Handling your snakes

[Argentra]

I only handle my BPs once a week on feeding day because I feed in another enclosure. Makes it easier to monitor their feeding as well as to clean their cages while they're eating. Most of the time, I just watch them at night as they cruise.

My corn, on the other hand, gets handled all the time except the 2 days after a feed and when he's in shed. He loves to be out and about.

[bsd13]

I'm wondering why so many people hardly seem to handle their snakes at all. I'm noticing it seems to be the people with lots of snakes which leads me to believe either it's an issue of time, or an issue of you see them as a commodity and not a family pet. Is either of those reasons the case with anyone?

[Argentra]

Not here. My snakes are my pets first and foremost. True, I'll be building toward breeding the corns and BPs eventually, but they're still my pets.

My reason for not handling more than once, maybe twice, a week is that Ball pythons are shy and secretive snakes that seem to be most comfortable when left alone. I enjoy watching both of mine at night as they cruise their cages, so there's my 'time' with them that doesn't bother them at all.

[NickP]

I handle daily for at least 10 minutes, except during shed and 48 hours after feeding. Also every now and then when I add something to his tank, or if I have to assist with a shed, I would let him be for a day or two without handling.

[Bruce Whitehead]

I'm wondering why so many people hardly seem to handle their snakes at all. I'm noticing it seems to be the people with lots of snakes which leads me to believe either it's an issue of time, or an issue of you see them as a commodity and not a family pet. Is either of those reasons the case with anyone?

I handle mine about twice a week.

I think most people that have one bp tend to overhandle them. They are not kittens or puppies, and do not have the need to be socailized in the same manner.

I have worked with many different animals, including wolves, who need to be socialized to a much greater level and with much greater intent. So not valuing them as pets is NOT an issue.

The more experienced I become with snakes, the less I tend to handle them, as I do not feel they benefit from long handling periods, and I am confident that I can judge signs of stress. At which point they are placed back in their enclosures.

Also, I seldom handle a snake that is in its hide. To me that is communication that it is being a snake and doesn't need my interference.

When I handle my snakes I am very attentive to them and never complacent. In my experience (anecdotally mind you) the posts online that have to deal with snakes being stuck behind dishwashers, being stepped on, *forgotten* about (and now loose), etc. are from people that have one snake, and are constantly trying to give it novel experiences.

The story that always comes to mind is an individual on another forum that asked for everyone's advice on taking her snake to the park. The cons outweighed the pros, and most people cautioned that it would benefit the individual more than the snake. But if someone needs to bond with their snake (in their minds) in order to give it a good life I would never invalidate that.

So this individual took the snake to the park where it was promptly stomped on (by someone running past to catch a ball).

People will constantly argue that their snakes LOVE to be out, love exploring, love being handled, etc. but I think if you ask most people with several snakes, they won't necessarily agree with that analogy.

Just my two bloated cents based on my experience.
Bruce

[rabernet]

I concur with Bruce - the more animals that you have, the more that you understand that they don't desire handling, it's all OUR desire to bond with them.

I judge my snake's "happiness" with how well they feed and breed. A stressed animal is more likely to not breed or be an inconsistent feeders. I'm very proud of my collection (who are beloved pets) in that the only time they go off food is when they are in shed, and that the ones I've designated for breeding this year are doing so.

[bsd13]

Bruce,

Hard to argue with your logic and I certainly understand what you mean by overhandling. I handle my snake pretty much everyday and part of the reason is that as soon as I open the top he's climbing up and wrapping around my wrist. Which leads me to assume he's wanting to be handling. Generally I just drape him over my neck and he crawls all over my face and neck. Am I stressing him by letting him do this? For his own good do you think I should just not handle him even if he comes out for it (or so that's how it seems to me)

[bsd13]

I concur with Bruce - the more animals that you have, the more that you understand that they don't desire handling, it's all OUR desire to bond with them.

I judge my snake's "happiness" with how well they feed and breed. A stressed animal is more likely to not breed or be an inconsistent feeders. I'm very proud of my collection (who are beloved pets) in that the only time they go off food is when they are in shed, and that the ones I've designated for breeding this year are doing so.

I don't know that I'm trying to judge his happiness. Just trying to judge whatever instinct has him at the moment.

[bjfoste1]

couple times a week id say

[Westcoast]

Usually once a week during tub cleaning!
I have a few favorites that get held more often.