How often do you handle your snakes? - Page 4

lambert · 06-04-11, 01:39 PM

Your snake may not like it and my not be tame, and yes i know they are looking for body heat. But my snakes are my snakes, and well yours are yours, mine come snuggle in bed like a dog or cat, in fact, with my cat. Yes for heat, but they are still pets people!! Maybe yours aren't, but mine are!! Sorry.....

stephanbakir · 06-04-11, 01:41 PM

They don't have the ability to think at that level. Plain and simple.

Lankyrob · 06-04-11, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lambert

Your snake may not like it and my not be tame, and yes i know they are looking for body heat. But my snakes are my snakes, and well yours are yours, mine come snuggle in bed like a dog or cat, in fact, with my cat. Yes for heat, but they are still pets people!! Maybe yours aren't, but mine are!! Sorry.....

You really let your snakes into bed? And with your cat too?

And snakes are never pets they are wild animals that allow us the privelege to hold them. They are never tame - they may not bite or try to get away but they arent tame.

TeaNinja · 06-04-11, 02:19 PM

your cat may get eatin someday lol.

stephanbakir · 06-04-11, 02:28 PM

They can't ever "like" you, they don't have the brain power. Even retics which are hyper intelligent compared to some of the other snakes still don't have the brain power to even come close to liking someone.

Jay · 06-05-11, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

retics which are hyper intelligent compared to some of the other snakes

Did you just call my snakes dumb....Just kidding hahah
But seriously with your cat

"snuggle"

stephanbakir · 06-05-11, 06:25 PM

One of them will one day attack the other.

acs102 · 06-07-11, 12:16 PM

I get my ball python out several times a week when not in shed. He hangs out in my lap while I'm on the computer at night and usually ends up on my keyboard pressing buttons. The milk snake comes out a couple times a week. We're still working on the boyfriend's carpet python, he has a hatred for everyone so we try to get him out for a few minutes at a time a couple times a week to try and calm him down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

One of them will one day attack the other.

Hmm...

(Stolen from the joke section)

VaranidLover · 07-12-11, 07:02 PM

I handle my RTB whenever possible

shes so friendly, curious, adorable and calm its just a joy to hold her.

I also spend tons of time with my Savannah Monitor Lrrr

hes the boss. He will scratch at his doors even after a long day outside, just to sit with me on the bed lol.

And then you have my Macklots Python, Shaka Zulu. He is extremely vicious in the cage but once out he is fine. But as soon as you go in that cage, anything and everything moving is likely to encounter a metaphorical chainsaw

so.. not often. about 2 - 3 times a week

marionsclan · 07-13-11, 05:28 PM

I know that some people are dead-set against handling snakes, unless necessary, so I've copied some comments from various breeders in regards to handling snakes:

Always remember that a snake is a wild animal. Even store-bought captive bred animals are still wild. That means you’ll need to regularly handle it even after it has become tamed. If you don’t it will lapse back into it’s natural ways. Make sure you keep the snake comfortable otherwise it will be unhappy and unhappy snakes are not tame snakes.

Keep petting short. Snakes are not social animals. Dogs and cats that engage in communal grooming see petting as normal and a bonding experience. A snake sees petting differently. Prolonged handling can be stressful to them. Keep your petting sessions to 10-30 minutes a day is best. If you hold the snake too much it will get stressed.

I agree you should give her a chance to adjust to her new environment, young snakes can tend to scare easy, once she is settled she should be handled on a very frequent regular basis. (except after feeding)

I don't have any really big snakes. The biggest is a five foot Japanese rat snake and she has been feisty as a baby. But she is much calmer as an adult. I think the trick with her was handling her very regularly everyday until she was about 3 years old and then every few days. I cant say she didn't try to bite when she was little but as soon as she got used to me this behavior stopped and she became calm with me.

These were just some of the ones I've come across but they are pretty much the jist of what I've found. It seems that most breeders believe that if you want a tame snake then frequent handling is necessary. They may stress in the beginning but once they get used to you they will relax and no longer stress. That makes a lot of sense to me. However, I do agree that snakes may not have an emotional commitment to their owners but they do know the difference between the one who handles and takes care of them and others.

Dehlida · 07-13-11, 05:42 PM

Snakes are solitary predators. They gain absolutely nothing from human interaction- unless you keep them too cold, in which case they get body heat and warmth.

Handling a snake is stressful, unnatural, and unneeded. The snake will be more natural and live better without handling. The only reason people handle is for THEM, because they can't appreciate the animal for what it is, and leave it well enough alone, they just HAVEEE to touch it.

marionsclan · 07-13-11, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dehlida

Snakes are solitary predators. They gain absolutely nothing from human interaction- unless you keep them too cold, in which case they get body heat and warmth.

Handling a snake is stressful, unnatural, and unneeded. The snake will be more natural and live better without handling. The only reason people handle is for THEM, because they can't appreciate the animal for what it is, and leave it well enough alone, they just HAVEEE to touch it.

Anyone who does not want to handle a wild animal and appreciate it for what it is should leave it where it will be comfortable and happy; in its original habitat instead of supporting breeding and in-breeding in order to own one.

Do I appreciate them? Yes, but I also believe that I can make them comfortable and happy by interacting with them. And until it is 100% proven, through studies and research data and not personal opinions, that handling them actually causes damage and a life reduction then I will continue to interact with my snake several times a week to establish and maintain a level of comfort and safety for both of us.

youngster · 07-13-11, 06:03 PM

To me, a little 13 year old with not much of experience, I just don't understand the point of having a pet if there's no interaction. If there's research involved, or something like that it would make sense to leave it alone. But if you're researching a snake it would be hard to make the argument that it actually is a pet rather than a research animal thingy-majigger.

marionsclan · 07-13-11, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngster

To me, a little 13 year old with not much of experience, I just don't understand the point of having a pet if there's no interaction. If there's research involved, or something like that it would make sense to leave it alone. But if you're researching a snake it would be hard to make the argument that it actually is a pet rather than a research animal thingy-majigger.

Smart cookie!!!

Lankyrob · 07-14-11, 01:16 PM

Snakes may not be social creatures and not ENJOY handling but the fact is that at some point in its life you are going to have to remove the snake form its home for health checks or for cleaning the enclosure.

If you handle your snake regularly (not saying every day) then it is less likely to get stressed and/or bite when it HAS to be removed from its home. If you then need to treat an ilness for example having a "tame" (hate that word) snake is going to make things a lot easier for the owner and the snake.

There are all types of personalitys within snakes, some tolerate handling much more than others and it is our responsibility to ensure we dont over handle those that either dont tolerate it or are too fragile (GTP's for example)