Is alot of handling good for a snake?

[kojack8389]

Do you hold your snakes or let them move around on their own? I usually try to hold my snake a few times a week for 10 min at least. Sometimes when Kojack gets comfortable he will try to escape my grasp. One time when he did that and I went to keep him from getting lose he jumped back at me. Kinda scared me but it probably scared him more. I'm still trying to get over my fear that he's going to strike me one day :-P

[Ophiuchus]

Do you hold your snakes or let them move around on their own?

A little of both. I may let him sit in my lap while I watch tv, or let him crawl around my bed while I'm cleaning his cage, or sometimes let him crawl off my shoulders and on the floor while I'm posting on forums...lol.

[Ophiuchus]

Well, I use tongues with f/t mice, and the snake still strikes and contricts..

I mean, its cheaper and safer to feed f/t, so why not...

Well, not every snake is the same. I have some snakes that will casually and gently take the prey from tongs and the same snakes will vigorously attack/constrict a live mouse. Find what works for you and your snake.

[Jenn]

It really depends on the snake. Some of my BP's love to be held and others... not so much. Same with my Corn Snakes. I have one Corn who comes right into my hands whenever I open his enclosure and never wants to go back in. And I have another Corn who hates to be handled. Snakes, like people, come in all flavors.

[Jenn]

Do you hold your snakes or let them move around on their own? I usually try to hold my snake a few times a week for 10 min at least. Sometimes when Kojack gets comfortable he will try to escape my grasp. One time when he did that and I went to keep him from getting lose he jumped back at me. Kinda scared me but it probably scared him more. I'm still trying to get over my fear that he's going to strike me one day :-P

Kristen,

As a keeper of snakes you may get bit one day. It hasn't happened to me yet (knock on wood). But I'm looking into larger more aggressive snakes and I'm sure it's just a matter of time. I understand that a bite from a BP is not that big a deal though. Take comfort in knowing that the more you get to know your snake and the more he gets to know you, the less you will worry about it.

[Windridge Kennels]

I've never been bitten, knock on wood, this time around. As a kid I was bitten plenty catching black snakes and corn snakes and yellow rats and so forth (I grew up in Florida). Never been bit by a ball, and we have eight of them. One is a butthead tho...

I let our snakes crawl all over me... and sit on my neck... they explore me and my bf when we're sitting on the sofa or whatever. I do keep a good grip on Butthead tho, so far...

[Hardwikk]

This thread should be in "General Herp". Anyway, I can't even vote because the options are talking a bit big. I handle my Hogger for 15 minutes a day, which would be one hour and 45 minutes in an average week.

[_Venom_]

I have 3 of different species of snakes, I feed them different days so I can always have a day for handling one if I want to,
Usually 15-30 minutes.

[juddb]

Well, remember that they actually crawl around, hunt prey, evade predators, as well as search for mates during the breeding season when they're in nature. You can't argue that their activity level is not greater in the wild than it is in a tub 24/7. I'm perfectly aware that they are chiefly ambush predators, but they do move around once in a while. A ball python isn't going to sit in front of the exact same burrow in the exact same position for 15+ years.

This is also why I prefer live over f/t as the snake actually gets a chance to use those constricting muscles.

Thats why i keep mine in 15qt or 32 qt tubs depending on size for ample space for movement. I dont keep huge snakes in shoe box tubs. But i dont think they should be handled as often as most people do and justify it by saying they need excercise, they should be doing plenty of moving in there enclosure. Just my $0.2

[darkbloodwyvern]

Well, remember that they actually crawl around, hunt prey, evade predators, as well as search for mates during the breeding season when they're in nature. You can't argue that their activity level is not greater in the wild than it is in a tub 24/7. I'm perfectly aware that they are chiefly ambush predators, but they do move around once in a while. A ball python isn't going to sit in front of the exact same burrow in the exact same position for 15+ years.

This is also why I prefer live over f/t as the snake actually gets a chance to use those constricting muscles.

Also, WC snakes are far stronger than CB in most cases. They have to get the muscle by exercising it!