What do you do with your snake(s)?

Ok, last new thread for me today! Hehe... I mean to say, do you play with your snakes? Do you leave them in the tanks and look at them from time to time? Do you watch endless hours of General Hospital with them? Breed them? Take them out to fancy restaurants? Just curious about how people spend time with theirs... Hope that question isn't too wierd...

I'm hesitant to take mine outside because I live in a large apartment complex, but I do hold them a lot. My RTB gets the most attention though, she is a little more fun to hold. I will sit and watch TV with them or surf the internet.

I leave my balls in tubs most of the time... sometimes my friend from Poland in chat room want to see my "crazy snakes" so i sit on front of my laptop camera with my YB on the neck.. (My Granite is to skittish for that)... that's about it...

I start played with my house snake lately ..

Is really fascinating watch him use my fingers as branches and feel how much strength that small worm have :P

I thought it was really fascinating how Jacksons muscles felt when I picked him up, and I didn't expect him to be so silky soft! I dunno what I'll do with him once he gets acclimated, but I love to watch him move around now.

I have taken naps with my pastel and my caramel I have gone on walks with plenty of them I take them outside to explore, to picnics and cookouts I have taken them to boyscout and girlscout meetings to teach kids about them Im not sure what I havent done lol and yes they are all going to be my breeding snakes.

I like to hold mine. I let them crawl around on the sofa and bed. I do like holding my Boa the most she doesn't seem to mind being with me were the balls sometimes want to get away from me :)

My Ball Pythons only leave their tubs for cleaning or for the occasional visitor who wants to see them. They are most content inside their hides in their tubs, so I prefer to leave them there. Also, all summer in Vegas the temperature is 105+ so I don't dare take them out in that heat, not that I would need to for any reason.

My Milks on the other hand are handled a few times a week. They're quite active and it's a bit entertaining to watch and feel the little buggers slither around my fingers. :) They're more tolerant of handling, so I don't mind taking them out for 20mins at a time.

I don't exactly "play" with any of my snakes. If I want to play with an animal I'll go play fetch with my dogs. ;) And I do not take them out into the public.. in my opinion, it's just asking for trouble considering all of the ignorant or phobic people who may cause a scene.

When I take them out I let them crawl on me while I watch TV/use the computer or I give them SUPERVISED roaming time around the middle of the room.

i handle both my snakes about 15 minutes per week.my 9 year old son loves holding them and has allready decided he wants to be a herpetologist :D

I handle my Normal more than the others. Usually when I am doing my cleaning in the basement he will be wrapped up around my arm or wrist enjoying the ride. He gets a lot of attention when guests come over also, unfortunately no General Hospital... lol

Plan on breeding in coming years and am starting to collect some females.

What's the point of having a bp if you don't take them out and enjoy them. why would you get any and not take them out, unless you are JUST a breeder!

Seems like a waste to me!

I take my BP out about 3 nights a week for about 1-2 hours. I sit back with a good book and a cup of coffee and he usually spends it wrapped up in my hair.

My Dum comes out three nights a week for about two hours and watches TV with me. She seems to enjoy curling up on my recliner and depriving my cat of his favorite spot.

I try to rotate them so no one gets stressed out. Some days they seem to really like being out and somedays they don't seem as happy and I'll forgo it. :)

We don't handle our snakes much. Usually just moving them while cleaning tubs or when showing friends. Of course when my mother in law drinks she feels the need to come over and try to tame our amazon tree boas. After a dozen or so bites in quick succession I have to play bartender and cut her off.

The BP's don't get out much, they prefer to be left alone. The Boas are out more often, we let Akita get her exercise about the house

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...a/DSCF2601.jpg

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...a/DSCF2609.jpg

I don't personally handle my snakes too often. However the kids visit and enjoy handling them once a week or so.

I handle all my snakes about 20 minutes twice a week so that they are "used" to being handled. Especially my boa since he'll get so large. I LOVE taking my ball outside to let him explore the yard since he moves slow. I don't hold him very much inside though since he doesn't move, I prefer to hold my corns for tv time. I used to put my boa around my wrist as a baby when I did homework, but he's too big now. Sometimes he'll sit still, but he's much more active than he used to be. The ball only sits still for about twenty minutes, which is not good for me to do homework haha. So he's in his cage most of the time. But they all have pretty spacious cages so he can still exercise as needed. Though we all know he's under one of his logs 99% of the time. Other than that I get them out when we have company to show them off.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by okcbrad55

What's the point of having a bp if you don't take them out and enjoy them. why would you get any and not take them out, unless you are JUST a breeder!

Seems like a waste to me!

---

I like to decorate their cages and watch them come out at night. They don't "like" being handled. They just tolerate it, so I don't feel the need to stress them out. But I get all my snakes out at least twice a week.

Sometimes I'll bring out my BP and he'll rest on my chest while I'm laying down, or explore around my room, while I'm just chilling. Sometimes he'll curl up beside my body, or under my pillows. I don't leave him out for long.

Right now he's in shed so he's being a little cave-dweller.

I usually take my snakes out just to keep them hand-tame and to check their cages, or if I have people over who want to see them. I occasionally bring them out during the small blip called summer in Quebec when it's warm enough, just to take some nice pictures under natural light and such. I once took my big male normal to my favorite ice cream shop, he made quite the entrance :P but he didn't seem to enjoy it too much, so I mostly just let my snakes be and don't bring them out for too long.

My snakes stay in their tubs most of the time too. Occasionally while cleaning I might have one hang around my neck or around my wrist/arm. I think my 4 yr old holds them more than I do! Lol

Now the burms and retic get held more than my bps.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by okcbrad55

What's the point of having a bp if you don't take them out and enjoy them. why would you get any and not take them out, unless you are JUST a breeder!

Seems like a waste to me!

---

I enjoy my snakes very much, I don't need to be holding them and stressing them out to do so. :)

I enjoy holding my Pied BP, "Gilmore" the most because his scales are so friggin soft. Its relaxing to feel him glide around in my hands.

Other then that, I will hold the 10 others here and there and will take them out to get some sun every once and a while.

The biggest new challenge is holding my new Jungle Carpet Python. He's already like 5 or 6 feet and EXTREMELY active. Sooo quick to respond it blows my mind. Night and day as far as attitude and quickness from my BPs. It's a fun new experience tho for sure.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cdavidson9

I enjoy holding my Pied BP, "Gilmore" the most because his scales are so friggin soft. Its relaxing to feel him glide around in my hands.

Other then that, I will hold the 10 others here and there and will take them out to get some sun every once and a while.

The biggest new challenge is holding my new Jungle Carpet Python. He's already like 5 or 6 feet and EXTREMELY active. Sooo quick to respond it blows my mind. Night and day as far as attitude and quickness from my BPs. It's a fun new experience tho for sure.

---

I want a Carpet Python so badly! I'm quite torn between a Carpet or BRB. Maybe both.

I enjoy the act of collecting them. Thinking about which ones to add next is almost as exciting as actually recieving the new additions and having a new family member(s) to care for and watch grow. Right now I enjoy them being just a simple hobbiest that has no breeding plans for the near future.
As for what I acutally do with them, I enjoy handling everyone from time to time (some more often than others) and like watching them in their tubs (or watching my corn in his tank: he's quite the clown). As my tubs arn't totally opaque I get to spy on each of them when they're out and about.
My normal ball and Jungle boa seem to quite like being out and about to explore in blankets or around on the floor.

When Jackson is out of his hide and moving and I LOOOOVE watching him roam around and explore his tank. It makes me giggle when his little tongue flickers around or when he "stands up". I haven't really handled him yet, just moved him from tank to tank to clean, and of course when I brought him home. But I really like the way he feels. He's so soft!

i just do twice weekly handling sessions most of the time involving all my kids. i spend some of the time touching & stroking my girl's head so she'll hopefully not be so head shy as she matures. this is also beneficial if i or a vet ever has to access her mouth, she wont be hurting herself trying to jerk away.
so far she's been getting less & less jumpy about her head.
for the most part though, i just let my girl explore a little, while never letting her get more then arms reach away from me. i'm convinced that the day i let her get further then that she'll make a mad dash for freedom, haha or get herself stuck somewhere.

The BP's stay in the tub most of the time. The only time I handle them is when cleaning/breeding and if someone wants to see them. Once in a while I will take them out just to enjoy their beauty.

Clarice (Bredli) on the other hand is handled at least 3 times a week. I usually have her out while I am spraying down all the geckos. It keeps her calm (she's slightly bitey, so handling often for short periods really helps) She's a joy to handle. Very curious and active.

I have a group of about 8 friends that come together with some of our collection every Saturday at the local pet store (we had over 20 snakes one night). We stay there for 2 to 3 hours and let the public come up and see/touch/hold (properly sanitized, of course). I know that most don't take their snakes out in public much because it stresses them; but mine usually eat when we get back home (a stressed ball won't eat) so I don't believe this upsets them as much as most people think. There are certain snakes that don't ever go with us because they do get stressed, but there are some that go practically every week.
It's a loooong story, (maybe I'll post it later) I have a spider bp that is so laid back, I've thought of trying to start a "snake therapy" thing with him (like therapy dogs). One kid that had SEVERE Cerebral Palsey instantly quit shaking when he started petting the spider. I've had alot of people tell me that they felt somehow calmer when handling the snakes, and we have changed hundreds of peoples minds about reptiles in general. We have been doing this for about 5 years now.
The pet store loves it when we come in, because we can offer advice on proper husbandry, etc. We have also "sold" alot of snakes and supplies for the store.
So, please, go ahead and don't be afraid of handling your snakes!

I feel bad putting my snakes back in their enclosures every time I put them back they squeeze and go up my arm getting away from the enclosure lol.

ive handled my bp almost every day ive had him which has only been a couple months. he, or maybe she idk, likes to be out of the cage and handled as much as possible. he'll sit still for about 5 min and then start trying to get away or depending on his mood he'll wrap around my neck which is my favorite thing for him to do. but he's usually out and about for an hour or so everyday and ive started trying to get him less jumpy bout having his head touched.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blueberrypancakes

Take them out to fancy restaurants?

---

oh you know, just the usual; we go out for some steaks and a bottle of bordeaux, then maybe we'll hit the club and dance the night away.

:rofl:

I handle all of mine at least a few times a week. Some are out longer than other because they are just chill and stay. Some like to go exploring too much.

I personally don't understand having snakes that you don't take out and play with at least some of the time. My snakes are pets first, breeders second.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mikeandsheleen

I have a group of about 8 friends that come together with some of our collection every Saturday at the local pet store (we had over 20 snakes one night). We stay there for 2 to 3 hours and let the public come up and see/touch/hold (properly sanitized, of course). I know that most don't take their snakes out in public much because it stresses them; but mine usually eat when we get back home (a stressed ball won't eat) so I don't believe this upsets them as much as most people think. There are certain snakes that don't ever go with us because they do get stressed, but there are some that go practically every week.
It's a loooong story, (maybe I'll post it later) I have a spider bp that is so laid back, I've thought of trying to start a "snake therapy" thing with him (like therapy dogs). One kid that had SEVERE Cerebral Palsey instantly quit shaking when he started petting the spider. I've had alot of people tell me that they felt somehow calmer when handling the snakes, and we have changed hundreds of peoples minds about reptiles in general. We have been doing this for about 5 years now.
The pet store loves it when we come in, because we can offer advice on proper husbandry, etc. We have also "sold" alot of snakes and supplies for the store.
So, please, go ahead and don't be afraid of handling your snakes!

---

" One kid that had SEVERE Cerebral Palsey instantly quit shaking when he started petting the spider" .........THAT IS ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS I HAVE EVER READ ON HERE ! WOW ! .....Yosef

I handle my Borneo python a lot. I have bred snakes and lizards in the past and I have always handled them. They were my pets first and foremost.....breeding is secondary.

I enjoy sitting down and watching her crawl around on the floor ( SUPERVISED ) and I sometimes just like to hold her while I walk around the house.

She seems to not mind it at all so why not ?:gj:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by okcbrad55

What's the point of having a bp if you don't take them out and enjoy them. why would you get any and not take them out, unless you are JUST a breeder!

Seems like a waste to me!

---

Honestly? BPs are kind of boring in the handling department. I prefer to take my BCC out and hang out with her more than I do my BPs.

Ok, well this is the long version of the kid with cerebral palsey.
Over a year ago in the spring, some friends of mine and I were at Harp's Exotic Pets in Evansville, like we do every Saturday night. We had around 12 snakes with us. It was nice outside, so we decided to go to Sonic for drinks afterwards. A couple of us had our pets out while sitting around and enjoying the slushies. Someone caught sight of us holding snakes and after about 5 minutes we had a crowd. I was holding my male spider bp (named Peter Parker) when I feel someone tugging on my shirt sleeve from behind me. This lady says "My son is wheelchair bound and can't come over here. He doesn't believe that you guys have snakes." I said "sure!" and went over to her van. In the middle row of seats, there is a boy that is shaking so bad that the van was moving. His left hand was contractured up into a little ball and his right hand had the index finger extended into the pointing position, while the rest of the fingers curled and contractured like the other hand. His shaking included a "clapping" motion, even though his hands never touched. When he saw that I had a snake, he literally squealed with delight. His mother explained that he had always liked snakes, but was afraid he would be bitten due to the shaking. I asked him if he wanted to pet Mr. Parker (and explained why he was named that), to which he made some kind of motion with his head that his mother said meant "yes". I told him that this snake had been handled by so many people that there wasn't anything to be afraid of. I held the snake close to him as he brought his hand over. (I was thinking "oh boy, I hope he doesn't poke at him. Shame on me!) He concentrated so hard to try to be gentle that his entire body quit shaking. After a few strokes of his finger, I asked if it would be ok to put Spidey on his lap. The boy squealed again, and made the same motion that I recogized as being the "yes" motion. I placed the snake (kinda coiled up) in his lap and he sat there for about 20 minutes slowly stroking Spidey with the one extended index finger. The mother was almost in tears and told me that she had NEVER seen him so deep in concentration for so long. She then proceeded to pull out her checkbook and asked "how much?". I replied that this was a pet and he wasn't for sale. She said "He has been with therapy dogs, therapy cats, and therapists, and has never shown as much interest as he is right now. Again, name your price, how much?"
It broke my heart, but I couldn't sell my spider.
I didn't get his name (again, shame on me), but I did give her the numbers to some local ball python breeders that could get him a "therapy snake."
I still don't know if he got one or not.
This is absolutely a true story and can be verified by the friends that were with me that night, including the boy in the van.

I take my ball out from time to time, and if I feel like it and the weather's nice, I'll take her outside. I really want to go into town with her, or just go for a drive, but I'm afraid of accidentally taking her into places where pets (much less snakes) aren't welcome. Could I possibly take her to Wal-Mart or some place of the sort?