Gentling a young BRB?

[Dianne]

For those that have gentled a BRB I was wondering what kind of handling schedule you used. Some say "frequent" others say too often will stress the snake.

My girl (4 months old) seems to be "on and off" about handling. Sometimes she's a pussycat and other times she is all teeth!

[reptilenut4sure]

I usually pick mine up 1 or 2 times a week. maybe more if I feel like with no ill effects.

[PDXErik]

I handle my snakes (no brazilian rainbows, however) at least three times a week. My white lip is perfectly happy to tell me that it is UNHAPPY being out for 5 minutes (let alone thirty seconds) but I keep it out just a little longer than it likes.

My ATB is still curious, but tells me it wants to go back by trying to bite (I'm sure there are earlier signs, but I don't recognize them yet).

[Greenlover]

ok explain what the problems that can happen from keeping ur snakes out to often cause i only have 3 so unless they have eaten in the last 2 days they come out every day... so tell me what i should be looking thanks

[PDXErik]

They can get stressed. They'll display "paranoid" or protective behaviour. As far as I'm concerned, the only thing that defines "out too often" is the snake. It will act itchy and aggrivated, my white lip likes to try to escape my evil clutches (it's convinced it tastes GREAT), the ATB bites.

Snakes and memory or not, if it finds being out and handled by a potential predator stressful, it will remember that. If they like being out and handled, as do all of my RTBs and, to a lesser extent, my ball, let them be out. Sometimes it's a real pain trying to get them back in.