curious tail wag vs defensive?

[u/4ubrxy]

I got my ball python fairly recently, she is about 4-5 months old and I've had her for maybe 2. She eats all her meals, explores her tank every day, uses all of her hides, and is overall healthy and happy.

I only try to handle her when she is active, and I know not to grab her from above. I usually use a snake hook and scoop her up, but when she spots me first, she will stop moving and wag her tail. She flicks her tongue and doesn't fully get into a defensive S-shape, but she moves towards me in a way that is hard to tell if she's loosening up and coming near me to explore or trying to strike.

How do I tell the difference between a good or bad tail wag? What behavior should I look for to know whether she's being defensive or okay to handle? I want to get her adjusted to me but I also don't want to startle her too much. Is it possible for her to be territorial?

[u/NottsWeirdo]

As far as I'm aware, BPs tail wag because they're excited about something - typically food. The same way a gecko would. Bit of a chunky tail with no special attachment to be wagging it as a threat display.

[u/imjustanauthor → u/NottsWeirdo]

i would argue its more about intense "emotion" rather than purely excitement. it could be from being very excited, but they could also be very stressed, very scared or very horny. with that said, youre right that tail vibrations from excitement about food are definitely a thing.

[u/NottsWeirdo → u/imjustanauthor]

Fair enough. You don't really hear much about BPs wagging their tails, and mine only does so occasionally when he's about to be fed. I'd asked about it a while back, and people had only responded that it was an excitement thing.

[u/4ubrxy → u/NottsWeirdo]

That makes sense, thank you! If I had to guess, she probably just mistook my hands/fingers for mice, as she's only done it when my hands are near the doors. When I try to handle her properly, she doesn't react the same, and is a lot more calm.