Every snake is different. It's always better to keep it brief while a snake is getting to know you & settling in, but after that it's a judgement call. Most snakes are shyOriginally Posted by SVT Wylde
& feel safer when hiding, which they can learn to do when held close to you in a "sheltering" manner. As long as your snake eats normally, it's probably not stressed,
& it's usually safe to gradually increase the time.
Another consideration (& an explanation too): remember that the intrinsic needs of each kind of snake and also it's physical body size will help determine how long they
are comfortable being held. Ball pythons & boas are heavy-bodied snakes with a greater need for warmth, & we are roughly 98.6* so in handling, we are supplying them
with that warmth. The bigger the snake is, the longer it takes them to warm up, whereas colubrids may possibly over-heat. Always consider the environmental temper-
ature along with the kind & size of snake you're handling...desert dwelling snakes, versus those from cooler temperate climates, and remember that fear isn't the only
reason they get restless- they may just be too warm.
The large BCI that I had for many years was very comfortable around my waist for a couple hours when I watched a movie, & she fought going back in her cage.
Small or slender snakes have a good reason they cannot do that, though if the room is cooler, that will be a factor for how long they can tolerate. The reasons my
robust 7' Florida rat snakes have done so well for "meet & greets" that last at least 4+ hours is that (besides being tame & used to people), they are from a warm
climate & have good body size that takes a long time before they over-heat...plus the summertime event is always indoors, with A/C.
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