if i want to handle or need to handle to clean or do cage maintenance, etc. i get the snake out regardless of whether it is out of its hides or not. from time to time i can just tell that the snake doesn't want to be out right then--maybe i did wake it up or whatever--but they will be extra squirmy and flighty. if that is the case i just put it back in its enclosure as soon as i am finished with any cleaning or whatever needs to be done. bev is right--if you let your snake dictate when they want to be handled you might never get to handle them.