Handling?

[Reptidude]

How often can you handle a BP after it gets settled in? Some people say 15 mintues a week. that bogus!!

[hhw]

Once it's settled in, you can handle it daily for 15 minutes or more at a time.

However, keep in mind that handling is for you and not the snake. Excessive handling can cause stress. I personally handle my BP about 2-3 times a week, for about 15-30 minutes at a time. My new female I have yet to really handle, as she has just fed for me for the first time and is still settling in.

[Smulkin]

If you acclimation time - yes give it a week from the time you bring it home.

[Brandon.O]

after the first week i gave him to settle in i handled him everyday for about 15-20 minutes but now i only do it like every other day or every three days, he seems to enjoy it and doesnt seem to be stresed out by it at all

[Anonymous]

Yeah I probably handle mine 10 minutes every other day, thats if she wants to be handled ... if I see her struggling to get away, I let slide back into her hide.

[tman]

15 minutes a day max is what I go by, but like Blink said if it doesn't want to be handled just let it go. He or she will come out to play another day..lol

[gozetec02]

I have had Jojo out for as long as a couple of hours but always in my hands or under my direct supervision. You can't leave the room for a minute with these little guys loose.

IMO I think that they enjoy being out of their tanks even if it is for just 15 minutes. Jojo will stay out of his hide and climb the walls when he wants out. If i put him back before he wants to go back he wont go back in his hide. When he has had enough he will go directly into his hide after i put him back. But keep in mind Jojo is a well established ball python.

[essence13]

i just got my bp yesterday and he hasnt gone into his hide yet...he just hangs out on top of it...ive only held him twice so far for about five min at a time. im curious as to why he hasnt gone into his hide yet though...any ideas?

[mlededee]

my bp roamed her cage for the first probably 12 hours i had her even though i had the lights on for some of the time. i think she was just checking things out trying to figure out where she was and to learn her new environment. she was still roaming when i went to bed that night but then in the morning when i got up she had gone into one of her hides. so maybe your guy is just getting used to his new surroundings.

[Anonymous]

Well once my bulb went out, when I didn't have a heat pad, just a lamp ... and it gets really cold in my house around 70-75 degrees, so I let her hang out under my shirt for the entire night, she didn't seem to want to get out