For collections: How do you have time to spend with all your snakes?

They don't need me to spend time with them. I take mine out and hold them for a few minutes when i'm cleaning their tubs. Thats plenty of interaction for them, i'm sure lol. Also if someones over and wants to see them then they get taken out and held. Other than that, they pretty much just chill in their hides 90% of the time lol.

I think that other snakes can "enjoy/appreciate" handling time a bit more, but for balls they're just too simple to really imo. I have a few that tolerate handling better, but i still don't think they enjoy it.

I suppose it bears mentioning that some of my collection that gets handled more is the boas. Who do seem to enjoy being out. Especially Guapo.

My ball pythons do not care if I give them attention or not. They actually seem to prefer to be left alone.

I clean and maintain their enclosures regularly. I look into their enclosures and check up on them time to time.

If I have an animal that requires regular attention and handling, they get it. No question about it. My ferrets, for example, get to come out to play for several hours out of their cage daily. My dogs get daily training and exercise sessions. These animals need it. My ball pythons? Not really. None are aggressive, wild, or need taming down/desensitization sessions either.....


Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

I can't imagine not handling Tiny once or twice a week. She seems to enjoy it but I have never seen her angry. My hermit crabs could care less about me for sure Lolz.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

I usually check on the snakes twice a day...i pull out the tub, check for poo n pee, if he/she is in shed, and note if he/she looks hungry. If i clean an individuals tub at that time, they get to slither around on the carpet a bit. I usually dont "play" with my lg females during breeding season except to check for follicles. As far as handling just because, i do have some favorites i take out much more than others, say 2-3x/week and "play" with ;)

*note: we have 22 snakes ;)
sent from my incubator

I check on mine three times a day. I let them out every other day to roam around etc.

There is a point in which they go from pets to breeding stock. I really realized that the last time I went to the vet and she asked me how many head I had. At first I thought, "well we just have a few horses", and then I realized she meant snakes, lol. I definitely don't spend time with my snakes like I would if they were my pets. The most I handle them is when I'm cleaning or when I have people come over to see them. Other than that I leave them be.

I love reading the responses =) Def. my ball seems to not mind me holding her, but perhaps I enjoy it more for me. As some of you guys mentioned, holding a snake can be very calming. I have found that with my anxiety, Tiny helps tremendously

Well, my take on it is that they do have different personalities, however limited. My balls, tolerate handling to various degrees, ranging from actively trying to explore to trying to bite anything moving because they want left alone. With my lizards and turtles it varies even more. I have 3 ackies in a cage, one dissapears the moment the door opens, one sits watching me warily, the last will practically come out to say hi, especially when food's involved. But the one common thing I take from all mine is that the interaction is more for my benefit than thiers. But that's ok by me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Darkbird

Well, my take on it is that they do have different personalities, however limited. My balls, tolerate handling to various degrees, ranging from actively trying to explore to trying to bite anything moving because they want left alone.

---

This is my experience also. While all of mine can be handled, I have two who don't fuss about being messed with, or will pop right out of their tubs and just watch us doing chores in the herp room unless they're digesting or in shed - the others hiss and dive straight for a hide if they're not already under one.

The boas are more apt to come out of their hides and up to the front of their enclosures when someone enters our herp room, but I think that's because they're just being typical begging hungry boas.