How many days after feeding do you handle?

[kazboots]

I have been told different times to wait after feeding so the snake doesn't regurge. I have been told up to 5 days for the big snakes because of the larger prey which I feel is a bit excessive. I handle my 6ft burm as much as possible and he is never really bothered by much, I try to wait at least 2 days after feeding but he is messy sometimes and likes to dump water everywhere and no matter how soon after feeding he never has a problem. In fact some days he will come right out to me while I am changing water and cruise around. Reading his body language he just never seems stressed at all,and I am the one who is most willing to handle stuff in the reptile lab that comes in scared or with an attitude so I have seen plenty of stressed snakes over the last 7years.Actually the longest time I wait to hold him is when he is getting ready to shed.I use him for demos so he has to be used to handling, but I also want him to be as healthy and happy as possible.
I was just wondering what other people do with their large snakes, and has anyone had theirs regurge from handling? I have had a lot of experience with smaller snakes and a few 9ft but I know there are people on this forum that have had years of experience with the Giants and burms in particular.

[Neal]

I've never had any snakes that get larger then 7-8 feet, but when I would watch my friends Red Tail Boa, which was about 7-8 feet, I would feed her, then I would wait 3 days just because of it being a larger meal. I don't really know off hand but I wouldn't guess more then 3 days. Just because of it being a larger prey, it still gets digested in the same amount of time.

[Denial]

I usually dont handle them for at least 3 to 4 days after feeding. Sometimes though you have to handle them becasue they will make such a mess in the enclosure but usually if they just pee I tap them with the hook and get them to move to the other side of the cage so I clean the side the pee on. But im usually not that lucky they usually just make a huge mess

[mumps]

Totally depends on the size of the meal.

With a big meal in a big snake I just wait for the "lump" to disappear. Messes are not a problem with big enclosures as they move away from the mess once they make it. Another bonus to giving your animals lots of room to move around...

Chris

[bamf64]

i usually handle 48 hours after feeding. but when she gets bigger ill make it 48

[Denial]

i usually handle 48 hours after feeding. but when she gets bigger ill make it 48

?

[bamf64]

?

oh lol my bad! i Usually handle 24 hours, then when she gets bigger il make it 48 LOL

[Denial]

oh ok lol I was just a lil confused

[mumps]

oh lol my bad! i Usually handle 24 hours, then when she gets bigger il make it 48 LOL

What I'm confused about is what do you have that's going to get bigger?

Chris

[tbowman]

I don't handle mine for at least two days. unless I have to.