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Handling your snakes

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  • 01-19-2008, 02:50 AM
    akaangela
    Handling your snakes
    How often do you handle your snakes? Dose it matter if they are babies or adults or breeders?

    My B/Ps are pets first. I am trying to breed them but I so enjoy each one and take them out at least 3 times a week just to hold them. The babies I hold at least 2 time a week as I feed them more often then the adults and don't want to handle them on a full meal.
  • 01-19-2008, 02:55 AM
    bsd13
    Re: Handling your snakes
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by akaangela View Post
    How often do you handle your snakes? Dose it matter if they are babies or adults or breeders?

    My B/Ps are pets first. I am trying to breed them but I so enjoy each one and take them out at least 3 times a week just to hold them. The babies I hold at least 2 time a week as I feed them more often then the adults and don't want to handle them on a full meal.

    Everyday for me. In the two meals I've fed him he's crawled up my arm within 12 hours of feeding to be held. If he doesn't want to then I'll stop. Hasn't shed yet, but I'll play that by year as well.
  • 01-19-2008, 03:00 AM
    reptile3
    Re: Handling your snakes
    Pretty much everyday for the BP,BD & the Iguana. As for my 2 cats, they get attention 24/7 and my 2 kids too!!! ha ha
  • 01-19-2008, 09:53 AM
    wnieuwenhuis
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I handle my balls once a week or even less. The 2 het. pieds I got 3 weeks ago, I have not handled once. I let them get used to their new environment first. The only exception is my pastel female, she crawls on my arm everytime I check her tub or refresh her water.
  • 01-19-2008, 10:24 AM
    Debbienflorida
    Re: Handling your snakes
    Since I have 1 BP and I feed weekly I let him stay in his hide 2-3 days after a feed. He never seems to mind moving his hide and letting me hold him during the rest of the week. I usuall wait till evening when he seems he is more active anyway.
  • 01-19-2008, 08:38 PM
    Patrick Long
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I said everyday, becuase some days i will be holding one, the next day i will be holding another.
  • 01-19-2008, 09:04 PM
    Bobsean
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I have two BP's, and I hold them probably 4 to 5 time a week. I enjoy watching them check out their surroundings when I get bored. Also, many of my friends have become tolerant and even interested in snakes. Therefore, my snakes get a lot of attention around Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
  • 01-19-2008, 09:25 PM
    Ginevive
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I really only handle mine for tub-cleaning time. I do go in every day and check on everyone to make sure that nothing has cropped up overnight. And to change/fill water dishes.. our house is Dry, so misting on and off, and water filling, is a daily task.
  • 01-19-2008, 10:26 PM
    snakelady
    Re: Handling your snakes
    Hi! I'm new here. Couldn't find a introduce yourself, but I didn't look that hard. So, I'll just jump right in...

    Everyday. Unless they have just fed. I wait 2-3 days after feeding. But it's easy I've only got three. When I get more it will probably go to every other day.
  • 01-19-2008, 10:31 PM
    rabernet
    Re: Handling your snakes
    My handling of any one snake is about 2 times a week, and usually when cleaning their tubs (there's always a tub here to be cleaned on any given day). Every now and then I'll take one out and spend about 15 minutes with them, studying their pattern and enjoying what makes that particular animal unique.

    I'm always mindful that handling is for my pleasure, not theirs and respect that they are very private, shy animals by nature and would prefer to be left alone.
  • 01-19-2008, 10:36 PM
    Argentra
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I only handle my BPs once a week on feeding day because I feed in another enclosure. Makes it easier to monitor their feeding as well as to clean their cages while they're eating. :) Most of the time, I just watch them at night as they cruise.

    My corn, on the other hand, gets handled all the time except the 2 days after a feed and when he's in shed. He loves to be out and about. :)
  • 01-19-2008, 10:54 PM
    bsd13
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I'm wondering why so many people hardly seem to handle their snakes at all. I'm noticing it seems to be the people with lots of snakes which leads me to believe either it's an issue of time, or an issue of you see them as a commodity and not a family pet. Is either of those reasons the case with anyone?
  • 01-19-2008, 10:57 PM
    Argentra
    Re: Handling your snakes
    Not here. My snakes are my pets first and foremost. True, I'll be building toward breeding the corns and BPs eventually, but they're still my pets.

    My reason for not handling more than once, maybe twice, a week is that Ball pythons are shy and secretive snakes that seem to be most comfortable when left alone. I enjoy watching both of mine at night as they cruise their cages, so there's my 'time' with them that doesn't bother them at all.
  • 01-20-2008, 05:22 AM
    NickP
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I handle daily for at least 10 minutes, except during shed and 48 hours after feeding. Also every now and then when I add something to his tank, or if I have to assist with a shed, I would let him be for a day or two without handling.
  • 01-20-2008, 05:34 AM
    Bruce Whitehead
    Re: Handling your snakes
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by bsd13 View Post
    I'm wondering why so many people hardly seem to handle their snakes at all. I'm noticing it seems to be the people with lots of snakes which leads me to believe either it's an issue of time, or an issue of you see them as a commodity and not a family pet. Is either of those reasons the case with anyone?

    I handle mine about twice a week.

    I think most people that have one bp tend to overhandle them. They are not kittens or puppies, and do not have the need to be socailized in the same manner.

    I have worked with many different animals, including wolves, who need to be socialized to a much greater level and with much greater intent. So not valuing them as pets is NOT an issue.

    The more experienced I become with snakes, the less I tend to handle them, as I do not feel they benefit from long handling periods, and I am confident that I can judge signs of stress. At which point they are placed back in their enclosures.

    Also, I seldom handle a snake that is in its hide. To me that is communication that it is being a snake and doesn't need my interference.

    When I handle my snakes I am very attentive to them and never complacent. In my experience (anecdotally mind you) the posts online that have to deal with snakes being stuck behind dishwashers, being stepped on, *forgotten* about (and now loose), etc. are from people that have one snake, and are constantly trying to give it novel experiences.

    The story that always comes to mind is an individual on another forum that asked for everyone's advice on taking her snake to the park. The cons outweighed the pros, and most people cautioned that it would benefit the individual more than the snake. But if someone needs to bond with their snake (in their minds) in order to give it a good life I would never invalidate that.

    So this individual took the snake to the park where it was promptly stomped on (by someone running past to catch a ball).

    People will constantly argue that their snakes LOVE to be out, love exploring, love being handled, etc. but I think if you ask most people with several snakes, they won't necessarily agree with that analogy.

    Just my two bloated cents based on my experience.
    Bruce
  • 01-20-2008, 12:15 PM
    rabernet
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I concur with Bruce - the more animals that you have, the more that you understand that they don't desire handling, it's all OUR desire to bond with them.

    I judge my snake's "happiness" with how well they feed and breed. A stressed animal is more likely to not breed or be an inconsistent feeders. I'm very proud of my collection (who are beloved pets) in that the only time they go off food is when they are in shed, and that the ones I've designated for breeding this year are doing so.
  • 01-21-2008, 12:41 AM
    bsd13
    Re: Handling your snakes
    Bruce,

    Hard to argue with your logic and I certainly understand what you mean by overhandling. I handle my snake pretty much everyday and part of the reason is that as soon as I open the top he's climbing up and wrapping around my wrist. Which leads me to assume he's wanting to be handling. Generally I just drape him over my neck and he crawls all over my face and neck. Am I stressing him by letting him do this? For his own good do you think I should just not handle him even if he comes out for it (or so that's how it seems to me)
  • 01-21-2008, 12:41 AM
    bsd13
    Re: Handling your snakes
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by rabernet View Post
    I concur with Bruce - the more animals that you have, the more that you understand that they don't desire handling, it's all OUR desire to bond with them.

    I judge my snake's "happiness" with how well they feed and breed. A stressed animal is more likely to not breed or be an inconsistent feeders. I'm very proud of my collection (who are beloved pets) in that the only time they go off food is when they are in shed, and that the ones I've designated for breeding this year are doing so.

    I don't know that I'm trying to judge his happiness. Just trying to judge whatever instinct has him at the moment.
  • 01-22-2008, 01:28 AM
    bjfoste1
    Re: Handling your snakes
    couple times a week id say
  • 01-22-2008, 02:47 AM
    Westcoast
    Re: Handling your snakes
    Usually once a week during tub cleaning!
    I have a few favorites that get held more often.
  • 01-22-2008, 02:54 AM
    Bruce Whitehead
    Re: Handling your snakes
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by bsd13 View Post
    Bruce,

    Hard to argue with your logic and I certainly understand what you mean by overhandling. I handle my snake pretty much everyday and part of the reason is that as soon as I open the top he's climbing up and wrapping around my wrist. Which leads me to assume he's wanting to be handling. Generally I just drape him over my neck and he crawls all over my face and neck. Am I stressing him by letting him do this? For his own good do you think I should just not handle him even if he comes out for it (or so that's how it seems to me)

    Honesly, I try to not tell someone how to handle their snake (this is new for me btw). Not knowing the snake and all and how you handle him.

    But that being said, most bp owners will concur that a snake training for the "snake olympics" at night, may be a stressed snake.

    For me... I don't handle the day of a feed, and I don't handle for 2 days following. The two day rule is because they expend alot of energy digesting and are better let alone during that time.

    That rules out 3 days of the week.

    And I don't handle for more than two days in a row. Again, that rules out a few more days of the week.

    But I have two snakes that are the kind that are out of the enclousure and up my wrists as soon as I open the tub. They are also two of the snakes that have been inconsistent feeders.

    I used to handle them alot more than I do now, and for longer time periods per session. But now they feed more consistently and aren't quite as active as they used to be. They get handled twice a week for about ten - fifteen minutes like all the rest.

    (although my handling has decreased a lot with the snakes breeding right now)

    So I guess it depends on how comfortable you are and how well you can read your snake. If he goes off feed, or seems stressed then it is up to you as to how much you handle him.

    My routines are personal, based on my experiences with multiple snakes, and how I interpret stress in my animals.

    Bruce
  • 01-22-2008, 05:56 AM
    Entropy
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I have always found that if the animal is wanting OUT of the enclosure then there is an issue that needs addressed. Mites, temps, humidity...something. I handle my guys once a week on cleaning day.
  • 01-22-2008, 05:34 PM
    littleindiangirl
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I have to agree with Bruce ten fold. Excellent post!

    Yes each snake is different, but he pretty much sums it up. BP's are shy, and stress easily. What we percieve as wanting to visit, may be another trait completely. I have one BP that doesn't mind being out for an hour, but even after this amount of time, he starts to stress and does the snake olympics.

    I do not handle every snake every day, I have 14 snakes, not only do I know it would cause problems stressing them out, but I really dont have time to do it either.

    A lot of people DO over handle, and wonder why their snakes are ill or wont eat.

    Handle less, pay closer attention to the needs of your snake instead of doing everything based on your needs.
  • 01-23-2008, 08:24 AM
    frankykeno
    Re: Handling your snakes
    Excellent post Bruce!

    Having a larger number of snakes doesn't mean they become just a number, at least not to me. I know every snake we own intimately, down to the last time they pooped and who reacts to what and exactly what reaction they will normally exhibit. Heck I can dull you to tears with what I know about my snakes LOL.

    What I have also grown to know over time and experience is this is not a snake that does well with excessive handling. New owners tend to handle their snakes at their convenience, not the snake's. 2 in the afternoon is when you are up, but your nocturnal snake would rather be snoozing away in it's hide - that sort of thing.

    Handle with respect, with knowledge of what your snake is and more importantly what it isn't, treat handling as a gift to you, something you want, always put your wants behind the snake's needs and you'll do fine. :)
  • 01-25-2008, 08:19 PM
    herpmajor
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I usualy hold mine 3-4 times a week. Sometimes a little more sometimes a little less.:D
  • 02-05-2008, 11:24 PM
    Reptiliteer
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I hold my BP almost every day. I feed him on Sundays so I usually don't handle him again until Tuesday at least. I love to handle my snake. Its great to watch him in his tank but if I wanted to watch snakes I would go to a zoo or look at videos and pix online. My little guy doesn't seem to mind. :cool: He is kool with hanging around my neck when I'm cleaning his cage or watching the super bowl. Woot!
  • 02-07-2008, 04:31 PM
    Hardwikk
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I handle my snakes every day. That's one of the main reasons I keep them.
  • 02-08-2008, 01:16 AM
    AzureN1ght
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I bring Auryn out once a week usually, sometimes twice. When he does come out, it's only for 15 minutes at a time (or until he becomes "zoomy", whichever is first). He's a beautiful boy, a wonderful pet and I love him to death--and because I do, I try to keep his stress level as low as possible :)
  • 02-08-2008, 01:25 AM
    Dcommander
    Re: Handling your snakes
    I take out my sankes about 3-4 times a week, but only hold each one for about 1/2 an hour
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