I love letting Shesha (3 m.o. ball python) explore. I feel that it is good for him, he always shows active tongue flicking and seems very curious when he is out. I wish I could let him roam about a bit more but due to the two cats that we have (and the two young children for that matter) he is never more than a few inches from me. So far, the cats haven't shown any agression towards him. One of them actually seems more scared of him than anything. Our older cat had a run in with a wild snake about a year ago and seems to have never forgotten it, so he will just watch wide-eyed and seemingly disapprovingly from across the room. Our kitten it a bit more predatory though. I guess if nothing else, the cats ensure there is no risk of escape while he is out lol.
I just hope it isn't somehow stressful or overly exhausting for him being wrapped around my hands and arms as opposed to on the ground. I worry sometimes that the fact that he is not an arboreal snake, and that holding him is essentially on par with being in branches, might be unpleasant for him somehow. For the most part though he is pretty calm and seems content to be held. The other day I actually held him for the majority of the time that I was cleaning his tank. I did beg my hubby to hold him while I sprayed the cleaner since I couldn't have him in the same room. He has been getting more comfortable with handling Shesha in general, but is still nervous to hold him for prolonged periods of time. I was pretty impressed though that I was able to manage the cleaning with Shesha in one hand and my other hand occupied. Gotta love bps for not being so slithery, they are just so easy to manage.
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