handling??

Well i was wondering whats the limit for handling is there a maximum time you could hold them or does it not really matter that much?

I havent had much experience with it before but Ive asked this before and the answer was no, there arent really any handling restrictions. Of course you should still allow it to have a week or so to settle in and get a meal or two under its belt probably I believe. I could be wrong, hopefully someone will come in and correct me or verify. Im going on the safe side here. Other than that, I know you can keep them out for hours of handling without stressing them like BPs. Part of the reason why I wanted a boa so bad.

With any handling I always go by the concept that the handling is something I want but the snake does not necessarily need, therefore I treat a nice, short and quiet handling session as a gift the snake allows me. Remember ball pythons in particular are very nocturnal, tend to be head shy and are not high on the list for display/heavy handling species. Handle with respect for the snake, realizing this species limitations, taking into account your specific snake's unique reactions and always with a view to making the handling experience good for you but more importantly...good for your snake. :)

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

With any handling I always go by the concept that the handling is something I want but the snake does not necessarily need, therefore I treat a nice, short and quiet handling session as a gift the snake allows me. Remember ball pythons in particular are very nocturnal, tend to be head shy and are not high on the list for display/heavy handling species. Handle with respect for the snake, realizing this species limitations, taking into account your specific snake's unique reactions and always with a view to making the handling experience good for you but more importantly...good for your snake. :)

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This is in reference to the BP though, not boas. I have heard differently for boas. Boas are not head shy and are considered display/heavy handling species from what I have heard and read.

Geeze I really need to read what forum I'm in LOL. Thanks Mark! Yep boas are far less stressed by handling and so forth though the concept of still treating your snake with respect for it's limitations when handling, making the handling session quiet and low stress I think applies to the boas as well. Any snake if handled roughly, too much or in a loud, vibration laid room will react poorly even the most patient and even tempered boa.

Haha its all good. Now that I can agree with. I always respect and am careful when handling any snake. I might disagree with loud seeing as how snakes do not have ears, but I am usually conscious of sound anyways. It never hurts to be on the safe side of things.

Well, scientifically, something must be vibrating heavily to cause loud music, and that will scare the snake, but maybe not a boa though? lol

I don't know about that. I have a relative who is legally deaf from birth. He's a great dancer though and picks up the beat of the music through the vibrations of the bass so I'm pretty sure a snake would do this even more efficiently. Remeber snake's do hear just not through external ears as we do, but they hear vibrations through their belly and through their lower jawbone far more efficiently than we humans ever could.

We saw the 6 foot plus boa we rehabbed react VERY strongly to the running footsteps of a bunch of 5 year old kids. :eek:

sound = vibrations, no matter how loud it doesn't matter

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Originally Posted by whyteboi

Well, scientifically, something must be vibrating heavily to cause loud music, and that will scare the snake, but maybe not a boa though? lol

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Well, I'm new to BP keeping, but not to their care. As far as handling time goes, it's really a snake-by-snake case. At the zoo I worked at (being trained to be a future keeper :)), we had two BPs in the education department; one male one female. Both adult, tho the male was younger, and both originally rescues. The male could be handled safely, but only for short jaunts of 10-15 minutes. The female, however, loved to be held! She accepted and perhaps even looked forward to every cuddle she got...at least from me. Once (I kid you not) I had picked her up out of her cage only to notice when she turned her head that her eyes were solid blue! She didn't even flinch.

Anyway, the best thing to do is get to know what your individual snake wants and try to stick with that. As far as the vibration thing, I've seen some pretty wild reactions. Our red-tail boa (at the zoo) would dart out of his hide and start scanning the area whenever anyone ran past.

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Originally Posted by qiksilver

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lol if your questioning the boa part, i just meant compared to a BP

mine shoots in his hide literally in 5 seconds when I walk in and outta my toom

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Originally Posted by whyteboi

lol if your questioning the boa part, i just meant compared to a BP

mine shoots in his hide literally in 5 seconds when I walk in and outta my toom

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Ya the past couple days i could mistake my BP is starting to want me to take him out more. He has gotten more active this week, which I am hoping is not a sign of stress. Today he was out and about when I walked in and when I walked over to his tank he slithered over toward the door in the roof and started trying to reach up for it. So I took him out for a few minutes, and then put him back and he was still active for a while after that. Hopefully its a sign that he is fully settled in, and not stressed. sorry to get off topic.