GarethUnsworth
New member
Do you guys/girls believe there is such thing as over or under handling? What do you consider optimal handling of an adult snake?
thanks
thanks
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Over or Under Handling?
- Thread starter GarethUnsworth
- Start date
AliCat37
Michelle's Candied Corns!
I don't believe in under handling, they're not like dogs that thrive on attention. With the snakes, I think the less attention they get the happier they would be.
Over handling is possible, but it depends on the snake. My first corn was happy to hang out with me in my hoodie for 5+ hours a day. My boa would be happy to do the same. However, some of my corns will tolerate the handling for a few hours, but some of them start to show signs of stress (heavy breathing, really trying to get away) after only a few minutes of handling. Most of the time, if they are just trying to get away, I'll handle them until they calm down to just a normal slither. But if they seem stressed, maybe changed eating habits, etc, then I opt for short handling sessions, maybe only two or three minutes once a week.
Over handling is possible, but it depends on the snake. My first corn was happy to hang out with me in my hoodie for 5+ hours a day. My boa would be happy to do the same. However, some of my corns will tolerate the handling for a few hours, but some of them start to show signs of stress (heavy breathing, really trying to get away) after only a few minutes of handling. Most of the time, if they are just trying to get away, I'll handle them until they calm down to just a normal slither. But if they seem stressed, maybe changed eating habits, etc, then I opt for short handling sessions, maybe only two or three minutes once a week.
bitsy
Owned by Corns since 1991
The only thing I'd say was common to all Corn Snakes, is that they shouldn't be handled for 48 hours after eating.
Apart from that, it's whatever suits the snake (firstly) and then you. As AliCat says, very few Corns will actively seek human attention. Most tolerate it, some dislike it. You just have to work out what your snake will tolerate and do that.
My Corns are never handled "recreationally". I just get them out of their vivs once every 1-3 weeks for feeding and then they get gently tipped/slid back home from the feeding tank. None of them seem to have changed their demeanour due to a lack of handling. The odd ones that dislike it, still dislike it. The rest are mainly shy of being picked up but fine once I have them in my hands.
I don't believe that any Corn "needs" to be handled once they've settled in - with the possible exception of those which have become overweight and need to be encouraged to move around as part of a flab-shedding plan. It's good for them to understand that you're not going to eat them, and good for you to know that you can get them out of their tank in an emergency. Beyond that, the handling side is really more for the owner's benefit. In my experience, once a Corn has settled in and is relatively relaxed about being picked up, they don't go wild from lack of handling.
Apart from that, it's whatever suits the snake (firstly) and then you. As AliCat says, very few Corns will actively seek human attention. Most tolerate it, some dislike it. You just have to work out what your snake will tolerate and do that.
My Corns are never handled "recreationally". I just get them out of their vivs once every 1-3 weeks for feeding and then they get gently tipped/slid back home from the feeding tank. None of them seem to have changed their demeanour due to a lack of handling. The odd ones that dislike it, still dislike it. The rest are mainly shy of being picked up but fine once I have them in my hands.
I don't believe that any Corn "needs" to be handled once they've settled in - with the possible exception of those which have become overweight and need to be encouraged to move around as part of a flab-shedding plan. It's good for them to understand that you're not going to eat them, and good for you to know that you can get them out of their tank in an emergency. Beyond that, the handling side is really more for the owner's benefit. In my experience, once a Corn has settled in and is relatively relaxed about being picked up, they don't go wild from lack of handling.