handling

[xcrafter]

Just wondering how often people handle their pythons and for how long at a time. What do you consider over handling?

[cmack91]

i handle whenever i feel like it, except for right after feeding. the amount of time depends, i usually judge by the way the snakes acting, or if he starts to feel cold, but usually at least 30 mins every 2 days minimum, but thats just me

[The Serpent Merchant]

There is no set rule for this, it is different with every snake. Overhaldeling is when a snake becomes stressed (at least in my opinion). Unfortunately it isn't always completely obvious at the time... It's not until the snake goes off feed that it can be seen. I will put a snake back when he/she starts to get adimate about getting away. With some of mine that means 5 minutes, with others it can be over an hour.

[RobNJ]

I don't handle mine much at all...really only while cleaning, when weighing, and the occasional "check up" every so often. I don't feel handling is of any benefit to the snake, and not handling is really of no detriment(or them) to me, so I let them be for the most part.

I do have one big red tail that I handle once a week. She tends to get cranky and forget me if I don't handle her, and I've had a few close calls with her going after me. Taking her out once a week for a half hour or so seems to keep us on happy terms.

[piedplus]

My girls love to be handled. One of them likes to be out more than once every day. She'd probably ride around with me all day if I had the time. My other two girls act like they want out a couple of times a week. I haven't had my boys for long and they don't like to be handled. I only take them out when necessary. I'm hoping that will change with time.

[KatStoverReptiles]

If your snake starts refusing meals, one of the 1st things I'd consider is it's being over-handled (along with husbandry issues).

[k8nkane]

I handle mine about once a day, later at night when he pokes his head out of his hide and slithers about. He seems to enjoy the chance to explore my bed or just sit with me and he's always been a remarkably well-adjusted snake, settling into his enclosure after a couple of days. The amount of time will vary depending on how early I have to get up the next morning, but it's usually at least half an hour or so.

But I let him decide; occasionally, he'll poke his head out and I'll open the cage and he'll go right back in his hide. So I just shut the cage and don't handle him that night. I don't "pressure" him into being handled and I definitely don't lift up his hide and take him out of there to handle him. I wait for him to come to me, so to speak.

[piedplus]

I handle mine about once a day, later at night when he pokes his head out of his hide and slithers about. He seems to enjoy the chance to explore my bed or just sit with me and he's always been a remarkably well-adjusted snake, settling into his enclosure after a couple of days. The amount of time will vary depending on how early I have to get up the next morning, but it's usually at least half an hour or so.

But I let him decide; occasionally, he'll poke his head out and I'll open the cage and he'll go right back in his hide. So I just shut the cage and don't handle him that night. I don't "pressure" him into being handled and I definitely don't lift up his hide and take him out of there to handle him. I wait for him to come to me, so to speak.

Ditto on that. Giving them the power to choose seems to make them more tame & happy. The only time I don't give them a choice is when I have to move them to clean or something.

[Dabonus]

It really depends on the snake for me. Right now I have some breeding, and I don't handle them any more than I have to (cleaning days). With the balls it seems like it really doesn't matter how much I handle them, they stay pretty mellow. I try and handle my GTP once a week or every other week just so he's use to me. I know they have a reputation of being a little tough to work with, so I want to handle him while he's still manageable and a bite won't be that big of a deal.

[Emily Hubbard]

I usually handily daily, with the obvious exceptions of 2 days after feeding, or if I am truly swamped with homework. In the evening, my snake will usually explore her tank for a little while. I like to wait until this time because I feel she is showing she is in an active mood rather than me uprooting her hide and dragging her out.

I think that handling is beneficial in the sense that it further assures your snake that your aren't threatening. In my opinion, if you don't handle them leisurely, when you DO handle them for maintenance, it could potentially freak the hell out of them because you are not a familiar object, whereas with frequent handling, they will just think, "oh, you again."

I have said before that I think you have a successful "relationship" with your snake if it feels indifferent toward you. If they don't view you as a threat and just generally don't give much of a crap when you bother them, job well done.