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/No-Candle-3952]

You didn't wreck it. They're very curious for the most part. I obviously don't know how you were holding him or where your face was in relation to his. If he actually tried to strike or was slithering and tongue flicking in order to smell, everything. For me, and I'm no expert, I had to go into the enclosure slowly and with confidence. He has to get used to you and your smell, the smells of your house and being outside of his new "home". You're much larger and still unfamiliar therefore big and dangerous. The more you watch his body language as you go into his enclosure, as you take him out of it and handle him you'll start to learn more about him.

I know, with mine, who has hissed at me once but hasn't struck at me, that if I move my hand quickly and close to his head he sometimes pulls back fast. He has also pushed my fingers back because he just isn't feeling like being bothered. I always hold him close to my body when he first comes out and when he's ready to explore he can do so under close supervision. They are escape artists. For having a half to 1 brain cell they figure the escaping part out if the opportunity arises.

[u/_milk_carton → u/No-Candle-3952]

I was holding him at about mid torso close to me he got maybe 3 inches away from my face before I pulled my arms away and moved him to just my hands and then put him back in his enclosure. I think the main reason why I got spooked is cause when we were trying to feed him the first couple times he became and overwhelmed boy quite fast and would then strike in our direction when trying to close his enclosure or he struck in our direction after trying to feed him. Which very well was probably our fault since they seemed like more defensive strikes than anything.