"Look but don't touch" animals?

[asplundii]

As for other species of snakes, there are definitely snakes that are never comfortable with handling, or they are very hard to work with to tame if they have a strong tendency to bite all the time, always get very stressed out, etc so it makes it not worth the effort anyway and is hard on the snake. Not all animals can become pets that you can eventually handle.

^^^^
This


I have a pair of kukri snakes. If you know how they got their name you will understand why they are not 'touchy-feely' animals. I also have a pair of Rhamphiophis, a little research into them should explain why I do not handle them overly much either.

I did not pick up these species so I could hold them and play with them (I have ball pythons if I want to do that), I got them because I wanted something unique/different to work with. I knew I would not be handeling them and I was perfectly happy with that

[Darkbird]

Pretty much all young reptiles, and likely most animals of any sort, come pre-programmed with a response of "GIANT SCARY THING GONNA EAT ME!" in their brains, and it takes time and patience to teach them otherwise. And balls, with some exceptions, normally get past this fairly quickly and with a minimal nuber of puncture wounds to the owner, lol. There are of course many reptiles that stay defensive all their lives, most arboreal snakes come to mind, as well as a lot of smaller species of lizards.

[wolftrap]

As everyone else has mentioned, time and gentle handling will prevail. Babies particularly can be flighty...imagine a huge hand lifting the roof and scooping you out of your living room.

You also mentioned a ten gallon enclosure. If this is a glass tank, she could be over-stimulated with movement in the room. If her enclosure is glass, you may want to temporarily cover three sides to give her more privacy.

Her enclosure is on a desk up against the wall; which three sides should I cover?

[ryu80]

Her enclosure is on a desk up against the wall; which three sides should I cover?

If you are against the wall only on one side I would cover the two other sides that are perpendicular to the wall.

[Dianne]

If you are against the wall only on one side I would cover the two other sides that are perpendicular to the wall.

Exactly...basically just leave the front area ‘open’ for viewing.

[Bogertophis]

... some people say that even though they've worked with their animals their snake has become a "look but don't touch" sort of pet, where they limit handling because the animal is clearly not cut out for human interaction. However, others say that if you work with an animal enough at a patient, respectful speed, all animals can become pets that you can eventually handle.....

The thing is that we're all different AND our snakes have their own personalities too: some of us are undoubtedly better or more persistent & patient about handling
snakes, and some of our snakes -no matter what kind- are more receptive to being handled than even their own siblings. It comes down to both "nature" & "nurture".

Some members of any given species will naturally respond better to handling & be able to overcome their instincts than others, and some of us give up sooner than
others. Just because someone claims a snake is a "look but don't touch" pet doesn't mean that someone else might not have better luck. I've taken in many such
snakes that bit former owners but not me, but if you're happy with a snake that is "display only" that's OK too. It's not as if the snake will complain, but my personal
philosophy about keeping snakes (or any other wild animal in captivity) is that I don't want them to live in fear of the "unknown" -that's us, the big scary creatures that
keep lurking about their cage.

So I do all I can to convey to them that they have nothing to fear: that's the reason that I want to handle a snake. An animal living in fear & feeling cornered is bound
to be more stressed, & that has an adverse effect on their health. Snakes clearly learn & remember they are safe with me as I don't handle them that often, but it's
not unlike their survival in the wild: they learn their way around, where to hide from predators & bad weather or else they perish. Likewise, they learn that I'm just a
safe part of their world & not going to eat them if I pick them up. There are some snakes that truly stay hysterical about human contact, unfortunately, & sometimes
we have to accept that...but we might all draw that line in a different place.

[wolftrap]

Exactly...basically just leave the front area ‘open’ for viewing.

I can definitely do that - I've covered the side that faces the doorway so that the door opening/us walking in/dogs walking in wouldn't alarm her as much, but I'll try covering the other two sides.

[Dianne]

I can definitely do that - I've covered the side that faces the doorway so that the door opening/us walking in/dogs walking in wouldn't alarm her as much, but I'll try covering the other two sides.

Best of luck! I’m also tweaking setups for new baby balls...it’s almost a right of passage as you learn your snake’s preferences. Two of the three hatchlings I purchased this year are very confident, but my lemonblast (Belle) has been more reluctant to feed and much more shy/skittish than the others. I switched cages around so that she is on the top of my stack so she sees little to no movement unless I’m peeking in from a stepstool. I wasn’t handling her other than to move the hide to check on her well-being, but I’ve eliminated all handling unless I’m cleaning the cage. She’s taken her second large fuzzy/small hopper tonight. It’s taken a little over a month, but she’s settling in, feeding now, and doesn’t appear as startled when I do check in on her. It takes time, but with continued calm interactions they do come around. Patience is the hardest part...speaking for myself anyway.

[Zincubus]

Interesting thread topic !

My Corn snake and all my Royals are super laid back and docile
and I'd trust them with anyone ...

The Thai Red Bamboo rat and all my Kings are basically just fabulous display animals and I don't handle them through choice -just when cleaning vivs or moving them .


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[Zincubus]

Interesting thread topic !

My Corn snake and all my Royals are super laid back and docile
and I'd trust them with anyone ...

The Thai Red Bamboo rat and all my Kings are basically just fabulous display animals and I don't handle them through choice -just when cleaning vivs or moving them .

That said the I'm sure that if I had more time and fewer snakes I'd be able to spend time on the King snakes


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