Another Noob Question, do snakes like to be handled

[TheFrogman]

So, being I'm a new snake owner as of today, do snake mind being held or handled. I know my Frogs and Toads don't necessarily care for it and honestly, your not supposed too.

I go to about 6 Reptile Shows a year and people always are holding their snakes, I see people all the time walking around with snakes around their necks.

Do snakes mind being held?

[Kera]

I don't think they like it like a dog likes being pet, but depending on the snake of course, I don't think they mind being held. Mine loves to explore and crawl onto new people and likes the new smells I think. :)

[drumcrush]

I don't think they like it like a dog likes being pet, but depending on the snake of course, I don't think they mind being held. Mine loves to explore and crawl onto new people and likes the new smells I think. :)

^^^ I agree. Every snake is different. My king always wants out and to be held, my albino checkered garter, not so much lol

[StudentoReptile]

They don't 'like" or "enjoy" anything.

They do, however, tolerate certain non-threatening actions by us humans such as cage cleaning, handling, etc.

[Kera]

Everytime I open up my IJs door (if she's awake) she comes up to my nose and "kisses" it and slithers out on to me. :)

[MDT]

Kera...if your nose one day happens to smell like a rodent, she'll kiss it alright...
;)

snakes near the face=not a great idea.

[TheFrogman]

They don't 'like" or "enjoy" anything.



Ha Ha Ha, I love this.

[Kera]

Kera...if your nose one day happens to smell like a rodent, she'll kiss it alright...
;)

snakes near the face=not a great idea.

I dunno, she doesn't eat her own rodents I mean I don't think she'll bite my nose.


At least I hope not. ;P

[wrecker45]

I think a lot of snakes like the body heat.

[MizCandice]

I think it varries on the individual and there experiences.. I have some who seem to love their time out of the enclosure and seem content to burry under a shirt and hang out. They even try to not go back in when its over.. and others that still strike at me or slither away when I open the tops,( the later are hatchlings).

[Mikoh4792]

As MizCandice said it's variable by the individual.

My IJ carpet will literally come out onto my arm when I open his cage and climb my body without a care in the world. Sometimes he'll perch on my shoulder and stay there forever.

One of my jungles on the other hand, does not deal with handling very well. I leave him a lone for the most part, and only interact with him when I need to maintain his enclosure.

Then I have a BCI that has good days and bad days. On bad days he'll hiss and strike, on good days he'll act just like my IJ carpet.

[mmarchl23]

As said it varies animal to animal. My bci climbs right out of her tub, up my arm and around my shoulders. My rainbow however tries to bite about everything. (He has grown to tolorate the rare occasions where I take him out, but nails any one else he can reach.) And the GTP we have at work just strikes everything that moves.

[exwizard]

Every snake I've ever owned except one, plus a few I didn't own, if left to their own will would slither up to me and climb right on me, even from across the room. Just ask Rogue about her bigger Burm "Baby Girl" who did that very thing when we went to her house last February, Whether they like to do that or enjoy that is irrelevant. The fact remains that these snakes wanted to do that.

[Mikoh4792]

As said it varies animal to animal. My bci climbs right out of her tub, up my arm and around my shoulders. My rainbow however tries to bite about everything. (He has grown to tolorate the rare occasions where I take him out, but nails any one else he can reach.) And the GTP we have at work just strikes everything that moves.

Yup a good example is the GTP, because I've never come across a bitey one(even there are plenty of bitey GTP's this shows the variability).

[shaunyboy]

imo some snakes tollerate being handled others don't.....

i only handle my snakes when its neccesary,cleaning out,splitting 2 co habiting Carpets at feeding time,etc

cheers shaun

[mmarchl23]

Yup a good example is the GTP, because I've never come across a bitey one(even there are plenty of bitey GTP's this shows the variability).

Ours is so nasty. Had to get it out to feed (boss requires it be fed where customers can't see) and got bit 9 times... it even strikes at the mister when it sgtarts up.

[Pareeeee]

Depends on the snake, and its 'mood' at the time as well. Sometimes they hate it, other times they curl up and go to 'sleep' on your lap. Neither of my snakes want to go back in their enclosures after handling time though. I think what snakes like is not us, but our body heat and exercise.

[maroongrad]

I agree with the others, depends on the snake. Mine likes being out of the cage and looking around. She's usually pretty happy to curl up with me but she's also big on exploring once she's been there ten or so minutes. Then again, she's new, only had her abut 6 weeks.
On the other hand, she fights going back in her cage. She'll brace her tail against the side, push against the lid with her tail, and generally shove and squirm. It's like putting a cat in a bathtub. You can manage it, but don't expect it to be easy ;)

[muffiewrites]

I knew a corn that hated it. The corn never settled when being held. Spike (honduran milk) will relax after a few minutes and start exploring. He ends up figuring-eighting through my hands until he starts to fall asleep. Mammals are good for something.

[red ink]

Mine all tolerate handling... they do however do not like warm bodied bi-pedals "invading" their space by grabbing them. Proximity is fine in the enclosures but like a gentlemens club they have a no touch policy.

[CosmicOwl]

I think some do, but not out of affection or bonding with their humans. I think that's a mammalian/avian trait. They mostly enjoy getting out of the cage and exploring. Every snake I've had has been pretty inquisitive and interested in their environment.

[marvelfreak]

Kera...if your nose one day happens to smell like a rodent, she'll kiss it alright...
;)

snakes near the face=not a great idea.

So very true. I been nailed in the face and it no fun. As a matter of fact my female Argentine boa went for my face yesterday. Lucky for me i could tell by her body language it was coming and jumped back just as she struck.

[lady_bug87]

I love your Argentines are they breeding size yet?

[lisas]

They don't 'like" or "enjoy" anything.

They do, however, tolerate certain non-threatening actions by us humans such as cage cleaning, handling, etc.

My snake tolerates being handled (corn) and stays still after awhile if she is around my neck and I have my hands around her. All that this means, however, is that she is in a warm, safe place. I find taking out your snake when they are active, esp. if they are normally sedentary in their enclosure, provides good conditioning for snake.