It really depends on the snake. Some love to be out of the cage, others are more shy. I hold mine anywhere from 10 minutes to a couple hours(I was watching a movie and he just chilled in my hands.) but I'd keep typical Handlings under 30 minutes. I also never handle my snake a day before,the day of, and a day after a feeding. Also, I try not to handle my snake during shed. There really isn't a set "time" to hold your snake. It's entirely up to the individual, and you of course. But to avoid a BP getting tooo stressed during handling, there are a few things you can do to make the handling experience for both of you tolerable and even over time comforting:
Try to handle your snake in the evening and night. They're nocturnal so your snake will be more active
Keep your snakes away from bright lights. Long exposure to bright lights can definitely stress and even hurt a BP. Try to keep it in a modestly lit room, away from direct sunlight or bright light
Keep other people and pets to a minimum. The less moving animals around a BP, the better. While some, of course, couldn't care less, timid snakes prefer a more relaxed environment.
Keep your movements slow and away from the head. When a snake feels scared, they will always try to protect their head. So keep your movements underneath or behind the snake, and make sure they're fluid and slow
Taming snakes takes time and patience. You'll see to it that your snake will become a charming little character once it's used to being held
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