Do they like to be held?

My little guy seems to really like to be held. I know a lot of people on here with more experience with snakes than me say that BP's just tolerate being held, but my guy seems to really enjoy it. Even when I try to put him down so he can explore on his own, he immediately comes back to me and wants to start slithering through my fingers again. Then he likes to put his nose underneath my nose and feel my breath. Then he likes to curl up in my hair. And when he tires, he will slither into a position in my hands and rest his head on his body and fall asleep.

I ain't complaining because I love that he loves to be held so much. I have a pretty stressful job and an hour or so at the end when I get home of holding him is so good for my nerves.

Is this normal for BP's to be so affectionate or is my guy unique in that respect?

Rachel

mine does things similar to this ... not sure if it is they 'like' to be held .. but want to explore more ...

when i am near it's cage he will follow me along the glass ... when i go to open the top he comes up to greet me (wont do this to my wife, only me) .. when i hold him ... he explores all over my hands arm's till he falls asleep ... but when i go to put him back down he comes right back to me wanting to be picked up again ...

Not to strange if the snake wants to go back to the warm body rather then exploring a cold floor or something similar.

Rachel, I don't know that snakes truly enjoy being handled or touched as say a dog would (which by it's nature is a pack structured animal). I think snakes more likely become used to it over time and a structure of firm, gentle interactions with the humans around them. Some of ours seem to "like" it more than others however.

With our 5 females of varying ages and backgrounds we cover the spectrum from one that actively seeks to be in constant contact with a warm friendly human to one that would rather bite us than do much of anything else. We have another who will allow us to handle her for about 5 to 10 minutes and then slithers off to explore the area, quite without fear or obvious stress....she seems to be our most inquisitive snake.

So for me anyways it seems to be very dependent on the individual snake, their past interactions with humans which may or may not have some bearing and sometimes just the time of day or mood they are in. Even our most easy going snake is quite capable of making us toe the line if she would rather not be handled when we want to get her out LOL.


~~Jo~~

boyne city? i work up there on occasion...

not to change the subject, but anyone own a bearded dragon? now those things love to be handled...

My Byron does the same. I think snakes are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. A couple of weeks ago I had a bit of a headache. Byron slithers up onto my shoulders and round the back of my neck with his head sitting on my shoulder. For about 30 minutes he just sat there, squeezing the back of my neck rhythmically, not moving anywhere. It was so soothing.


Last night I had a migraine headache. Don't get them often but when I do it's zig-zag lines usually followed by me getting totally unco-ordinated. Byron did the same thing again. It's almost as if he knew (or could sense something wrong). Ironically, Bobby my other BP did the same thing last night after I swapped holding snakes with my hubby. Bobby is the shyer of the two and will usually only sit on me for about 10-15 minutes (he seems to prefer my hubby). He slithered up the same way Byron did and did exactly the same thing, except it was firmer as he is a bigger snake. Bless them, they tried and it did help a bit. I gave up eventually and went to my bed. I still feel as if my head's stuffed with cottonwool today.

Yep we are up here in lovely Boyne City LOL. Are you going to that brand new reptile show in November being held in Kzoo?


~~Jo~~

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

With our 5 females of varying ages and backgrounds we cover the spectrum from one that actively seeks to be in constant contact with a warm friendly human to one that would rather bite us than do much of anything else. We have another who will allow us to handle her for about 5 to 10 minutes and then slithers off to explore the area, quite without fear or obvious stress....she seems to be our most inquisitive snake.

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The one that likes to bite, are there extenuating circumstances or has she always been that way? I would very much like to get a bp but definately not one that bites me all the time. I understand that every snake is different but overall bp's are supposed to be docile and easy to handle.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Yep we are up here in lovely Boyne City LOL. Are you going to that brand new reptile show in November being held in Kzoo?


~~Jo~~

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yep, i'll be there... you?

When I got Byron as a baby, after he'd settled in and we'd established a good feeding routine (he's a good eater provided it's mice - he loathes rats) I started handling him for very short periods every day (like 5 minutes) and gradually built it up. He only ever bit me twice as a baby out of fear. It didn't take long to build up his confidence and get the message that I wasn't a great big predator who wanted to eat him. He looks to come out of the viv now and is happy to stay out as long as he wants. If he wants to stay out longer when I try to put him back in the viv, he does a prompt about-turn or puts his head and neck vertical to make it harder for me to put him in (told you they are smarter than we give them credit for LOL). If he's happy that he's been out long enough, he goes back in the viv no problem. Bobby my other BP is the same now.


The only time I don't handle them is for 2-3 days after they've eaten or when they're in shed. The exception to this rule is if they've soiled their substrate and they are out of the viv for less than 5 minutes while I clean it (I get everything prepared first). I won't let my snakes sit on soiled substrate.

Funny story with my two young Boas that happened a couple of days ago. I feed my snakes on a Sunday evening. Usually they go in their hide and we don't see them for a couple of days. Monday evening, one of our Boas, Zag was out sitting on his branch, head hanging off looking strangely at Zig, his brother who was on the floor of the viv underneath the branch. Odd, I said to my hubby, they don't usually come out the next day (they'd had a good feed so I knew they weren't looking for food). On investigation, one of them had done a huge poo in the hide:O . No wonder Zag was looking at Zig as much as to say "You dirty so-and so" LOL. I cleaned things up and they went back in the hide quite happily.

We are going to try to get to the show in Kzoo if my husband's health is okay for the fairly long drive down and back so hopefully we'll run into you there.

Buckdawg, as far as our aggressive female...yes there are probably issues with her we will never know fully about. We purchased her recently through a local pet store as an adult female (she is approximately 3 years old and 1500 grams at the moment). She was given to the pet store due to her nature but no history was available on her. I feel a number of things may have contributed to her tendency to be highly aggressive. They might have been a previous handler that was rough with her, or one that never handled her as a young snake so she could become used to being handled, it could be she struck as a small snake and learned it kept humans away or she is just a dominant type creature....really any number of things that I will never know.

Brannagh would not make a good pet snake at this point. We purchased her knowing this and prepared for it. We bought her though as both a pet and a future breeding female and she is pure beauty with not a mark nor scar on her and in lovely condition so she was physically well cared for in her life. She may indeed come to accept some handling....we work with her and have gotten to the point she does not strike as often but she is still highly territorial about her enclosure. On the upside, she is the best feeder in our group of 5 female balls!

These snakes are usually quite docile but remember any snake can and will strike, even the most easy natured. They do have "bad days". Part of owning a snake is becoming tuned in to the signs that they are agitated and adjusting your handling. Most balls will allow reasonable handling and are quite a fascinating creature to share own's home with.

Just take your time picking a nicely started baby from a reputable source, let the snake settle in and get eating for you, then start gentle, regular short handling sessions and I'm sure you will thoroughly enjoy the experience.

We have other females that are so easy to deal with our children regularily handle them. Only Brannagh is aggressive in this manner so is definitely the "odd snake out" (but I adore her anyways LOL)


~~Jo~~

Thanks for clearing that up. I fully recognize that getting tagged is par for the course, that does not bother me. I want a ball for the reason that they are so easy going but when I read your post it gave me cause for pause. That's all. Again, thanks for clearing it up for me!!

I used to go to WMU and i am very interested in this reptile show. I live back at home near Detroit but go to Kzoo frequently. Is there a webpage or can you give some more info on this show? Sorry for being off topic.

here's the link:
http://webpages.charter.net/collison...le%20Show.HTML

i'm bringing a bunch of non-herp people that thought my snake was cool... maybe we can convert them.http://westmichiganmusic.com/modules...on_twisted.gif

Ive never even thought about a reptile show or anything. I found one thats nearby in Taylor. I still plan on going out to the one in Kzoo, gives me a reason to visit my college buddies. Thanks for the link!

JT

i just very recently rescued a 3ft ball... i dont' know if it's a boy or a girl, i say he just cuz... anyway, he was in a very bad situation, awful shed, no hide, heat lamp... it was awful... but the point is....

this snake loves me... i helped him shed most of the skin he had on off, by lettin him skinnydip in my sink, and we are tryin to help the dry cut awful spots heal on his tail end... but ever since the bath, he's been all up in my bussiness, constantly wanting to be held... he will curl up in my fuzzy blanket on my lap and stick his nose out... and just chill. he kisses my face all the time, and everyone says he is weirdly loving...

do you think, because he hadn't eaten in 2 months, and was dry and uncomfortable and miserable, that because i took him out of the crap situation he was in and am helping him feel better than he UNDERSTANDS i am helping him and LOVES me for it?

my vote is YES some snakes definately ENJOY being held cuz Snikolas does ;)

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Rachel, I don't know that snakes truly enjoy being handled or touched as say a dog would (which by it's nature is a pack structured animal). I think snakes more likely become used to it over time and a structure of firm, gentle interactions with the humans around them. Some of ours seem to "like" it more than others however.

With our 5 females of varying ages and backgrounds we cover the spectrum from one that actively seeks to be in constant contact with a warm friendly human to one that would rather bite us than do much of anything else. We have another who will allow us to handle her for about 5 to 10 minutes and then slithers off to explore the area, quite without fear or obvious stress....she seems to be our most inquisitive snake.

So for me anyways it seems to be very dependent on the individual snake, their past interactions with humans which may or may not have some bearing and sometimes just the time of day or mood they are in. Even our most easy going snake is quite capable of making us toe the line if she would rather not be handled when we want to get her out LOL.


~~Jo~~

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I am with you 100%. Me and my boyfriend have had a bp for 12-13 yrs and when my boyfriend cleans her cage we put her in the bed and she just lays there and falls asleep while other bps that I've had for a couple of years just wonder around as soon as we put them down... Maybe the one that I've had for 12-13 yrs doesnt like to be held she is just used to it and doesnt mind as much as the one that I've had for a couple of yrs.