Overhandling?

[blueberrypancakes]

So, how much handling is too much handling, in your opinion? I love love love having Jackson as a lap snake and I would have him out in all my free time at home if I could- I watch movies, browse the internet, read and knit with him in my lap. I am particularly careful not to have him out too long or too often though- perhaps overly cautious. What's your take on this?

[el8ch]

So many different opinions on this. My take on it; in your situation is... If he is eating properly and you are ensuring that you give him proper alone time while digesting and shedding you can handle him on a daily'ish' basis.

Mine, they get maybe 15 minutes a week.. if that. I take my normal out on a semi frequent basis and will have him wrapped around me while doing the laundry, but nothing to extra.

[mommanessy247]

i handle my girl for 15-20 minutes 2 x's a week but not during shed or the 2-3 days directly after a feeding.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Depends on the animal.

To me the way to measure stress is when there is a change in behavior, if the animal becomes aggressive, if it's stop eating that you know there is an issue.

[blueberrypancakes]

Oh! Thank you all for your advice! He is eating really well, haven't had to worry about a meal yet. He did get aggressive last week, but he is being treated for mites and he was only aggressive when they were really bad. (I've only been handling him to move him since I noticed the mites, but it was enough to see a change in his attitude.) I am really trying to be a good pet owner, so I would hate to think that he wasn't as content as a snake could possibly be...

[cehmz]

Oh! Thank you all for your advice! He is eating really well, haven't had to worry about a meal yet. He did get aggressive last week, but he is being treated for mites and he was only aggressive when they were really bad. (I've only been handling him to move him since I noticed the mites, but it was enough to see a change in his attitude.) I am really trying to be a good pet owner, so I would hate to think that he wasn't as content as a snake could possibly be...

how did you know you have mites? I am currently treating mine for mites but I never saw any I assumed he had them because he was always in the water bowl even with the humidity up and I found black specks at the bottom of the water bowl.(this means mites right?)

[FrankieCarbone]

i handle mine my BP, about 3 times a week anywhere from 15-45 minutes. IMO if he dosent mind being handled, then why not, its better to have them be used to it, than to handle to little and maybe in the future them not tolerating it...

[pbjtime8908]

i handle mine every day for at least an hour and take him everywhere around the house with me. he seems to like it as he gets interested in everything by looking at it and flicking his tongue out but he'll stay wherever he's wrapped up at, be it my hand or neck. he isnt too fond of being handled during the clear eye faze of shed towards the end, and i wont handle him for 24-48 hrs after eating depending on the size of the prey and he eats like a pig so thats a non issue. i see this snake as a pet but idk what exactly im going to do when i get more of them because i know i wont be able to devote this much time to each one of them but i'll just see what happens. my roommate likes to handle him some too so maybe he'll help later on. i just think that along with everything else there is about these guys, it comes down to the individual owner and snake.

[fluffpuffgerbil]

I've only had mine for a little bit, but she doesn't seem to mind being held for awhile.
The longest I held her was probably around an hour. I believe when I put her back she maybe lapped the cage once or twice before going back to sleep in her hide.
But I've been holding her 20+ minutes 1 or 2 X a day, and she doesn't seem to mind. I think I've figured out when she wants back though. (searching all over me, trying to hide in my clothes, getting antsy, ect.)
Anyway, she seems to be a very aggressive eater. Because my friend was over on feeding day and she hadn't met Kallista yet, before I fed her I let her pet her and meet her.
I didn't want to hold her before I tried to feed her incase she didn't take it, but she was fine.
I put her back and even with me, my friend, my two sisters and the three neighbor kids all in my room around her cage, she still took it and ate it.

I guess it depends on the individual snake.
But Kallista is not shy(never balled up, doesn't care who pets her head) and doesn't seem to get too stressed to easily.

I can understand not holding them much if you have more than 20 snakes, but I only have one so time's not an issue

[blueberrypancakes]

how did you know you have mites? I am currently treating mine for mites but I never saw any I assumed he had them because he was always in the water bowl even with the humidity up and I found black specks at the bottom of the water bowl.(this means mites right?)

I actually could see the mites. They were adults. All the adults are gone, but I am treating for the ones not visible to the eyes (ie- eggs) It certainly sounds like you had mites, too...