What's the youngest it's OK to handle?

[dkspftw]

I'm probably about a year away from this point but I'm curious:

What's the youngest a hatchling should be when you begin handling them? I'm hoping to breed my two girls and I want to pick out a couple of choice babies to get as used to human interaction as possible from a very young age.

As always, thanks all!

[anatess]

I'm probably about a year away from this point but I'm curious:

What's the youngest a hatchling should be when you begin handling them? I'm hoping to breed my two girls and I want to pick out a couple of choice babies to get as used to human interaction as possible from a very young age.

As always, thanks all!

Right when they get out of the egg and separated from their yolk!

Well, at least, in my case, I went and inspected each baby right when they got out of the egg so they got some handling. And then some more after that because I was replacing the paper towel often. And my kids can't help but handle them while I do all that.

[FireStorm]

We try to limit the handling until they've shed and are eating. But its funny, there were a few we hatched out this year that were really exciting combos for us (unproven projects proving genetic). They hatched while I was out of town for work, so my business partner took a ton of pictures of them right after they left the egg. We just had them out to take more pics yesterday, and they are the most laid back babies. Not even the least bit head shy. Not sure if it's a coincidence, but it is interesting.

[anatess]

We try to limit the handling until they've shed and are eating. But its funny, there were a few we hatched out this year that were really exciting combos for us (unproven projects proving genetic). They hatched while I was out of town for work, so my business partner took a ton of pictures of them right after they left the egg. We just had them out to take more pics yesterday, and they are the most laid back babies. Not even the least bit head shy. Not sure if it's a coincidence, but it is interesting.

From my experience of exactly ONE breeding... ahem... the early handling doesn't have impact on shyness. We have Jack who is now 2 years old still a jittery snake even while getting handled all the time. But yes, he does not do the s-coil strike mode unless a rat is involved. They're all very chill and I would trust them with toddlers more than my dogs.