Large collections and handling

[primalblack]

I'm planning on getting a boa for a pet. Probably just a common or rosy boa. But when I do I know I will want to handle her a lot. That just cuz shes a pet though, and I would have the time. If I had a larger collection I would try to handle them at least once a week for 5-10 min. I have Golden Spiny mice(too many) and can understand how it can be hard to get enough time to handle. I try to though, to keep them tame. And so I can catch them easier for cleaning.

[corr]

I didn't vote because my collection is only small but it's interesting to see these responses. As my collection grows, I seem to be handling less and I don't want that.

There are lots of other snakes that I would like to keep but only if they're handleable. So, the more snakes in a collection, the less each one is handled - the less handleable they become... hmmm... catch 22...

[Jeff_Favelle]

Hum ! kinda question that makes us realize having more snakes is not allways more fun.

Having more snakes is ALWAYS more fun! My joy was/is getting to watch them until they did something. With 160+ snakes, chances are, one of them is going to be doing something! If I want to hold something, I'll grab my girlfriend.

[wyz]

Just for you Jeff, I've edited my message. I replaced the word "us" by "me"

So I won't be including anybody else than myself in my comment.

I realized I do miss looking at my snakes through a glass window and I do miss taking them out sometimes.

Also I just finished reading the new book "the art of keeping snakes" by Philippe de Vosjoli. And this too, got me to remember why I fell in love with reptiles. I think I'll try to find the right balance in my collection beetwen breeding and enjoying the hobby.

A couple of changes will be made pretty soon.

WYZ

[Invictus]

I handle my snakes as often as possible, especially the skittish ones.

My personal view is this - NOT handling your snakes is doing them a huge injustice. By getting the snakes used to being handled, and used to your scent, and used to being removed from their cages for no reason whatsoever, they get to the point where they just plain don't care one way or the other. Snakes who DON'T get handled, however, have a tendency to panic like crazy even when you just take them out for cleaning. Putting your snake into a panic well into adulthood CAN'T be good for them. I say get the panic out of the way early, and get them at the very least to the point of indifference with handling, and I'd be willing to be they will even live longer.

[lolaophidia]

Well I only have 16 snakes at the moment, but I generally only handle a couple of my favorites other than on cleaning days. If I want to hold a big snake- I get the Taiwan, a small snake- one of the Hognose or my Mexican Black King. A few of my snakes really don't appreciate handling (and will go off feed if handled for very long) and I think it would be selfish of me to handle them any more than necessary. They aren't "pets" exactly, and I don't expect affection or even tolerance from them. My Mandarins and Brazilian Rainbow Boas seem to prefer to be left alone and since they're breeders- I'm willing to leave them alone and observe them with minimal disturbance while they're in their cages. Once a week everyone gets a thorough inspection during cage cleaning. I use a hook with most of my snakes, I think it minimizes the stress on them of having some big predator grabbing them.

Just to ramble a bit- I had a non snake loving co-worker ask me if I played with my snakes and I got a mental image of picking one up and tossing it in the air going "wheeee". They don't play was what I ended up telling her.

[Jeff_Favelle]

WYZ, best way to cure that thought is to set up a DISPLAY tank of anoles or a cool desert tank of Collareds or something. Display tanks of diurnal lizards are just too cool for words!!! Sometimes even rivalling salt water fish tanks!!

[Simon]

I don't handle mine much....
I think that I only handle them during cleaning....other than that...basically no....

but I do have 1 or 2 that I show people when they're afraid of snakes to let them see how harmless they are....but I would say most of the time.....no...heck if I were to handle everyone of them for 5 min it might take me days.......

[Jeff_Favelle]

LOL Simon!

[vanderkm]

I handle ours snakes mostly when I need to - cleaning enclosures, assessing body condition, after sheds, checking for eggs in gravid females. The youngsters are housed in tubs and are handled weekly when they are removed for cleaning. Adults are handled less often because I don't have to take them out to clean their enclosures.

I haven't found that handling makes a difference in how well our corns or milks tolerate it - did a lot of handling with some young milks this past year to get them used to it, but left others alone because they weren't feeding as well. Both groups are now quite tolerant of handling and I think they have just outgrown their basic juvenile 'fear'.

Many of our adults are not really handled at all (picked up every couple months) and I can still take them to shows and they are just calm as a garden hose. Others are idiots no matter how often we have handled them - I think there is a lot of individual variation.

Someone on this forum (wish I could remember who) made a comment that when we handle snakes to condition them - the snake don't learn to tolerate handling as much as we (hopefully) learn how to do it more correctly so we don't repeat behaviours that cause them to show stress. I think there is a lot of truth to this - and I am really trying to become better at how I handle our snakes - so I can see them up close and share them with other people.

mary v.

[Leviathan]

I take at least one, if not two or three, of my reptiles out everyday. Most of them are in rubbermaids so you can't really enjoy them staring through foggy plastic. So I'll take one out for a couple minutes just cause I think they're entrancing and amazing. I never get tired of holding my snakes... Especially my bigger female Hog Island! I love to hold her!

Alecia

[Artemis]

I have been taking my one "pet" male BP out about twice a week, because like thunder I want to make him an educational snake, and be used to little kids and people in general touching him (daughter ofcourse also wants to hold the snake, but she is quite mature and gentle about it). I give him a solid 48 hours minimum post meal before handling, and he usually eats twice a week. The differential is that I am naughty and keep him out a bit longer than most people- Id say I keep him out for a good half hour. I also only take him out when he is out of his hides anyway- but he is a pretty active little guy and comes out like clockwork around sunset almost every night. If he doesn't come out on his own I will forego handling and let him be.

Art

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
WYZ, best way to cure that thought is to set up a DISPLAY tank of anoles or a cool desert tank of Collareds or something. Display tanks of diurnal lizards are just too cool for words!!! Sometimes even rivalling salt water fish tanks!!

>(WATCHOO TALKIN BOUT JEFF?!?! NOTHING rivals a saltwater fish tank(at least not the 180g im gonna set up!)! Diurnal lizzies are very nice though!

Cheers!

C.

As far as snake handling, I usually handle mine(i've got 5, soon to be 6(new blood) then 10(4 balls), then hopefully will have 20-30 in a year and a half) once a week, but they end up comming out twice sometimes, because I take them out when guests come over. I love to simply look at the animals, and admire them, its very, I dont know, you know what I mean!

Also, I agree with what Mary brought up, about it partly being the humans learning to read the snake and handle it more properly. I think its a combination of both(the snakes toleration and the human).

Another point I read about on this site, cant remember who it was, but its good to say when someoine asks you about a snake(or lizard) and they look scared/terrified: "If this snake/lizard/ect... is as bad/horrible/weird/dangerous/whatever you think it is, then why would I be handling it?" I just love this statement, and think its the greatest thing. I have asked people that know relatively nothing and could care less about them and they think that is a great line.

Just my 2 cents!

C.

[Lrptls]

i love my snakes like my children ( i dont have any children so i guess they are my children) i try to house them the best i can and give them space so they can move around but i love geting them out. i like to let them roam the yard and climb things including me. i really love taking them places and sorta showing them off and at the same time freaking the crap out of people. handling my snakes is one of my favorite things to do when i'm bored.

[karmeleon]

Its nice you enjoy handling your snakes but taking your snakes places to scare people is not good for your snakes or the hobby. Education is great but only in the right setting. Trying to scare others or gain shock value only gets snakes bad press they don't need.