Hang Out Time...? How long is too long?

It depends on the snake.

My Pip is fine out and about for several hours (I keep the house quite warm), but my corn is still quite skiddish and is only out for about 15-20 minutes at a time. Watching your snake is a priority, you can tell when they start to stress and when it needs to go back home. Sometimes when I go to place Pip back into his tank, he won't let go for 10 minutes wrapped around my arm. I also don't take him out unless he claim up onto my arm.

robin it's hard to tell on the net but that was kinda an imaginary situation...

thats why on the second part of my post i suggested something a little more reasonable.

but thanks for looking out!;)

It is a lot easier to keep my snakes temps, and i have a system for my house, so i can regulate each rooms temp, so i keep my snake room at about 82-86, and with lights and stuff, i take them out untill i can see them getting restless or balling up easier.

when it's warm, i take them out for about 15 minutes, but now it's colder, my hands seem to be freezing, so i handle them for maybe 5-10 minutes now

WalMart sells a good oil filled, electric heater for under $40.00. I use one to bump the ambient temps up in the snake room and it's golden! As far as handling, just remember this is a snake, not a puppy or kitten. It is a shy, nocturnal and solitary creature that doesn't really require social interactions as much as other type of pets might. Personally we've always considered handling to be a gift from the snake to us, in other words something that's a joy for us and something we humans want but the snake does not really need. We try to keep handling reasonable and appropriate for that particular snake on that specific day.

In regard to space heaters--just be careful. Some types of space heaters (oil/gas burning ones) can put out carbon monoxide gas if they aren't vented properly. So if it is used in a closed-off unventilated room, you could end up with carbon-monoxide poisoned snakes or, worse, if you're in the room--you! So, do be careful about what kind of space heater you buy.

ceramic heater here. I was at home depot yesterday and they had a oil filled kenwood heater with a digital thermostat so you know what temperature you are setting it at.

I normally keep my room pretty warm, but I normally just have whoever out for about 15-30 minutes a day. The ones who don't like to be handled that much 15 minutes is the max. The ones that don't mind being handled stay out longer. My corn snake Jinx LOVES to be handled so I've had him out for hours before. During the warmer season once in a while I'll take them outside and let them crawl around on the deck (with me pretty much standing over them-in case they get any ideas about taking off) and they seem to enjoy the warm sun beaten deck.


Really like everyone else has said, depends on the snake.

I take them out at nite when they are active

When you get your snake (after you have not handled it for at least a week and it is eating for you), you may be able to "read" it and decide when to put it back. I can't imagine many snakes really enjoying long handling sessions, but I would assume that some exercise would be in its benefit.