How often do you guys handle your snakes?

[Shera]

Why should I hold them more often? Holding the snakes is for the owner not for the snake.

I don't know that I agree with you entirely. I think that handling is good for exercise, mine is very active when I hold her in the evening. Also we don't really know if they enjoy it. Many assume they only tolerate it, and certainly some don't even do that much, but like all living things there is a feeling of reward and enjoyment in certain behaviors, they may be strictly autonomic, but even autonomic beings experience pleasure. Can anyone be certain that some snakes don't in fact enjoy being held? It's warm and safe feeling (if they are used to you), and it gets them out and moving and smelling new smells and sensing new senses. My girl has her head out of her hide each night waiting for me. Or maybe she's just peaking out because it's dusk and they are crepuscular, but after she comes out for a while with me (and acts like she doesn't want me to put her back by trying to avoid the door), she keeps her head in her hide.

Anyway, my personal opinion is that she enjoys it on a lower thinking kinda level, so I don't agree that in all cases it is stickily only for the owner and not for (or to any detriment to) the snake. I also don't agree with the person who replied to you (who maybe have broken a few typing fingers with than ankle),that you "should" be holding yours more often. I think it's a personal choice, but I don't think that a snake that is used to being handled doesn't enjoy it to some extent.