I have about a year old normal ball python that I had purchased last year as a hatchling. This is my first python, although I have owned colubrids in the past, so this is not my first snake. Its kept in a 20 gal long aquarium with the hot end at 85 and the cool end at 75. Hides at both ends.

My question is: How often should I handle the snake? I've read that handling or over-handling can stress the snake out. Why handle the snake at all then? Wouldn't handling induce unnecessary stress? I have rarely handled that snake at all during its first year, only to clean the cage, change substrate, etc. I want to hold the snake, Im just afraid it might go off feed. It is an otherwise great feeder, taking whatever I put in the cage(live mice, F/T mice, live rat pups). I don't want to screw up a good thing, but what's the point of having an animal if I can't interact. Maybe I'm just too cautious...

Any advice from experience would be great!