Daily Handling of my BOA

[Hara]

Hi again Friends

Have a, what I call a dumb question. I handle my BCI every day, sometimes for hours on end, he just wraps around my neck and hangs, or we play cat and mouse, LOL . The question is am I handling him to much??? He eats fine once a week, and seems to be in perfect health, I think he's a little skinny, but I havent had it sexed yet, He is only 17 months old. He enjoys being with me, he's never bitten or coiled at me and is just an all around good natured animal. I dont handle him at all on feeding day, and I know it sounds crazy but I think he misses it. he is around 3 feet more or less, its very hard to get a real good measurment. Any advise is always appricated.

God Bless
Hara

[Invictus]

Snakes do not have the areas of the brain that are responsible for "missing" or "loving" you. It has been discovered that reptiles do have a limbic system, so they are capable of experiencing primitive feelings such as pleasure, fear, aggression, etc. However, he does not like you as an individual, because he is incapable of bonding with you as an individual, despite how much you think he does.

To answer your question, yes. I think you are handling it WAY too much. You're not doing the snake any favors by having it around your neck for hours on end, and just because he is placid enough not to bite doesn't mean he's not stressed. Also, not handling just on feeding day is NOT enough. They should be left alone for several days after the fact, or you are risking regurge.

[MouseKilla]

I agree with Ken, that is way too much handling especially if you aren't handling it in a room that is at least 80 F, whether you believe the snake "likes" you or not we know that it needs certain environmental conditions to digest properly. If you want your snake to thrive and grow you have to give it the proper conditions.

I don't know if I buy into the idea that handling is necessarily stressful for all snakes, I think that it really depends on the temperment and conditioning of the individual animal. I have some snakes that really don't seem to mind handling at all and others that are quite visibly resentful of it. Most fall somewhere in the middle, not biting or musking but you can feel the tension in their bodies and see it in their posture to some degree. Now that doesn't mean it's good for any of them, I handle them most often out of necessity like cage cleaning, occasionally just to admire them or show them off and with some of the young ones just to get them accostomed to handling enough so that I don't get bitten when they get big.

I would cut it back to 15 minute sessions and restrict it to days when not feeding and give it least a couple of days after eating as well or more if it's a large meal.

[WRX]

Hello.
I try and handle my BRB's 20 minutes a day, more or less. I find that it makes for calmer, more trustworthy adults. As far as temp of the room goes, in my opinion most BCI's, especially Columbians, are quite comfortable at room temp, as long as they are contacting your 98.6 degree body.
On a side note, my first BCI was dragged around with me constantly, taken outdoors, to friends houses, etc. <I was 12>. I certainly don't recommend it, but she never hissed, struck, or got ill in the 15 years I had her.


BT

[Tim_Cranwill]

But you are putting YOUR interests above the snake's. You need to remember that they don't "care" one bit to be taken on tours of your friends house, taken outside and etc. They would much rather just hide out and wait for the next meal than constantly being picked up and dragged around. Think of them more like fish than hamsters.

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

TIM:

Come on dude at times before I get down to the facility I can actually hear some bragging they were chosen to be taken outside for a trip. The Bloods are the biggest braggers, it like this"hisss hisss, his hissssss, hisss hiss, his hisssssssss".

LOL....

Joking, still waking up this Sunday.



Tony

[SnakeyeZ]

Well put Tim!

[WRX]

I forgot to mention that the BCI in question was one I aquired when 12 years old, in 1975. I do not condone taking snakes out in public, but the backyard is fine.
I disagree with the "fish" comparison. If a keeper is breeding, then I 100% agree that the less dusturbing, the better. Some people prefer to get a snake as a "pet", with no interest in breeding. I had the good fortune to become friends with Monty Krizan, the Travelling Reptile Show guy. All his animals were handled regularly, including a tame EDB . If you have ever seen his display, you know what condition his animals were in. He is also a breeder of Gila Monsters, Beaded Lizards and various Red Tailed Boas, so he's doing something right!

I think a happy medium is in order. Leaving the snake 100% alone and popping in a meal every week or so is asking to get bit the 1 time you go to take it out of the cage.

Once again, just my opinion.


BT

[Hara]

Wow !!!!!!

What a mixed bag of answers, I appriciate all the input, I never gave a lot of thought about over handling. I can agree that Dragon, (BCI) may not be able to "feel" the same feelings, but seems very content with what I have been doing with him so far. I thank you guys, and Gals alot for all your input. It gave me food for thought.

Thanks for takind the time to give me your honest opinions, and help

God Bless
Hara

[msubigdawg]

I have a Brazilian Rainbow and Colombian Red Tail that I try and handle once a day. The only times I do not handle them are when they are about to shed or a few days after feeding. I have heard that handling is bad or frowned upon but I think it all depends on the person with the snake. Its almost asking like, do snakes need lights. You will get half that say yes and half that say its just for the humans. So if the snake seems healthy, is eating correctly, crapping correctly, then I would say its fine. I don't have as much expierence as more than half these folks do, but thats just my opinion on the topic at hand.