Does anyone pet their bp?

I usually let her sit in my lap with me as I watch TV. She seems to like to explore in my clothes and in my hair. Then she likes to run through my hair too. I only tickle her under chin and behind her head. She doesn't seem to mind it. I never see her freak out or flinch when I handle her in that manner.

my biggest boy seams to enjoy getting his chin rubbed, and my het albino hates it.

My snappiest BP will sit motionless for up to a half hour if I set her in my lap and take two fingers and gently massage the fatty pads at the back/sides of her head. I think that she would purr if she were able to.

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Originally Posted by Salamander

When I first got mine, I read that I shouldn't "over handle" them as it stressed them out so I don't pet them near as much as I'd like to.

They seem to love being out and getting 'back rubs' so if they're not freaking out or 'going off their feed' because I'm handling them, it's okay to take them out more often?

All of them apparently enjoy being out and cuddled enough that they don't seem to want to 'go home' and 'argue' with me when I put them back.

On the days I don't take them out, they look like they're sulking.
[they come out of their hides, try to get my attention and then go back in their hides and "mope"]

I strictly observe the no-handling-after-feeding rule, though.

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Well how much do you handle them now? I handle mine at least once a day for at least 15 20 min at a time, he seems to enjoy the time out and is still on his eating schedule

I don't handle mine other than to take them out to clean their tubs. My daughters bp doesn't mind being handled. She usually wears him around while she plays. It's cute :)

Some BPs enjoy being handled more than others. You'll have to get to know your snakes as individuals and determine whether they are truely ok with handling or if they are stressing. If you are observing the "no handling after feeding" rule and your snake stays relaxed in your hands while he's out and he keeps a good appetite, then I'd say the amount your handling him is just fine. We all like to hold our snakes - for me, it's partly why I got into them in the first place!

From personal experience, my adult female, Ella, will sometimes seem anxious in her cage. If she's hiding, I leave her alone (a hiding BP is a happy BP). But she usually starts getting more active as the week wears on (yes, she's probably hunting for her meal) and will start poking around the top of her cage. When she gets like that, I take her out and wrap her around my shoulders and later sit and watch tv or something. Without fail she will eventually relax and just chill on my lap and when I put her back, she's much more relaxed and will usually just go off to her hide. I'd say she definitely enjoys being handled and actually asks for it!

i always pet mine, even if i dont hold him i reach in alot just to pet him lol, he doesnt seem annoyed by it though, so i guess its fine

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Originally Posted by Casillas_Brian

Well how much do you handle them now? I handle mine at least once a day for at least 15 20 min at a time, he seems to enjoy the time out and is still on his eating schedule

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I was limiting it to every 2 days or so, so as not to stress them but tonight, the Pastel male fell asleep in my lap with his chin on my finger.

I had to wake him up 30 minutes later because I was starting to lose feeling in my hand......:)

http://www.walagata.com/w/the-salama...cesleeping.jpg

That is not the face of "stress"....LOL

He just wolfed down his supper so I'm assuming he feels quite comfy with his new life.

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

Some BPs enjoy being handled more than others. You'll have to get to know your snakes as individuals and determine whether they are truely ok with handling or if they are stressing. If you are observing the "no handling after feeding" rule and your snake stays relaxed in your hands while he's out and he keeps a good appetite, then I'd say the amount your handling him is just fine. We all like to hold our snakes - for me, it's partly why I got into them in the first place!

From personal experience, my adult female, Ella, will sometimes seem anxious in her cage. If she's hiding, I leave her alone (a hiding BP is a happy BP). But she usually starts getting more active as the week wears on (yes, she's probably hunting for her meal) and will start poking around the top of her cage. When she gets like that, I take her out and wrap her around my shoulders and later sit and watch tv or something. Without fail she will eventually relax and just chill on my lap and when I put her back, she's much more relaxed and will usually just go off to her hide. I'd say she definitely enjoys being handled and actually asks for it!

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Tonight, Leon [the Spider] was edgy while out and then wiggled down into the chair arm.
[one disassembled Homedics Shiatsu/neg. gravity chair billed to his account]

Then he peed all over me.
[good grief....not another one who detests soiling their own home!]

Now he's got a full belly and is his cheery, cuddly self again.

He's only a little over 2 months old, perpetually hungry and gets jittery when his belly is empty.

He was only eating fuzzies before but has no problem gulping down a more appropriately sized adult mouse.

I know breeders can't really afford to be feeding lots of babies more than they need so he's underweight, I think.
['pyramid' shaped back/no "body fat"]

He'd eat much more if I allowed him to but I don't want to overload his system.

I'm really hoping the next Expo has a frozen rat supplier.

The last show was sold out early on and the only other supplier had frozen mice in a camping cooler on ice and they were covered in shavings, dirty and already thawing.

I could never have gotten them home safely in a 2 1/2 hour drive.

[especially when they already looked iffy/creepy]

Spider, my Fire, is the worst for "guilt trips".

He/she [still not sure] pops out of the hide whenever I go by, swivels his/her neck around and will lay his/her head on top of the hide and look at me so pitifully, I have to stop and cuddle.

Otherwise, he/she goes back in the hide, neck outstretched and looks so dejected I can't stand it.....:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Salamander

Tonight, Leon [the Spider] was edgy while out and then wiggled down into the chair arm.
[one disassembled Homedics Shiatsu/neg. gravity chair billed to his account]

Then he peed all over me.
[good grief....not another one who detests soiling their own home!]

Now he's got a full belly and is his cheery, cuddly self again.

He's only a little over 2 months old, perpetually hungry and gets jittery when his belly is empty.

He was only eating fuzzies before but has no problem gulping down a more appropriately sized adult mouse.

I know breeders can't really afford to be feeding lots of babies more than they need so he's underweight, I think.
['pyramid' shaped back/no "body fat"]

He'd eat much more if I allowed him to but I don't want to overload his system.

I'm really hoping the next Expo has a frozen rat supplier.

The last show was sold out early on and the only other supplier had frozen mice in a camping cooler on ice and they were covered in shavings, dirty and already thawing.

I could never have gotten them home safely in a 2 1/2 hour drive.

[especially when they already looked iffy/creepy]

Spider, my Fire, is the worst for "guilt trips".

He/she [still not sure] pops out of the hide whenever I go by, swivels his/her neck around and will lay his/her head on top of the hide and look at me so pitifully, I have to stop and cuddle.

Otherwise, he/she goes back in the hide, neck outstretched and looks so dejected I can't stand it.....:)

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your snakes are awesome!