Question for snake lovers.

[presspirate]

Hi all, I have a maybe unusual question for all you multiple snake owners out there. But then snakes, by most standards are unusual pets. (If this question has been posed before, mods. please do what you do best. :))

I have 5 snakes. I started with one, (of course) bp but was disappointed when I could not handle him for a couple days after feeding time. And then for perhaps a week during shed. So, to fill in those gaps, I got my two corn snakes. Well, they shed and eat at the same time. So, I got another bp. Which was just about right for snake to human ratio an gave me time to handle each a few times per week. Well, I decided I wanted a baby boa, which I got. Now I find myself with five snakes and not a horrible amount of time to spend with them individually, between work and family time.

It occurred to me that the snakes could give a s..... a darn if they are handled or not. (I do it anyways despite what they think) So my question.... to multiple snake owners.

How often do you handle your snakes? And to satisfy the pic hounds, include pictures please.

[infernalis]

Maybe I'm unusual, but I hardly ever handle mine at all.

I take them out for cage cleanings and photo shoots, but other than that I just don't bother them.

[Freebody]

i hold my snake 1-2 times a week for not to long a time each and a couple days after feeding, i try to get her out more ofter because she loves behing out of her cage to explore the living room. i currenty only have one snake but i had 3 snakes awhile ago and i did the same for all of them.

[presspirate]

Maybe I'm unusual, but I hardly ever handle mine at all.

I take them out for cage cleanings and photo shoots, but other than that I just don't bother them.

I gather from browsing the forums that you are a breeder? Is that a hobby or an occupation? I can imagine if you have several dozen it would get very difficult to spend time with them individually. But surely you have a favorite?

[Nafun]

Nah, wayne isn't a breeder, he's a hoarder in denial.

I handle my snakes when I feed them, and when they need cleaning or medication. I think the amount of handling decreases with the number of snakes you get. When I had one, I handled him at every opportunity. Now with five (ball, carpet, king, milk, and corn), I get my snake fix just maintaining.

I think it's like being a parent. When you have one child, you dote on it. But when you have 5 children you just want them to shut up and bother someone else.

[citysnakes]

handling these animals is not necessary and they will not suffer in anyway by a lack of human interaction and they may actually do better with less.

i would think that if having more snakes caused one to handle each animal a little bit less then this may actually be beneficial to the animals...;)

[presspirate]

handling these animals is not necessary and they will not suffer in anyway by a lack of human interaction and they may actually do better with less.

i would think that if having more snakes caused one to handle each animal a little bit less then this may actually be beneficial to the animals...;)


I think I agree with you, seems the less I handle them the more active they are. But still it's nice to just chill with one for awhile. :laugh:

[Lankyrob]

We have 3 corns, a BP and soon a monitor lizard. We handle the snakes pretty mcuh daily but on a kinda non regimented rotation. Obviously they arent handled after feeding and during shed but we try to share handling time equally between them all.

The only time they all get handled in one day is feeding day

[BlindOne]

Maybe I'm unusual, but I hardly ever handle mine at all.

I'm the same way, I have 15 snakes and I don't bother them other than feeding and cleaning. I'm content to watch from outside the cage. Same with my tarantulas

[emseeKAY]

i like to handle but i realize that it isnt necessary, also in excess can stress the animal out. i like letting them out to explore and take pics but give them their own time as well

[infernalis]

I gather from browsing the forums that you are a breeder? Is that a hobby or an occupation? I can imagine if you have several dozen it would get very difficult to spend time with them individually. But surely you have a favorite?

It's a hobby, I just shipped out 2 snakes today, used the money to buy 800 frozen feeder mice, so I still make zero profit from it all.

[marvelfreak]

Maybe two to three times a month. I just change they're water and clean mainly. But only real handle them once a month for about a half hour. But man i make it count. That's when i take all the pics you see all over this site of my snakes. lol The rest of the time i just like to watch them. I wonder for a while who got the most pics posted on this site? I have to say me and Wayne are in the top 5.

[Bree]

I don't handle mine either except if its feeding time, picture time, or soaking/cage maintenance time....and sometimes rarely I just feel like it time....other than that they are left to their own devices :)

And I'm a breeder but a hobby breeder not big time....

[totheend]

I think that when you only have a few snakes you have time to handle them. But when you have more than a few it is close to impossible to handle them all. I also agree that the less you handle the happier the snake.

I have 50 or more snakes (don't count them) and don't really handle them. But like to know that I can if I want to :D So I tend to stick with calmer animals....except the pituophis...I am pretty sure they all wanna kill me.

[percey39]

I handle mine very rarely. I used to handle my first 2 pythons every spare moment of the day at the start. This was many moons ago now and i think everyone starts out the same. They do prefer to be left alone on a whole, but my first the olive seems to feel left out if i dont get him out at least every week for a hold/cuddle.

[shaunyboy]

i only handle for health checks and when cleaning my tanks.for example ive had my diamond 16 months and only handled her 4 times to put her in a tub while i cleaned her tank.i check my snake sheds to make sure the eye caps are present on the shed.also that the tip of the tail is complete on the shed.only if i find an incomplete shed do i take the snake out for an examination.
cheers shaun