Which snakes prefer handling?

With experience with over a hundred or so different species coming through the stores... Maybe I can chime in! :)

As previous posters have mentioned, it really depends on the individual snake. I have a pet house snake that will sit in my hair clip for an entire day at work, and when she gets tired, crawls into my shirt pocket and sleeps there. No joke, it was because of her temperament I ended up taking her home - she's only gotten sweeter and more interactive as she's gotten older.

In my experience, species that are more active hunter types tend to be more okay with frequent handling. Cornsnakes, kingsnakes, House snakes, those are all highly recommended as good beginner snakes for a reason- once they're settled in, they are totally unfazed by handling, and they are definitely super curious. I have personally seen quite a few of them come out, maybe not expressly to be handled but they are more interested in the world around them on average than many heavier bodied boas or pythons.

That being said, I honestly find that among ball pythons there are definitely animals that seem to enjoy handling, and those that don't. Same with Boa constrictors - I've encountered a HUGE range of boas that vary from actively coming out and crawling all over anyone who opens the cage to those that stay curled up in a corner, preferring to be left alone.

Some of my personal favorites that are common:
Cornsnakes
Florida Kingsnakes
California Kingsnakes
Ball Pythons (this depends on the individual snakes available)
common colombian boas (depends on the snakes/person)
Central American/island locale boa constrictors

Somewhat less common snakes that are just as neat and nice:
western hognoses
African house snakes
Dumeril's boas
carpet pythons (usually the irian jaya ssp, they stay smaller)
everglades ratsnakes
baird's ratsnakes
prairie kingsnakes
baja kingsnakes
mexican black kingsnakes
san luis potosi kingsnakes

An lot of the North American colubrids do well with regular handling, and more often than not the animals I encounter seem mellow and sweet, regardless of frequency of handling as they were growing up.

Hope that helps!

-Jen

Two out of six bps don't seem phased by being out and handled. Two depends on their mood that day, and two that would just rather they were left alone. My boa, he loves to be out. He doesn't seem to stress at all, and eats great. You open the enclosure and out he comes, and is a pain to put back no matter how long he has been out. He turns and comes back up your arm before you can close it, little turd. I figured out a trick though, haha. I think like others have said, totally depends on individual animal. However, some breeds definately tolerate/enjoy, (which ever you choose) being out more than others.

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I've heard from Brian at BHB that hognoses are good for handling. Look at this video, at 3:05 or so. it is a top 5 list of nicest snakes. I don't know though, never even seen a hognose in real life before.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiEa9TIFdk8

rubber :snake:........ :gj:

My dumerils is one of those that is difficult to put away. He seems to almost panic when you try to put him away. My hognose really seems to enjoy interaction. He will cruise the front of his tub when there are people wandering the house and is eager to come out when you open his tub. A couple of my BPs really prefer to not be touched at all, a few others tolerate it, and a few others are really difficult to put away after being out. Kinda the same with all of my red tails, some do some dont! My Burmese ALWAYS wants to be out. The only time she isnt "asking" is for a couple of days after eating, hiding and staying warm. The sand boas would rather not be handled but they dont complain much. Of course all of the corns seem to enjoy being out.

My retic seems to not mind it the most. When I open his cage he come straight out and crawls up my arm. And when I go to put him up he never seems to want to get off and when I do get him off my hand he tries shooting straight back up. My Columbians Red Tail also tolerates handling quite well. I have a few bps that aren't phase by handling and one that will try biting you until he is out of the tub.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blubb

I've heard from Brian at BHB that hognoses are good for handling. Look at this video, at 3:05 or so. it is a top 5 list of nicest snakes. I don't know though, never even seen a hognose in real life before.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiEa9TIFdk8

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I would NEVER say that hognoses are great snakes for handling, because as nice as they are, handling this species frequently should be discouraged.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2789/...c720b65a77.jpg
http://thereptilereport.com/assets/s...se-jaleely.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4469511_n.jpg

This is a venomous species. It's a mild venom, yes, but it is VENOM. Joints may ache transiently for YEARS after a hognose bite.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

I would NEVER say that hognoses are great snakes for handling, because as nice as they are, handling this species frequently should be discouraged.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2789/...c720b65a77.jpg
http://thereptilereport.com/assets/s...se-jaleely.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4469511_n.jpg

This is a venomous species. It's a mild venom, yes, but it is VENOM. Joints may ache transiently for YEARS after a hognose bite.

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Yowza!!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

I would NEVER say that hognoses are great snakes for handling, because as nice as they are, handling this species frequently should be discouraged.

This is a venomous species. It's a mild venom, yes, but it is VENOM. Joints may ache transiently for YEARS after a hognose bite.

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:rolleyes: same could be said about tarantulas :rolleyes:

All snakes, and reptiles, are wild animals. Therefore they will only ever come to "tolerate" or "allow" you to hold them. There are some species that seem to "like" being held or being out and about, like Bearded Dragons, but still they are wild.

I think that's what's lost in our hobby. People admitting that they keep wild animals. If we made that fact clear, HSUS wouldn't have as much ammo, me thinks. ;)


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