i dont know that there are any long term effects of handlung too much. except for possible stress which could lead to a number of things. fasting, lowered immune system(which branches off to other illnesses like RI, mouth rot and other such things). those are jsut possiblilities. i think your snake would go off feed before any of that happened. and if any of that stuff happened you could fix it. so unless you see some ill effects...you (and/or your kids) can handle it like you have been.