How do you handle your BPs?

[TheSquigglyExplorer]

Hey guys! I was wondering how all of you choose to handle your adorable BPs. For me, since my girl is so new I've been trying to keep handling light. But for example, today she's been nothing but relaxed and curious. She's probably been hanging out on my neck for about thirty minutes now without argument. Do you guys have set routines for your snakes handling or do you just kinda go with what they seem willing to do that day?

[Kokorobosoi]

I generally don't handle for extended periods. Just for wellness checks, or for VERY short periods.

But it I have a fairly large collection of animals. Quite simply, my time goes to the animals that need or enjoy being handled, with those that only tolerate it being much less.

[JodanOrNoDan]

My collection is still small enough that I handle all my animals for at least ten minutes at a time unless they are gravid then they only get messed with enough to perform health checks and maintenance. I have a few that seem to "like" being out of their tubs. As soon as I open the tub they are often out and going up my arm. These are also the ones that will sit still around my neck while I watch tv or whatever so they may get handled for an hour or more at a time. I have another one that seems to enjoy crapping on me. He doesn't get handled that much by me, but my daughters like him and he does not crap on them so he gets his fair share of handling.

[hazzaram]

When I first got my bp's, I didn't handle them for weeks. Not until they were eating consistently and had taken a few meals for me. After that I started handling them quite often. It has died down now. I handle them maybe 3-4 times a month (never handle when in shed or for 2 days after eating). I check up on them often and do maintenance; replace water and bedding when needed. My guys are so chill that I just don't need to keep up handling and I can be lazy with it. My BRB on the other hand, I try and handle her at least once a week. She's a naturally sweet girl but I feel like I need to keep it up with her.

[Reinz]

I don't handle a whole lot per se. But I do give them plenty of exercise time to stay in shape.

I give all of my snakes opportunities to climb and they all take me up on it.



Elvira, Normal BP
Esmarelda, Jungle Carpet

[Sauzo]

I usually handle Dottie a couple times a week. She really cares less it seems. My boas love to come out though. Took them out for some sun today and when I put Rosey back in her cage, she sat at the front just looking out the door lol. She really wanted back out and I knew it from the wrestle match we had getting her back in and the sitting at the door. So I ended up letting her back out to sit on the shelf above the bed for a couple hours while I took Vicky outside for sun. Crazy boas

[EDR]

How do you handle your bp's?....carefully lol but usually just check em out and handle them a bit when they get cleaned. When i get free time i'll make a mental note to handle them as though their my pets and not just my little science project lol. Just today i cleaned my super pastel and realized i need to handle him more cause he still puts up little fits. And it's good to handle them my pied was my first i handled him a lot and he's probably my most laid back ball python.

[ItsAllNew2Me!]

I personally don't handle very much. Usually twice a week for a health check during cleaning and a more thorough check and weighing once per month. I have what i think is a decent size collection along with rat colonies so they don't get handled all that much. I also found that a few of them don't care to be bothered too much so I just leave them be for the most part. My one normal though is more of an ambassador BP so gets handled more, usually to show neighborhood kids and my kids classroom how non aggressive these animals really are.

[Coluber42]

I had a ball python when I was a teenager and through most of college who was really calm and seemed to like being out and about. I'd take him out for hours and he'd hang around my neck or explore the room while I did my homework or whatever. If he was done exploring he'd curl up around my neck and go to sleep (or whatever snakes do when they aren't doing anything else). In the summers or on weekends, he'd sometimes be out for the entire day or most of it. But even still, I would leave him alone and let him digest after a meal before taking him out again.

Now I have a baby who's been here for less than two months, and he's pretty shy. So I take him out less, and am very careful to keep the experience as low-stress as possible. I turn up the heat first, and try to hold him so he doesn't feel too exposed and out in the open. If he just wants to hide in my shirt pocket or something, I let him; and if he makes himself comfortable somewhere, I let him stay there for awhile. I doubt he'll ever be as confident as my old guy (who wasn't really even timid as a baby), but I hope he'll get a little less terrified eventually.