Soo...is this really true?

[LooptyLoo]

I uses the term because at that time that is what I would call it. I handle mine often I don't keep them for decoration I have them to enjoy and hold. There is a difference in my opinion.

This, exactly.

[Coopers Constrictors]

Handling a BP before 48-72 hours after they eat may cause internal damage. Use your best judgement.
It's best practice to leave them be while they digest their meal.

You know the feeling, right after you eat, you don't really want to be messed with for a couple of hours? BPs feel like that for a couple of days.

[Shera]

I uses the term because at that time that is what I would call it. I handle mine often I don't keep them for decoration I have them to enjoy and hold. There is a difference in my opinion.

1.1 pastels, 1.0 lesser, 0.1 spider, 1.3 norm. 1.0 fire 0.1 RTB 0.0 sav. Mon.

No, I totally agree, that's what I guess I failed to convey. I hold her because I like holding her, and 48 hours always feels like a long time, I would hold her every single day if I could. My normal eats appropriate sized prey, but I don't really see a bulge for more than 24 hours, and she tends to hide out and act pissy right after eating but 24 hours later she is out an exploring again for the most part. I was more wondering because someone made it sound like I could be hurting her if I held her after only 24 hours, and I was hoping for assurance that I wasn't.

[Shera]

Handling a BP before 48-72 hours after they eat may cause internal damage. Use your best judgement.
It's best practice to leave them be while they digest their meal.

You know the feeling, right after you eat, you don't really want to be messed with for a couple of hours? BPs feel like that for a couple of days.

Ok, this was more what I was wondering, not if it's stressful, but if it could actually hurt of damage them.

[Crazymonkee]

I wait until I can no longer see a bulge, and she's no longer hiding. Sometimes it's 24 sometimes a lil longer.

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[MrLang]

There are a number of factors involved - 48 hours is kind of a safer range for 'regular circumstances'. Things that would influence whether or not it's 'safe' after that time:

-Were they sitting on the heat or cool end, what are those temps
-How is the individual snake's metabolism functioning (likely to change by individual or season)
-How old is the snake
-When was the last meal (body would digest infrequent meals faster because there is no 'queue')
-How big was the meal*** some people feed meals that don't even leave a bulge. On my small snakes right now I feed almost 30% of their body weight because that's the size rat that entices them to eat. I go closer to 72 hours to handle after that.


Implications of handling:

-Regurgitation (regurgitation is a BIG problem for reptiles - there is nothing worth risking a regurg)
-Stress
-Semi-digested bone causing damage to their insides


So when people say not to handle for 48 hours, they are taking these considerations and have determined that under normal conditions 48 hours is the safe window to wait. If your snake eats meals that don't leave a lump and it sits right on a 92 degree hot spot for all 24 hours, it's probably safe as can be at that time. If your snake eats a massive meal and sits on the cool end for a few days, you're probably still not safe at 72 hours.

This is why the responses that say 'I wait until the snake is moving around and has no visible bulge or segment of body that it is keeping in one position' would be the right responses.

[Shera]

There are a number of factors involved - 48 hours is kind of a safer range for 'regular circumstances'. Things that would influence whether or not it's 'safe' after that time:

-Were they sitting on the heat or cool end, what are those temps
-How is the individual snake's metabolism functioning (likely to change by individual or season)
-How old is the snake
-When was the last meal (body would digest infrequent meals faster because there is no 'queue')
-How big was the meal*** some people feed meals that don't even leave a bulge. On my small snakes right now I feed almost 30% of their body weight because that's the size rat that entices them to eat. I go closer to 72 hours to handle after that.


Implications of handling:

-Regurgitation (regurgitation is a BIG problem for reptiles - there is nothing worth risking a regurg)
-Stress
-Semi-digested bone causing damage to their insides


So when people say not to handle for 48 hours, they are taking these considerations and have determined that under normal conditions 48 hours is the safe window to wait. If your snake eats meals that don't leave a lump and it sits right on a 92 degree hot spot for all 24 hours, it's probably safe as can be at that time. If your snake eats a massive meal and sits on the cool end for a few days, you're probably still not safe at 72 hours.

This is why the responses that say 'I wait until the snake is moving around and has no visible bulge or segment of body that it is keeping in one position' would be the right responses.

Thank you, that was very informative, and exactly the info I was looking for. It sounded odd to me that it could in fact hurt them, but (not just cause stress or regurge), but I hadn't thought about the bones thing. When people give a "one size fits all" answer, I naturally question why, and wonder what factors are involved. Thanks again

[snakesRkewl]

lots of rumors and not one bit of truth ...

Ball pythons do not regurge because you handle them after they eat, unless it is already stressed out to begin with.
I have handled snakes thousands of times after they eat, not a single regurge.
That is old school dumb rumors still regurgitated throughout the hobby.

Think about the snake that is 30 feet from it's den in the wild, takes down a prey item, them slithers back to it's den.
In that 30 feet it's probably doing more movement than it ever would in your hands.
It's a silly notion that handling after they eat causes issues, not one shred of evidence, just regurgitation in forums.
Do they like to sit and digest afterwards? absolutely, and I usually allow them to.
But this whole regurgitation thing, and the whole theory that you can hurt their insides because you handle them, HOGWASH.

[Neal]

It's best to wait 48 hours so that way the digestion process is well under way. You can run the risk of a regurge if you stress him out by handling him too shortly after they've ate.

[Shera]

lots of rumors and not one bit of truth ...

Ball pythons do not regurge because you handle them after they eat, unless it is already stressed out to begin with.
I have handled snakes thousands of times after they eat, not a single regurge.
That is old school dumb rumors still regurgitated throughout the hobby.

Think about the snake that is 30 feet from it's den in the wild, takes down a prey item, them slithers back to it's den.
In that 30 feet it's probably doing more movement than it ever would in your hands.
It's a silly notion that handling after they eat causes issues, not one shred of evidence, just regurgitation in forums.
Do they like to sit and digest afterwards? absolutely, and I usually allow them to.
But this whole regurgitation thing, and the whole theory that you can hurt their insides because you handle them, HOGWASH.

This was my first instinct to be honest, which is why I asked. I understand wanting to be left alone to digest, but the thing about it hurting them seemed a bit off to me, living things which have evolved to survive over millions of years aren't usually so delicate. I guess the answer for me is, if she seems like she wants to be left alone, then I will respect that (I can tell because she says inside even at dusk), and if she is out, I won't worry too much about holding her.