Which snakes prefer handling?

My leopard ball, Spot, seems to genuinely enjoy being handled and is always very interested in exploring my arms/chest/neck/etc when she's out. My sunglow boa, Dolly, doesn't seem to enjoy being handled so much as she enjoys the opportunity to climb things. She would much rather be navigating my chair than hanging out in my lap.

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Originally Posted by Kodieh

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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While I can't necessarily weigh in on certain species, I just wanted to make a point. Some species of snake kept in the pet trade (e.g. Ball Pythons, Corn Snakes, Grey-Banded Kingsnakes) are considered domesticated species because of the influence humans have played on their genotypes and phenotypes. I think labeling some of these animals as "wild" may be detrimental to their perception by the general public.

However, I also agree with you in some aspects. :) These animals are not generally accustomed to handling like a mammal would be, that most of the time they are "tolerating" handling. I do understand that a Ball Python and a Puppy are two completely different animals and should not be equivocated as such. This description can be harmful as well, as some may assume a snake would have a certain behavior since the species may be said to be "puppy dog tame". I think a healthy respect for these animals goes a long way on many levels; from a person handling a snake being confident and aware of the snake's behavior and interactions, to the general public understanding that comes with proper knowledge.

Sorry for the rambling/rant, just my 2 cents.