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Handling Question.

I try to handle C.B. every day(except after feeding). I however would have *politely* disagree with Seetherswind on one aspect of his post...

I think that there's still the fascination issue with having a snake even if you don't 'play with it'. Its kind of like the zoo mentality, they are there because they are wonderful creatures and its a priveledge to take care of them, even though you might not 'play with them'.

:shrugs: Nevertheless, I still take mine out to play with it. heehee
 
The best thing to happen to my snakes is my brother moving in with me until his house is built. My brother and I have always been big snake fanatics, and he's actually keeping his big charcoal male with us until he moves. Anyways, he normally doesn't have much to do when he gets home from work so he takes the guys out. All 20 of my snakes get handled just about every day between my brother and I (well except after feeding). When he wasn't around, I would kind of trade off: one day 5 get out, the next 5 more...and keep going in a rotation so they got handled about twice a week or so. If any of my friends were over, I would just hand them a snake and say "here hold this for a while..." :) I just moved about 2 months ago, and the first thing my fiance and I did was build a concrete enclosure for the bearded dragons so they could be outside during the summer. The wall is high enought that the snakes can't climb out and deep enough that they can't burrow out either, so on warm days (which starts in about March here) I let them out to bask in the sun while I'm doing housechores. The only problem I've had with this so far is watching the hawks circle around waiting for an opportunity, so I had to make a chickenwire top...just in case. Cornsnakes aren't suppossed to fly :)
 
Your right, flying would be a bad thing. lol.. I hold dayoh almost every day, he sits with me almost all evening while i watch t.v or am on the computer. Plus my son holds him and whom ever happens to stop by. He gets alot of attention. My next one will get the same unless he/she has an attitude problem. Lol.....
 
I agree, all of our snakes come out every day (unless digesting). Previously they were on a staggered feeding schedule so that at least one was always free to come out and snuggle, but Sienna messed up that schedule with her shed - she was HUNGRY afterwards since she skipped a meal, so she got fed on the Trogdor/Amelly feeding day. So now they are all digesting and it feels kind of strange to be sitting at the computer with out a little "snuggler." Ah well, tomorrow it will be back to normal. :)
 
DdotSpot said:
I try to handle C.B. every day(except after feeding). I however would have *politely* disagree with Seetherswind on one aspect of his post...

I think that there's still the fascination issue with having a snake even if you don't 'play with it'. Its kind of like the zoo mentality, they are there because they are wonderful creatures and its a priveledge to take care of them, even though you might not 'play with them'.

:shrugs: Nevertheless, I still take mine out to play with it. heehee
Click to expand...

Thank you for being polite! :) See, people can disagree and not get p!ssy. :)

but anyway, let me explain myself, I can see all sides of the view here. But for me I'm a hands on person I guess. See, I originally was going to get a Green Grass Snake, but I was told they're more "look don't touch" snakes since they can be very high strung and they are rather tiny... and I also prefer dealing with mice rather than live crickets.. So i got a corn, after much research, and found they are lovely. But I do realize that some people like to just look.

Oh, PS~ Im a girl... :poke:
 
I don`t handled my snakes nearly as much as it seems the majority here do. I happen to believe that they`re all individuals and treat them as such. Both of my snakes were "flighty" when I got them and daily handling appeared to be making matters worse. I started to handle them only to separate at feeding time and cleaning their Neadasha. Within a month or two they calmed down considerably and I started to handle them whenever the mood struck. I honestly believe that handling them LESS reduced the stress they were experiencing and allowed them to become 'better pets" on their terms as opposed to forcing them. By thinking of the snakes needs first instead of my own, I achieved my goal. In the meantime, my snakes probably had a better appetite than they may have.
 
OK, my dear friend Rosebear has me on that one. Spot is approximately 14 years old and over 5 feet long. He's a sweet baby! If anyone had told me five years ago I'd be teaching junior high and own a snake that is the star of the classroom, I would have told them they were nuts, but here I am!!!
:grin01:
 
WOW! 14 years! Thats awesome. Somehow I still can't believe snakes can live so long. I don't know why, but its just amazing and freaking awesome.. pardon my excitment, :)
 
Spot's mama said:
OK, my dear friend Rosebear has me on that one. Spot is approximately 14 years old and over 5 feet long. He's a sweet baby! If anyone had told me five years ago I'd be teaching junior high and own a snake that is the star of the classroom, I would have told them they were nuts, but here I am!!!
:grin01:
Click to expand...

cinnamon, my wife's corn, is 15 years old and lives in her classroom too. from what i hear, the kids love holding her. everytime i visit, i'm amazed at how big she is compared to the little one (zeus) we have at home. but then again, right next to zeus, is old ruby. she's a 7ft red tail boa! she's a monster compared to zeus.

--ry
 
Okay, to answer the original question...

How often do I handle each snake? On average, probably about thirty minutes a year. I have a few that I do presentations with (mostly native species) that I know are docile in most any circumstance. These I sometimes hold for a few minutes while watching a football game or pass around to my neices and nephew when I'm not doing a learning presentation. The rest, I remove to clean the cage, and replace when the cage is clean. Other than that, they are handled to be introduced to, or removed from, a "mate". I may palpate for eggs, if it seems necessary, but handle mine to a minimum. Once in a while, I will handle one for a for an hour or so if it rattled upon removing or seems flighty.
 
SeethersWind said:
WOW! 14 years! Thats awesome. Somehow I still can't believe snakes can live so long. I don't know why, but its just amazing and freaking awesome.. pardon my excitment, :)
Click to expand...
Hey SeethersWind....You'd be even more jazzed if you could see him! If I've learned my colors right, he's an Amel...huge and docile! We fostered him one cold and stormy weekend when S-Mama's classroom had no power nor heat. Spot is a big baby snuggle-snake!
 
My friend's Western diamondback died at well over 25 yrs. old, and I'd figure a healthy corn should live about 20 in captivity. I sure hope so anyway! I handle mine almost daily. Some weeks I can't get them all out. Lately since C.S. is not eating, he comes out everyday to be handled. I can't find him a large enough female to breed, so he may as well enjoy the freedom from the viv.
 
Different species have varying lifespans...
Most 'good' caresheets claim 15 years or more for a captive cornsnake.

Ball pythons are claimed to live up to 40 years...

That's one HELL of a long time...

Not quite a tortoise though...they can live to be passed down from generation to generation...
 
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