handling

should i let other people hold my snake for a certian time period

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Originally Posted by jonnyboyz

should i let other people hold my snake for a certian time period

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Ummm...tough question to answer easily. Here is my philosophy on it (others may differ)

Kids that aren't mine - never they can touch and "pet" but not hold
Adults - those that show true interest in them, by asking questions and such - Yes but my hands are right there and I never look or move away. You never know how the snake will react so you don't want to freak them out.

Adults - those that own snakes - sure but these are my babies so I have to trust them to treat my snakes like my kids :D

Adults - that don't really like snakes - Never, I would never allow someone not interested in snakes to hold them. No reason for them to. You don't want to scare people (won't help in the long run), don't want to scare people who might be on the fence (never know how the snake will react)

As a note I also don't even show my snakes to others until I know where they stand. Until I understand them and their views they won't even know I own snakes. :)

I'll only let someone I really trust to hold my snakes, and that's if I know the snake is calm enough, the person is calm enough, we're seated in a distraction free area and I can quickly grab the snake if I need to.

My relatives are all allowed to hold my snakes, my younger cousins beg and plead to hold them every time they come over, however, only after much careful instruction and only if I'm right next to them. I've also done elementary school classroom presentations where I let the kids touch my corn snake and ball python, but only if they use hand sanitizer before and after touching each snake. Kids seems to really listen to directions when they're told its in the best interest of an animal. Its amazing what you can accomplish with "dont do _____ or the snake will get upset!"

I suggest if you're going to let someone hold your snake you stay right with them, and if they don't want to give it up but you think they're being too clumsy/quick/grabby/etc, just suggest the snake is getting a bit stressed and probably wants to sleep and should be put away.