Handling questions

[unimom]

I know that DD is doing pretty well all in all, his first vet appointment is tomorrow. Eating, shedding, passing urates & feces. These are all good signs that he's adjusting. How do I know when he does or doesn't want to be handled? Do I only handle him when he comes out of his hide? How long is too long? What indications are there that he has had enough? Other than after a feeding is there any other time not to handle my BP?

BTW, I now understand the Herp OCD thing.

[daniel1983]

The time to stop handling is something you 'get the feel for' with time. After a few months of handling you should just be able to tell when enough is enough. Usually a bp will increase its speed and seem to be trying to get away when it has had enough handling. Personally, I try to limit handling sessions to 15 minutes....just to avoid and excess stress. Also, Avoid handling during shed times also.

[frankykeno]

We handle ours mostly in the evening hours Dawn to allow for their nocturnal habits. We generally find them out of their hides or sometimes just lift the hide and they peek up at us. It's just become our habit I guess to speak to them and stroke them gently for a second before lifting them up so as not to startle too much. We handle for about 15-30 minutes max now but started out much less than that depending on the snake's reaction to being touched. We don't handle much during shed as they seem "moody" and stay in their hides even more than normal.

Glad everything is going so well for you and DD!

~~Jo~~

[Eddie_Z]

We don't handle much during shed as they seem "moody" and stay in their hides even more than normal.

From what I know Jo, this behavior is not really about being moody so much as insecure. Ball Python's are very vulnerable during shed times because their already poor vision is even worse due to the liquid that builds up between the old & new skin (which also causes the blue eye thingy) and they feel as though they are very suseptible (and in the wild they probably are) to predatorial attacks. So, they stay where they feel the most secure which is inside of their hides. I think I got all of that right but if i screwed sumthin up, some one is guarenteed to let me know!

[frankykeno]

Much better explanation of their habits during shed than my "moody" LOL. Note to myself to post AFTER that second cuppa coffee...thanks Eddie!

[elra]

if its a new snake, i say you handle every other day for about 10 minutes just to get him used to being handled. after you do this, you shold be able to read your snake pretty well. i take my bp out of her cage and just set her on the couch with me for as long as she wants. i set up a hide for her on the couch with pillows (lol dorky huh) and when she goes to hide i know shes had enough. usually she hangs out on my laptop or watches tv.