I handle my snakes CONSTANTLY. everyday, for a good deal of time per day. they don't seem to mind, and they don't seem stressed at all. in fact, whenever i find my boa in dark, a few minutes of handling usually yields a light snake. my snakes eat fine and everything. only i time i don't handle is after feed and during shed. such is the occasion now. BOTH snakes have gone blue at the SAME TIME!!! so needless to say, Dot, my Emperor Scorpion has received a decent amount of handling this past weekend ^_^