Is too much handling bad?

[Asami]

Not able to handle my BP yet since it's not done adjusting to its new home but just wondering if too much handling can affect your BP's behavior or health??

[rock]

Yes, a stressed snake could be adversely affected.

I like having 3 snakes because we would definitely over-handle just one.

[Craiga 01453]

The short answer is yes. Over handling can lead to stress, which can lead tom many other health issues.

[Meerna]

I would say over handling would be stressful, yes. Like rock above, I have 3 snakes so I don't have an issue with over handling, and some days I don't handle any of them.

[Craiga 01453]

I agree with both members above who have talked about having multiple snakes being great for not over handling. It's definitely nice to have more than one, I currently have four and am "snake-sitting" another. It's always nice to be able to handle one of my snakes, usually at least one has just eaten or is in shed, etc...
However, the OP seems to be very new to the hobby with a lot of questions. For that reason, I would strongly suggest that the OP get PLENTY of experience and knowledge with the one snake for now. Yes, snakes can be very "addictive" but let's remember that they are living animals. So let's make sure that the one is properly cared for before adding another.

[Kcl]

Overhandling does cause stress which has a variety of negative physical effects including depressing the immune system. What is too much handling depends on the individual snake though. Heavy breathing, balling up, rapid movement (fleeing), and lack of tongue flicking are all generally signs of stress. Moving around slowly, long investigating tongue flicks, coiling up in a comfy spot WITHOUT hiding the head can all be signs that the snake is comfortable.

Mine we now mostly just put him on us and then put a blanket over and he'll find himself a comfy spot and curl up until we put him back. Sometimes he'll poke his head out towards us to see what's up. When he was a baby though, we kept handling sessions pretty short. He gained confidence both as he grew and became less vulnerable, and as he got used to us. Sometimes he'll even let me touch his head and snoot now. Even if he's not feeling it, if I touch his nose while he's sticking his face out of the hide, he'll have it back out of the hide within a few hours instead of hiding it for a week or more like he used to. I don't do it much as he still usually doesn't like it - I touch his face and nose only when he's in a particularly tolerant mood, which is something that has to be learned by experience.

[rock]

Yes, you are correct. Best to take it slow and learn to handle one first and provide for all of its husbandry needs, including the proper housing.

The answer is, you must be disciplined in knowing the difference between when you want to handle and interact with your snake and when it's best for them. Also, you will likely need to limit the time of each interaction, especially early on.

For instance, when the snake is in shed, I leave it alone. The day I am feeding the snake, I leave it alone. The 2 days after the snake feeds, I leave it alone. Considering that I feed my snakes every week at this point my window can be quite small for handling.

[Dawn1131]

I handle my girl every day. Now when you walk by the tank she comes out of her hide to see if she is going to come out. She's super social and loves hanging out on my shoulders while I do housework, go about my day, etc.

[Mike15608]

I first purchased 2 corn snakes at the request of my 4 year old son I now have :
2 corns
1 hypo jungle male red tail Boa
7 ball pythons
all my snakes get handles a lot by myself and the kids and seem to calm down and get more social the more we handle them. Although I will end up breeding snakes are my pets and why own them if not to handle them.

[Sauzo]

Every snake is different. Some tolerate handling and can be said ti 'like' being out while some really dont like it. You have to just evaluate each one and go accordingly.

For me, Luna, Gina and Rosey 'like' being out and will go into explorer mode. Vicky and Rango seem to care less and just kind of hang out. Caesar has on and off days which are pretty easy to read.