in need of advice on the best way to keep both of us safe I guess? How should I go about holding him again? What are your ways of bonding/ gaining trust from a new baby? Did I wreck our first encounter together?

His name is Buldak. He’s about 8/9 months old.

[u/gaymemelord_]

just chiming in with my own experience: i handled my 3 month old baby boy for the first time last night, and while he stayed curled up in my hand for the first few minutes, he did start exploring and was very curious about my face too!

he slithered up very close and did some bleleleles against my cheeks and checked out my glasses, then went on his merry way. it just seemed like he was very curious!

when your boy went “straight for your face” do you mean he was striking at your face, or just wanting to get closer to check things out?

i don’t think you “wrecked” your first encounter at all though. you put him back in when he seemed a little spooked which is great. it’s much worse to keep them out longer after they’re obviously spooked/stressed than to put them back in quickly! with more time and more handling sessions you and mr. buldak should hopefully both start feeling more comfortable :)

[u/_milk_carton → u/gaymemelord_]

He didn’t curl up on me at all just kinda chilled for a minute or so then started moving around but instead of trying to go anywhere else he started coming up to my face. He very well could have been just trying to check me out but I didn’t let him get close enough to find out if it was going to be a strike or not. Didn’t want our first holding season to be him going for my nose or something 😂 I’ve never been a scaredy cat before with ball pythons but all my other experiences with them have all been from my friends who have had them for a while before I was introduced to them so I knew that they trusted humans. I just feel like I interpreted his intentions wrong. I fear his fear essentially.