how often do you hold your snakes?

[OhhWatALoser]

Guys, the options on this poll are really bad. You should not be handling a ball python multiple times per day for 20-30 minutes at a time. That is way too frequent of handling and causes a lot of stress for the animal. Most of you are new here, so I can't be too surprised that you are handling them so much.

When snakes "explore like crazy" they are stressed out of their minds. This is NOT a good thing, at all. Snakes can't feel secure when they are being ripped out of their home multiple times per day. Look at any care sheet on the web, and it will tell you this.

Snakes aren't dogs; they're not only happy if you let them explore, nor do they WANT to explore in the first place. In nature they spend their time hiding, waiting for food to come along. With as finicky ball pythons are, you really shouldn't be handling them so much.

I do agree with you that most snakes will not feel very secure when being handled multiple times a day. but i do see a difference between exploring and trying to hide.

if their trying to find a hide spot and just get away, yea their stessed, personally i sit on the couch and watch tv while i handle my snakes most of the time and some of the less socialized snakes will usually go under me or a blanket or try to go between the couch cushion. I see this as the snakes being stressed. but usually over time (months not days) they get used to the flow of things and stop stressing and stop trying to hide. ill also point out snakes that act like that don't stay out too long. most of my ball pythons i only take out a couple times a week because their like this...most.

but if their truly exploring, i don't see any harm. and yes some, namly the carpet pythons DO want to explore, my big female even learned to get my attention so i will take her out and no its not because shes hungry lol. she just like that. but all of the carpets just hang out, no attempts to hide or anything. ball pythons tho are a different story

i do have one odd ball female that is screwed up. shes awake during the day and sleeps at night, she doesn't use her hide, she just pushes it around the cage when its in her way, no fear of people what so ever. shes one that i don't think would give a crap if i took her out multiple times a day. still only take her out a couple times a week. also my male lesser explores but i think all my other ball pythons just try to hide, but some are coming around slowly tho.

i think it depends on the snake itself. but i just have a my small collection and very little experience. i would say they only need to be taken out a few times a week to be socialized, short handling periods and they come around.