Hang Out Time...? How long is too long?

I know snakes need thier heat so here is my question....

When you take a snake out of its enclosure to hold and just spend time with, how long is a good amount of time? Also, how long is too long? Don't want to stress them out.

well if the room is cold... don't take them out. i never keep mine out longer than an hour max... usually more like 30 minutes ;) but i don't know what would be considered too long...

Normally we keep the house at around 70-72. Is this considered too cold?

What if I was using a small space heater to heat the room in which the snake's enclosure is in?

personally i wouldn't bring mine out to a room that temp. i'm pretty fussy about keeping them warm though.

if you have a space heater the room should be warmer than 72 right??


i wouldnt think it would be too bad to take him out especially if your cold end of the enclosure is 78-80....

If your room is 72 then the tank air is probably not much higher and the temp needs to be raised.

A space heater doesnt seem like the best way to heat up the tank. But what do I know.
I would recommend insulting the top somehow to keep what heat you do have. Read the Glass Tank setup thread.. that should help you out.

well I don't have the snake yet, so this is just research before I get one. I won't be using the space heater to heat the tank. I'll be using other means such as the heat tape. I'm used to having a warm room (in college the dorm was not air conditioned and from August to the beginning of October, our rooms stayed at around 80-85. Perfect for a snake.) and I will not mind having a room that warm again. (Plus, the townhomes give you free heat, so whenever the other two people are out of the home, I can crank up the heat to make it warm enough for the snake to come out. Would this be ok?

if your temps would be 80-85 then you could keep him out all day if you wanted...


he could bask under your desk lamp while your doing an assignment...

well if your room temp is high like that then it wouldnt hurt to take him out for a bit. like aleesha said 30-60 at different intervals. when he starts to get too nervous put him back. its all a matter of your own judgement.

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Originally Posted by bigballs

if your temps would be 80-85 then you could keep him out all day if you wanted...

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What about the stress factor that should be taken into consideration as well? All day is entirely too long to be handling your snake.

To the OP, I limit mine to 30 minute handling sessions for the longest. Most times, just 15 minutes.

I wouldn't keep the snake out all day, even though I'd be so tempted to do so. I'll get a space heater then as part of my BP Supplies list. Walmart should have some cheap ones.

Thanks for your input! For a starting out snake keeper, I'll need all the facts, advice, and suggestions I can get.

It depends on the snake.

My Pip is fine out and about for several hours (I keep the house quite warm), but my corn is still quite skiddish and is only out for about 15-20 minutes at a time. Watching your snake is a priority, you can tell when they start to stress and when it needs to go back home. Sometimes when I go to place Pip back into his tank, he won't let go for 10 minutes wrapped around my arm. I also don't take him out unless he claim up onto my arm.

robin it's hard to tell on the net but that was kinda an imaginary situation...

thats why on the second part of my post i suggested something a little more reasonable.

but thanks for looking out!;)

It is a lot easier to keep my snakes temps, and i have a system for my house, so i can regulate each rooms temp, so i keep my snake room at about 82-86, and with lights and stuff, i take them out untill i can see them getting restless or balling up easier.

when it's warm, i take them out for about 15 minutes, but now it's colder, my hands seem to be freezing, so i handle them for maybe 5-10 minutes now

WalMart sells a good oil filled, electric heater for under $40.00. I use one to bump the ambient temps up in the snake room and it's golden! As far as handling, just remember this is a snake, not a puppy or kitten. It is a shy, nocturnal and solitary creature that doesn't really require social interactions as much as other type of pets might. Personally we've always considered handling to be a gift from the snake to us, in other words something that's a joy for us and something we humans want but the snake does not really need. We try to keep handling reasonable and appropriate for that particular snake on that specific day.

In regard to space heaters--just be careful. Some types of space heaters (oil/gas burning ones) can put out carbon monoxide gas if they aren't vented properly. So if it is used in a closed-off unventilated room, you could end up with carbon-monoxide poisoned snakes or, worse, if you're in the room--you! So, do be careful about what kind of space heater you buy.

ceramic heater here. I was at home depot yesterday and they had a oil filled kenwood heater with a digital thermostat so you know what temperature you are setting it at.

I normally keep my room pretty warm, but I normally just have whoever out for about 15-30 minutes a day. The ones who don't like to be handled that much 15 minutes is the max. The ones that don't mind being handled stay out longer. My corn snake Jinx LOVES to be handled so I've had him out for hours before. During the warmer season once in a while I'll take them outside and let them crawl around on the deck (with me pretty much standing over them-in case they get any ideas about taking off) and they seem to enjoy the warm sun beaten deck.


Really like everyone else has said, depends on the snake.

I take them out at nite when they are active

When you get your snake (after you have not handled it for at least a week and it is eating for you), you may be able to "read" it and decide when to put it back. I can't imagine many snakes really enjoying long handling sessions, but I would assume that some exercise would be in its benefit.

I myself don't see much trouble with taking them out if your room is in the mid 70's and up. I don't handle them for much longer than 20-30 minutes each. I would not bring them into rooms with drafts though, even if the temp is 80, a draft could slip in and I would be worried about an RI..

Is this just how it is for ball pythins or is it the same for all snakes?

I know when my brother had his columbian red tail boa, he would take it out for the entire day and bring it places several days a week. His snake ate every week and never had any RI or anything wrong with it.

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure their natural enviroment isn't the perfect temperature 24/7 365 days a year. Snakes are very very old animals so I'm sure they can handle much harsher weather climates than most people think. A species doesn't live that long without adapting.

I am in no way a professional so NO ONE should listen to anything that I say. I am just saying what I think about the situation.

BTW, I don't take my snake out all day, usually an hour or so at night.

Just to comment on a few of your comments....

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Originally Posted by zreon

Is this just how it is for ball pythins or is it the same for all snakes?

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Different snakes certainly have different levels of tolerance for stress and a fluctuating environment. As a general rule, ball pythons are a shy and easily stressed species...although some individuals seem very laid back and not bothered by anything. And as a general rule, red tail boas are very laid back and adapt easily to varying circumstances....although some individuals may react poorly and become defensive (interpreted as "aggressive" by most people).

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I know when my brother had his columbian red tail boa, he would take it out for the entire day and bring it places several days a week. His snake ate every week and never had any RI or anything wrong with it.

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While this may have worked for your brother's snake, it may not work for every RTB. Personally, I wouldn't encourage that sort of behavior at all, for a wide variety of reasons, only one of which is the snake's personal stress levels. But each person will make their own choices about how to handle their snakes. Some will get lucky and think they're doing it right. Some will learn lessons the hard way.

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I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure their natural enviroment isn't the perfect temperature 24/7 365 days a year. Snakes are very very old animals so I'm sure they can handle much harsher weather climates than most people think. A species doesn't live that long without adapting.

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Of course their natural environment isn't as perfect as we try to maintain it in captivity. However, in captivity, their immune systems are compromised by a combination of constant stress and other minute factors we can't duplicate in captivity. The best way to insure your snake stays healthy is to keep it in as consistent and controlled environment as possible.

Of course they are hardy species...ball pythons in particular are very hardy. But would you really want to risk RI, just because you know your snake will likely recover from it if you get it to the vet in time? Other species of snakes are far less hardy than bp's...no matter how unlikely it seems they should survive in the wild. Captivity takes a lot out of them and its our duty as their captors to make sure we give back as much as we possibly can...by making their environment fit their needs.

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I am in no way a professional so NO ONE should listen to anything that I say. I am just saying what I think about the situation.

BTW, I don't take my snake out all day, usually an hour or so at night.

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And just to clarify...I'm in no way offended by your remarks or think that you're looking for ways to get around certain husbandry needs of your snakes. I was just replying to some of the issues you raised.

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Originally Posted by AzureN1ght

In regard to space heaters--just be careful. Some types of space heaters (oil/gas burning ones) can put out carbon monoxide gas if they aren't vented properly. So if it is used in a closed-off unventilated room, you could end up with carbon-monoxide poisoned snakes or, worse, if you're in the room--you! So, do be careful about what kind of space heater you buy.

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there's a difference between oil burning and oil-filled electric. no carbon monoxide released from the electric one!

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Originally Posted by JLC

Of course their natural environment isn't as perfect as we try to maintain it in captivity. However, in captivity, their immune systems are compromised by a combination of constant stress and other minute factors we can't duplicate in captivity. The best way to insure your snake stays healthy is to keep it in as consistent and controlled environment as possible.

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wow, IMO best post of the year! thanks judy!!!

Thank you for your response Judy. I like when other people provide input on my remarks. I'm far from a snake expert so I'm glad you said a few of those things. Its always nice to learn something new.

Also, I'm definitely not trying to get around any husbandry needs. I keep my snakes cage at 82 cold side an 91 on the hot side with 55% humidity :)

Excellent post Judy!

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Originally Posted by rabernet

To the OP, I limit mine to 30 minute handling sessions for the longest. Most times, just 15 minutes.

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Yeah, cuz if Robin handled each one for more than 15 minutes, she'd need a longer day, Miss I-have-a-gazillion-gorgeous-snakies! =)

We hold ours for 15 minutes to an hour generally, although not during the 48 hours after feeding and not the approximate week they are in shed and usually after it's dark in the evening.

I can say we usually have our BCC Carmen out for longer than our ball python or cornsnake, but mostly because she seems to enjoy it or not mind and is very relaxed once she's out. (Total spaz coming out and going back in, but that's Suri for you...)