What do you do?

[Suess]

What do you do with your reptile?
Photogrphy?
Breeding?
Is he a pet that never leaves the house?
Or do you take him places? Where?

Are there places to go? Like meet ups? or no because of diseases and the like?

I'm curious C:
I take Suess, my ball python, out on "walks" with me and he goes every where around the house. I'm working on making him a carrier because I'd love to take him with me when I go to run quick errands or something, or just for walks when he needs put away because of approaching dogs or anything like that.

[StudentoReptile]

With the exception of educational presentations and displays with our local herp society, and the rare trip to the vet, I really don't take my herps anywhere.


I take Suess, my ball python, out on "walks" with me and he goes every where around the house. I'm working on making him a carrier because I'd love to take him with me when I go to run quick errands or something, or just for walks when he needs put away because of approaching dogs or anything like that.

When I was younger, I used to do stuff like this. Now, I personally feel that it stresses some reptiles out (especially snakes), and primarily, it is more of a PR thing. I know I have every right to take my pet snake out to the park or walk down the sidewalk of our neighborhood, but not everyone in the general public feels the same way. My luck would have it, someone would freak out, cause a scene, 911 would get called because "some freak with a python" is out walking around in public, and then some ignorant cop shows up and is giving me crap about disturbing the peace and trying to give me a citation for possessing an exotic animal. A very melodramatic and hypothetical scenario, I know...but our hobby gets enough bad press as it is, and the benefits I would get taking my herps in public just don't seem worth any potential backlash for doing so.

In the right venue, I think its great and can be helpful for showing others how cool and fascinating reptiles can be and promoting the hobby. When they get a little larger, I might end up taking my tortoises to the park to let them cruise around and hope for some curious bystanders to approach and spark a conversation.

Snakes are very hit and miss. The guy who walks down the street with a python around his neck is helping no one.

[Gungirl]

Taking your snake out of its viv a lot and for longer periods of time is not good. It takes them away from the security of their hides, the temps they require to thermal regulate and the humidity they need.

Taking it out for 15-20 min in the house is fine as long as it is a controlled handling session. Taking your snake on walks or car rides will just add stress and most likely cause issues.

[Suess]

Taking your snake out of its viv a lot and for longer periods of time is not good. It takes them away from the security of their hides, the temps they require to thermal regulate and the humidity they need.

Taking it out for 15-20 min in the house is fine as long as it is a controlled handling session. Taking your snake on walks or car rides will just add stress and most likely cause issues.

Suppose I should clarify then. Our walks are no longer than to the mail box or back so that's prolly fifteen minutes at the most. And I handle him about once a day for 30-45 minutes. He just goes every where around the house in that time, some times, like in my hood while I clean or just under a blanket on my bed while I'm at the computer.
But thanks for the information

[Lankyrob]

All my snakes are pets, they get handled around once a month or so and they ONLY leave the house for educational visits.

[alessia55]

I LOVE taking photos of my snakes. A quick look through the threads I've started makes that pretty clear :p But they are my pets 100%. I used to handle almost every day for a few minutes (except feeding day and 48-72hrs afterwards) when I was in college... but now that I'm home in Miami again with 2 cats, 1 bird, and 1 puppy, I handle them for maybe 5mins a day to change water, clean the cage, etc... If I'm going to do outdoor shoots, it's tops 15mins. I don't take them out of my house for walks, errands, or anything like that. I do not breed my snakes. They do not come in contact with any of my other animals EVER.

[exwizard]

All my snakes are pets and I handle them as much as I can.
I do on occasion take them outside for photo ops. :)

[Ivalynfyre]

All of my reptiles are pets and get handled daily, I also like taking pictures of them.
The gecko gets handled the least because I'm not good at telling when he's stressed.
Diamond gets handled the most because he is content with sitting in his towel, in my lap, while I derp around on the internet. I bring him outside, too, but usually he is only brought out to the front yard.
I have walked to the post office with him before, but that's a very short walk, I live a block or two away from it.
The corn goes outside as well, but not often. The gecko has been on the back/front porch, but never outside, mainly because the temperature is too high.

[infernalis]

My snakes are hands off observation animals. They get fed and have maintenance, but I rarely handle them.

Photography - of course, beauty should be shared.

[jaleely]

I may lift them or move them when cleaning or feeding (i take them out to feed) but i really rarely hold them for more than five minutes, 20 for the two really docile and curious ball pythons we hold occasionally.
Never take them anywhere...won't take them where there's other reptiles.
I may one day like to take some to show people, like to educate or something, but everyone is either unreliable or too little right now to do that with.
I have held a couple outside in the back yard to take a pic before, but didn't set them down.

[Caylan]

In my opinion, a snake has no problem coming out for hours at a time. At least, most of mine don't it seems? I take them out in the back yard to cruise around and have taken them to the creek with me multiple times. They are fairly adaptable animals...
I love photography now thanks to my snakes, I take photo's of them all the time! I carry them around with me when I clean their cage or give them water, and usually for a bit after that I'm done as well. My snakes probably each get at least an hour of handling a week and I have quite a few. I bought them to enjoy, as pets, and to breed, but for the purpose of more pets :D Regardless, I think snakes can be adapted to longer handling sessions if you wish, mine all eat just fine and show no signs of stress ever. But then maybe that's just me.

[Terranaut]

In my opinion, a snake has no problem coming out for hours at a time. At least, most of mine don't it seems? I take them out in the back yard to cruise around and have taken them to the creek with me multiple times. They are fairly adaptable animals...
I love photography now thanks to my snakes, I take photo's of them all the time! I carry them around with me when I clean their cage or give them water, and usually for a bit after that I'm done as well. My snakes probably each get at least an hour of handling a week and I have quite a few. I bought them to enjoy, as pets, and to breed, but for the purpose of more pets :D Regardless, I think snakes can be adapted to longer handling sessions if you wish, mine all eat just fine and show no signs of stress ever. But then maybe that's just me.

Although we seldom take anyone out for more than 30 min I agree with this 100%.

[Rogue628]

In my opinion, a snake has no problem coming out for hours at a time. At least, most of mine don't it seems? I take them out in the back yard to cruise around and have taken them to the creek with me multiple times. They are fairly adaptable animals...
I love photography now thanks to my snakes, I take photo's of them all the time! I carry them around with me when I clean their cage or give them water, and usually for a bit after that I'm done as well. My snakes probably each get at least an hour of handling a week and I have quite a few. I bought them to enjoy, as pets, and to breed, but for the purpose of more pets :D Regardless, I think snakes can be adapted to longer handling sessions if you wish, mine all eat just fine and show no signs of stress ever. But then maybe that's just me.


I'm pretty much in agreement. IMHO, the key factor is responsible handling sessions after they've acclimated after you get them. Start with short handling sessions and, as long as the animal doesn't seemed stressed, handle for longer periods and/or more frequently. Some are naturally pretty docile and tolerant of handling, while some need more, and yet others who will only tolerate short periods less frequently. It all depends upon the animal. I can have most of my animals out for long periods of time now, with the exception of my king. However, she's still a work in progress and I'm hoping to have her more tolerant of handling in the future. Sadly I haven't been able to work with her as much as I'd like but that's soon to change in the next few weeks. I really look forward to being able to work with her more often.

As to your question, my animals are my pets first. Since about half of mine are rescues to which I don't know their blood lines, etc, breeding them would probably be out of the question anyway. I got them as pets and to learn about them. But breeding is something I'm most definitely not even remotely curious about.

[miya]

2 of my snakes are for photography, the rest are for breeding.. each one gets atleast 2 hrs out twice a week cept the babies ive never tried taking them for walks cus whenever i get em outside they just wanna take off lol but they do have a room thats all for them when they are out

[Reptilegal]

My python is long wanted companion snake only. :) I never thought I would ever own my own python, let alone get him for the amazing deal that I got, 4 year old FULL blood diamond python PLUS temporary wood enclosure (till I buy a large outdoor one) for $50! yes that's right, FIFTY DOLLARS. the guy I got him from is a licensed reptile party guy (no idea what u call it) he hires himself for birthday party's etc with his reptiles. And he had to many snakes, he wanted to cut down a few. I LOVE MY BOY!!!!!

[infernalis]

A lot of what is being said here can be controversial at best..

Certain species of snakes (like those from rain forest areas) have specific requirements to remain healthy, and I strongly feel that removing them from the controlled environment may lead to a shorter lifespan.

Other species that are flighty animals that are easily spooked are also likely to have accelerated pulse rates during "handling", again abreviating lifespan.

However there are some examples that seem to tolerate human mauling better than others...

Here is where it gets tricky....

I feel that lifting up the hide and removing a snake for the sole purpose of amusing ones self on a regular basis is disruptive to the snake.

Think of it in these terms.

You just want to be left alone, so you go to your room and lock the door, you climb into bed and cover up, then suddenly someone picks the lock, yanks off your covers and says come on let's go time to play..

wouldn't you be annoyed?

What if it's your little brother, and he does it three times a day.. Having fun yet?

[StudentoReptile]

A lot of what is being said here can be controversial at best..

Certain species of snakes (like those from rain forest areas) have specific requirements to remain healthy, and I strongly feel that removing them from the controlled environment may lead to a shorter lifespan.

Other species that are flighty animals that are easily spooked are also likely to have accelerated pulse rates during "handling", again abreviating lifespan.

However there are some examples that seem to tolerate human mauling better than others...

Here is where it gets tricky....

I feel that lifting up the hide and removing a snake for the sole purpose of amusing ones self on a regular basis is disruptive to the snake.

Think of it in these terms.

You just want to be left alone, so you go to your room and lock the door, you climb into bed and cover up, then suddenly someone picks the lock, yanks off your covers and says come on let's go time to play..

wouldn't you be annoyed?

What if it's your little brother, and he does it three times a day.. Having fun yet?

^^^^^ This ^^^^^^^

Like I said before, I was young once and it was "cool" to have a reptile(s) to "play with."

But I've come to think of my herps as more like fish more than I do "hands-on" companion pets. I take care of them, and most of their appeal is watching them and observing them in the habitats I create for them.

I know every animal is different, and some reptiles do seem to "like" being handled. The key is knowing your individual animals.
---

But nowadays, my general opinion is that if your primary reason for getting a reptile is to have something cool to handle and play with...get a ferret or a rat or a genet; something that truly benefits from the social interaction and mental stimulation. Most reptiles (especially snakes IMHO) do not benefit from this. I suppose its arguable for some lizard species.

[smoothie4l]

Evra is my pet but I don't handle him as much as I used to. I would take Evra out almost everyday and walk outside with him on my hand but now I would say more like once a week or whenever I watch a movie. I just don't want to annoy him because I love him more than anything~! :3

[Kettennatter]

With me it depends strongly on the snake. I have no concerns letting the corn use me as a climbing tree for an hour. Some snakes seem to want to roam more than being handled, others seem to want to hide, not matter what. No reason to take them out of hiding except for maintenance. At the same time I don't feel guilty for letting my BCI rest on my lap. (Especially with the "boa weather" we are experiencing this time of year.)

[snake man12]

My snakes are pets but in the future I may breed. I take out my Dum at least every other day except before and after feeding and he is the calmest snake I've ever owned he always seems docile and content in my hands[even though I know he isn't]. Although my 5 month old BCI will tolerate handling for about 5 minutes which is just enough time for water and cleaning. My ball python gets held about ounce a day for about 10 or fifteen minutes at the most after that he gets a little flighty. All of my snakes eat well and have full sheds:cool: