Quote Originally Posted by k8nkane View Post
I handle mine about once a day, later at night when he pokes his head out of his hide and slithers about. He seems to enjoy the chance to explore my bed or just sit with me and he's always been a remarkably well-adjusted snake, settling into his enclosure after a couple of days. The amount of time will vary depending on how early I have to get up the next morning, but it's usually at least half an hour or so.

But I let him decide; occasionally, he'll poke his head out and I'll open the cage and he'll go right back in his hide. So I just shut the cage and don't handle him that night. I don't "pressure" him into being handled and I definitely don't lift up his hide and take him out of there to handle him. I wait for him to come to me, so to speak.
Ditto on that. Giving them the power to choose seems to make them more tame & happy. The only time I don't give them a choice is when I have to move them to clean or something.