how often do you hold your snakes?

once every 2-3 weeks if i have time.

Don't BPs start to get pissy if you don't handle them enough?

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Originally Posted by hunter94

Don't BPs start to get pissy if you don't handle them enough?

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I think most bps can go without being handled at all and not miss it a bit. I don't think they get pissy but may become unacustomed to be being handled causing them to become defensive.

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Originally Posted by kilabyte

I think most bps can go without being handled at all and not miss it a bit. I don't think they get pissy but may become unacustomed to be being handled causing them to become defensive.

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Alright, that makes more sense. =p

I usually handle Merlin once a day for about 15 minutes, except for shedding. I also give Merlin 48 hrs for digestion before handling again.:snake::snake:

I handle my snake a few times a week. I wait 48 hours after he eats, I don't handle him when he's shedding, and I don't handle him the day I feed him. He gets handled about fifteen to twenty minutes when I do handle him, though.

i handle mine 15 to 30 minutes a day except when she's being fed and shedding. i also bring her to my organization where i volunteer and let my co volunteers handle her after i brief them of how to handle her and if they will not freak out when she starts crawling otherwise, they are limited to petting her on her tail and tummy this usually last for about 30 - 45 minutes.

once to twice a week.

our little guys gets held almost everyday, sometimes multiple times in a day for about 10-30 min periods at a time. We don't handle him at all the day of feeding and the day after feeding so, he can digest; and we handle him for short periods of time and sometimes never during the shedding process since they can be a bit stressed then. I think you can pretty much handle them as little or as frequently as desired, but a more frequently handled snake probablly equals a more relaxed snake for the handler

Can't vote. lol. They all get picked up once a week when I take them out to clean, but they don't all get handled really during that time.

Depends, usually once or twice a week at least. Sometime I handle them more then that though. Sometimes when I'm changing their water, usually every or every other day, I'll pick them up and admire their colors lol.

I try to hold my snakes as much as possible. I just got two new ones so i'm really trying to get to know their personality! :snake:

Everytime the kids come home from school, we always do this exercise:

Kid: "Mom, can we take the snakes out?"

Me: "Is it feeding day?"

Kid: "No."

Me: "Did they eat yesterday?"

Kid: "No."

Me: "Are their eyes blue?"

Kid: "No."

Me: "Okay, go ahead.... NOT THE BABIES!!!"

Kid: "Yeay!"

I handle mine every other day, some times a little less than that. The exception is my CalKing...since he is new, I'm trying to hold him for at least 10-15 mins a day (except after feeding) to get him use to me and being handled. He does alright after a minute or two but he's still musking me almost every time. lol

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Originally Posted by xxxLIGERxxx

i handle mine 15 to 30 minutes a day except when she's being fed and shedding. i also bring her to my organization where i volunteer and let my co volunteers handle her after i brief them of how to handle her and if they will not freak out when she starts crawling otherwise, they are limited to petting her on her tail and tummy this usually last for about 30 - 45 minutes.

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apparently, im holding sasha right now! LOL missed holding her since she just finish shedding a couple days ago.

i have three ball pythons, ranging from my largest 3ft, boomba(named by my 5yr son), 2.5ft one, still need to name and 2 ft one that i need to name as well, i handle them every day, my husband once a week and my son once a week.

Where is the option for 'once every week or so when I'm cleaning the cage'?

There are some I handle much more often then that, but most seem to prefer being left alone. Snake handling is more for me then it is for them.

Every 2-3 days most of the time, but never the day before she eats or the day after. We also don't hold her a lot when she's shedding.

I'm ashamed to admit it, but not often enough...

I hold mine once a week, if that. Between a 50 hour work week and a 15 month old I barely squeez in 10 minutes a snake. And quarantine snakes only get held when they are being moved for cleaning. They are also the last snakes I mess with. Wish I had more time to hold them but it's probably in the best interest of my snakes anyways :D

Usually everyday, but they get 2-3 days off after eating, and when they are about to shed, they get a few days off until they shed.

2 days off for feeding and from dull - shed I don't handle Quetzal. Otherwise any day is up for grabs but I'll definitely take him out if he shows interest in what I'm doing outside of his tank. Otherwise, if I'm not busy I'll take him out, if I am busy I'll leave him there.

Obviously with the exception of the handling after feeding and around shedding rule, I try and get Pretzel out every other day where I can :) When Pringle is settled in we'll see how he is with handling, but in the store and when we were sorting him out in his tub he was very chilled :)

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Originally Posted by Neal

I try to hold atleast a few times a week, if I can't do that maybe because she hasn't digested yet or something, I will put my hand in the tank on her, and I will pet her sort of, and she will slither up my hand and try to come out anyways lol.

EDIT:
Some of you that put everyday, i'm sure you don't hold your snake everyday, meaning the day after it eats? If so then you really shouldn't.

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I put every day, but of course I dont handle them for atleast a few days after they eat, or when they are in shed. I also dont handle a new snake until after their first feed.. I have 5 snakes though so usually someone gets to come out after I get home from work.. even it it is just for a spot check...

I know I'll always need one to handle every day! That's why I'm getting two and keeping them on different feeding schedules. ;)

I hold mine briefly for cage cleaning, weighing, etc. When I had boas I held them more often, because they actually seemed to enjoy being out of the cage. The balls really seem to prefer to be left alone.

Where is the "Other" or "None of the above" option? None of ours get held much. Usually just for maintenance and the like. They aren't really social like a cat, dog or a rat. They do best when left alone and given their privacy. I can appreciate them on the other side of their tubs.

I hold mine about once a week maybe usually on the weekends

Handle every other day 15min-30 min, the day before I feed, 24-36 hours after eating, when cleaning tank, and I make sure when critter is in the tank I make a point to put my hands on things in the tank (clean of course) to help spread my sent and to organize anything like probes or substrate etc...

She is getting more and more noble and curious now that Ive had her about a month...still gets stressed when handled always trying to find a place to hide, but then she will calm down a bit and just chill out on my hands or on my shoulders. She is always flicking her tongue and will now come to my hand and my girlfriends hand when presented in front of her slowly.

Working so far....got a whole shed and she ate after the first week having her and has eaten the last 3 times we have fed her...id say she is doing very well! shes about 5 months, 201g, 22.44" long

Wow, this is really the Thread That Wouldn't Die, isn't it?

I hold most of mine every day for about 15 minutes or so, with the exception of the day after feeding and when they're in shed. I do have one that's still really sketchy. I only hold her about once every 3-4 days for a few minutes. Still trying to get her acclimated.

yeah...it hasn't died LOL i think the bottom line is that most all that have posted on here seem to have their snakes around still if not more, and it seems the snakes are just fine...id say just know your snake...they might not have emotions, but in the animal kingdom stance and demeanor (body language) never lies!! Just know the signs of a stressed snake and a happy content snake...I really don't think you can go wrong! To him his own...whatever works for your snake! And again, just because they don't have emotional capacity, doesn't mean that their instincts can't be played on to build a trust (your not a threat) and making your snake very pleasant acting while being handled...let the snake decide! They aren't emotional, but they are individuals that's something for sure! LOL

I think anyone that's been confronted by a pissed off ball in shed knows that they do have emotions... LoL.

oh yeah...i totally agree lol I guess i meant the ability to love or show affection...there have plenty of threads about this though LOL I agree on agitation! LOL

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Originally Posted by rossko85

oh yeah...i totally agree lol I guess i meant the ability to love or show affection...there have plenty of threads about this though LOL I agree on agitation! LOL

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I dunno, man. Some of them, I'd have to agree with you. I have an Albino that always wants out of her tub to be held, though, and when I bring her out she looks me right in the face and doesn't like being held away from me... I guess we'll never know, unless a Snake Psychic comes along.

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Originally Posted by ChaosAffect

I think anyone that's been confronted by a pissed off ball in shed knows that they do have emotions... LoL.

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My opinion: It's just instincts for them. They aren't pissed that you're bothering them in shed, they're just more defensive than normal because they're more vulnerable and are scared of you.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

My opinion: It's just instincts for them. They aren't pissed that you're bothering them in shed, they're just more defensive than normal because they're more vulnerable and are scared of you.

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I agree that this is a display of instinct. I wouldn't be so pompous(not calling anyone pompous, it's just a know-it-all stance about something that cannot be known absolutely and definitively IMO) to declare flat-out they have no emotions of any level. But definitely not love or any other human-level emotion. When it comes down to it these animals are all about functionality and survival, they don't need emotion for that.

Well....I hold Pajamas once every couple of weeks...he's getting too big to really 'HOLD' though..so I let him roam the bedroom, stretch out, maybe soak a little, and I clean his cage. I pet him every day though, and we have a fun game when he's awake...(When I walk past his cage, he'll go up to the plastic and flick his tongue at me, so we do this for about 5 minutes...yeah. he's odd.)

Once Tika, my Indonesian Tree Boa gets settled, I'll likely hold her quite a bit...she loves to just wrap around your wrist and sit =3

And apparently, my new retic, Zazzles, is feisty, so I'll be holding her daily when she settles in so that she's easier to handle when older.

(jammers and zazzles are both retics.)

Sounds like we all have content, healthy, and thriving snakes:-) just keep on doing what everyone is doing if it works! That's what I take from handlimg your little buddy!

None of the above...? I love my BP's, but they're shy little creatures. I hold one of two of them maybe once a week, but mainly to inspect them, and make sure they're doing alright. Everyone gets peeked at every evening/every other evening. If I'M feeling stressed, I might hold them a little more frequently, but even then, I'm more likely to go for my Cali King. :)

I check on mine all the time but hold them not too often, my spider is evil and strikes at everything but the hand holding her an my others except my big girl just hang out if I take them out. If I wanna have a fun time I pull out my carpet and hold her

I'm a single guy...so I'de say at least once a day...:D:D ohhhhh you mean my ball python??? Just playing. I hold him as much as he wants to be held judging by body language. A lot of times, he just wants to come out and stretch his legs so to speak. I pretty much do as he asks:snake:

Not unless required for a "fouled" tub cleaning. I try to spot clean, but sometimes it is just too dirty and a full cleaning is required.

I admire them when I handle them, but do not handle them to admire them.

I like them frisky... they eat better and breed better for me when left alone.

Once or twice a week, now if the question was asked how often I look at them,that's a wholenew can of worms:)

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Once or twice a week is about all or even less. Handled quite a bit more as more as a baby and he's really docile (not sure if that is a result of handling or not.) He's seems totally content to chill out with me for whatever amount of time I choose but, the way I see it, as much as I would like to think he "enjoys" quality time, I know he'd obviously rather be securely tucked into his hide if given the option.

I don't think it's mandatory to hold your snakes daily, or even every few days. Sometimes we forget, but it's very very easy to stress out ball pythons and other snakes. I think it depends on the snake. If you go to pick up a snake and its immediate reaction is to hide and hiss, it probably needs to be handled more often. I find that the usual daily interaction such as cleaning and watering, a long with the occasional handling of my snakes works just fine. If i had to average it out i would say i hold my snakes twice a week.

I agree with everyone who has said that it depends on the snake. I've had some snakes that would prefer to do anything in the world but be held. I've also had some that I would hold daily, some that I would take out once or twice a week, etc.

I rotate through holding them. So once every 20 - 30 days for each snake

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I rarely ever hold my BPs. They get touched a lot when I'm cleaning, but I don't just hold them for fun. I'd rather leave them be. I hold my boa a lot more though. I'd say I end up replacing the paper towels in each snake's tub about every 2-3 days.

Between my husband and I, we hold everyone at least once a day if not more. Some of our females that are gravid obviously get skipped this time of the year. But we also have a smaller collection so it is easier for us to hold everyone daily.

Not very.