New first time owner help

[quercus]

I have about a year old normal ball python that I had purchased last year as a hatchling. This is my first python, although I have owned colubrids in the past, so this is not my first snake. Its kept in a 20 gal long aquarium with the hot end at 85 and the cool end at 75. Hides at both ends.

My question is: How often should I handle the snake? I've read that handling or over-handling can stress the snake out. Why handle the snake at all then? Wouldn't handling induce unnecessary stress? I have rarely handled that snake at all during its first year, only to clean the cage, change substrate, etc. I want to hold the snake, Im just afraid it might go off feed. It is an otherwise great feeder, taking whatever I put in the cage(live mice, F/T mice, live rat pups). I don't want to screw up a good thing, but what's the point of having an animal if I can't interact. Maybe I'm just too cautious...

Any advice from experience would be great!

[dragonboy4578]

You can handle bp's. You just need to start off slow. A few minutes at a time, then gradually increase the amount of time.

[Herp Hugger]

The main reason I settled on a BP for my first snake was that it was a snake that I could handle. If your husbandry is good and the snake is healthy, there's no reason why you can't handle your snake. I usually take one of mine out for 15-30 mins once or twice week and just let them wrap around my arm or sit in my lap. I see no issue with taking your snakes out a couple times a week. It has not affected feeding for me at all. Go ahead and enjoy your snake!

[dr del]

Hi,

Well the snake should be a good healthy weight and be relatively used to you already so I would say you should give handling a try.

I would keep it short at first - say 5-15 minutes at a time and try it after it has had the 48 hours at least since its last meal.

This should mean that, even if it does freak the snake out a little it has 3 days or so to get over it before you offer food again.

If it keeps eating as normal then you can increase the frequency a little.

I don't handle mine much aside form the cage maintenance etc but it doesn't seem to bother them unduly.


dr del

[wax32]

Welcome to the community and handle up on that snake!

[quercus]

Thanks for the input!

This website is awesome! Extremely helpful.