What is the best way to handle?

[Mina]

To start with, my husband and I went to the store tonight to see our little boy eat, and boy did he!!! He snatched the mouse out of the tongs, squeezed it, and the next time I looked, it was gone!!
Now my question, what is the best way to pick up a BP? The people at the pet store pick them up by the middle of their bodies, and being BPs they tend to stay in a ball or curved shape as they are lifted. Is that the way to do it? Should we wash out hands before we handle him? Do they like to be held close to the body, or just on the hand or arm?
Is there anything else I need to know about handling our new baby?
Thanks,
Mina

[JLC]

That's awesome that he's such a good eater. Some snakes refuse to eat with an audience! LOL


Yes, washing your hands before, and especially after handling any reptile is a good idea.

To pick them up, for me, it kind of depends on what they're doing at the moment. If they're crawling around or stretched out, I will gently grasp them around the middle and lift them enough to get another hand in there to help support them. If they're balled up, I try to just sort of scoop them up without trying to make them uncoil. Mostly, just use common sense. "Gentle" is the key.

How to hold them once you have them picked up? Your snake will let you know what it likes. Some will wrap around your hand/arm and just stay there. Some will explore everywhere you allow them to reach. Some will try to escape. Some will wrap around your shoulders/neck and snuggle in for a warm nap. LOL Just have to wait and see what your little guy does!

[TraconSnake]

In regards to washing hands, is there a way to test a sanke to see if it's salmonella free, or are there other reasons on top of salmonella to always wash hands anyway?

[cassandra]

I wash my hands with anti-bacterial soap and warm water before I touch either of our snakes just as a general practice, but then I'm also moving hides, changing water, etc. It's just good practice - and my snakes know my smell as Cass + soap, hehe. =)

[4Khan]

To start with, my husband and I went to the store tonight to see our little boy eat, and boy did he!!! He snatched the mouse out of the tongs, squeezed it, and the next time I looked, it was gone!!

so hes not at home with you?

I am so confused....

just like handeling a baby I say...wash wash wash (esp since i have a cat and he is in his litter box often) and give support as much as possible, they can be clumsey and curious at the same time so falling off is possible to there middle like everyone has said.. Im not comfortable walking around with him strung around my neck nor will I ever be, some people and ther snakes dont mind. you'll feel whats right and whats not right.

Good luck and congrats on your good eater!

[Boarder4l154]

In regards to washing hands, is there a way to test a sanke to see if it's salmonella free, or are there other reasons on top of salmonella to always wash hands anyway?

I may be mistaken on this but I believe it is snake poop that carries salmonella, not the snake. and since your snake keeps pooping, theres no way to be absolutely sure its salmonella free. Even if you're really good a spot cleaning, you never know if the snake has slithered in their poo, and plus, microscopic organisms are pretty hard to spot clean... so to answer your question, be safe and always wash your hands

[gmmuscle91]

so hes not at home with you?

I am so confused....

i think she means the store is holding him her till they pay it off or something.
now im confused!

[frankykeno]

As far as I know you are still at way more risk for salmonella from your own cutting board/kitchen counter at home or from the local fast food joint, then from your reptile. Just as a matter of course we have a couple of standard rules in our house for adults and kids....wash well with hot, soapy water after handling the snakes or rats...and you aren't allowed to play kissy face with anything that can lick it's own butt LOL.

[Mina]

so hes not at home with you?

I am so confused....

just like handeling a baby I say...wash wash wash (esp since i have a cat and he is in his litter box often) and give support as much as possible, they can be clumsey and curious at the same time so falling off is possible to there middle like everyone has said.. Im not comfortable walking around with him strung around my neck nor will I ever be, some people and ther snakes dont mind. you'll feel whats right and whats not right.

Good luck and congrats on your good eater!

Sorry about that!!! No, he isn't at home yet. He will be coming home with us on Monday night. We knew we were interested in a snake, but he was an impulse buy. We put money down on him to hold him and then came home to learn about snake care, housing and feeding. We wanted to do it right. I actually wasn't concerned about salmonella with the hand washing question, what I was concerned about is anything on our hands that would be bad for the snake!!!!
Mina

[frankykeno]

I think it's wonderful that you realized the snake was an impulse buy and are handling things they way you are Mina. That kind of stuff is good to see and I applaud you and your hubby for striving to do the best you can for this little snake right from the get go.

Hope you can take a quick picture of the little snake before you tuck him away for his first quiet week at your home. We'd love to see him!

Oh just noticed you are from Illinois! Will you and your husband be attending the NARBC show this October (October 7 & 8)?

http://www.narbc.com