Handling..

[TheaN526]

Just wondering how often you handle your snakes.. I try to handle every other day and just let the snake individually slither around and explore(with heavy supervision though! I know they can get through ANYTHING!)

My snakes LOVE to climb around on the towel holder/rack in the bathroom. I let them do it and it's hard to get them down sometimes. LOL. I was in there the other day with one and my roommate had to use the restroom. I was scrambling around trying to get Wolverine down. lol.

So.. how often are you handling yours and what is "Too much"?

Could be for a corn or other snake you have.

Just wondering. I want mine to be super docile so try to get them out every other day. It seems to be working for them.

 

[ComoxCorn]

I have over 30 snakes, but I try and handle each one about every ten days. Some I handle more, and a couple I don't handle all that much, seems to stress them out.

 

[medusacoils]

I try to get in at them, at least twice a week. Once on feeding day and the other time, during cleaning day. Also, while changing the water daily, if I see something or whatever, I pick them up. The only time I try not to handle, is when they have just eaten or are heavily in the blue.

Wayne

 

[bitsy]

I just handle them when I take them out to feed and clean. Mostly, they aren't bothered either way.

You just need to avoid handling for 48 hours after feeding to avoid the regurge risk. Other than that, I'd say handle as often as you want as long as it doesn't stress the snake. This can be down to the individual snake's preference, so there's no "one size fits all" - you just have to judge it for each one.

 

[Chip]

Except for cage cleaning and pairing up to breed, I very seldom handle my snakes. Other than a bit of exercise, the snakes get nothing out of it -only we do. There's no real harm in routine handling, just not much upside for the animal. For the first year, I handle even less -I move the whole hide if they are in it to minimize stressing the babies. The longer I do this and more animals I work with, the more I appreciate their nature. I do have a black milk that will crawl out into my hands upon opening the bin, but I won't make any anthropomorphic leaps to describe that behavior.

 

[wax32]

I only handle mine for cage cleaning and the occasional photo session.

 

[Remmy]

I try and handle mine every day apart from the 48 hours after feeding. Its normally the only time i get too see them.

 

[Caryl]

I handle mine frequently. Half of them approach the glass when they see a human and will crawl onto a hand/arm in their viv. Like elrojo, I'm not being anthropomorphic about it - but the only logical conclusion is that the snakes get something out of the experience or they wouldn't keep evincing a desire to repeat it.

There's one shy one who'd rather be left alone. I insist that she put up with being handled weekly for feeding/cleaning anyhow, just so if I need to get hold of her she's not terrified. I'd hate for her to need care for an injury or illness - and they can find ways to hurt themselves despite our precautions - and cause herself further harm due the stress of handling her.

We humans keep animals for many reasons. One reason I have snakes is that I enjoy handling them and watching them explore. As long as you're not handling them when they're full of food, full of eggs, or ill, handle as much as you like.