That would all depend on your snake. the handling during shed is more to keep stress down on the snake and to keep people from being bit. Mine is no issue. I don't take her out but i do keep up her enclosure changing water, picking up poop and pee, general maintenance. Sometimes you need to move them to the other side. If your snake is normally pretty calm its no big deal. But you always run the risk of getting bit while they are in shed due to the fact that their sight is reduced (clouded eye caps). Either way you gotta give them fresh watter at the very least.