handling enough?

[Ryan H]

when i take my 8 month old SW carpet out of the enclosure and i touch him on the back he jumps suddenly to try and get away but when i pick him up from the underside he is calm. Is this because im not handling him enough? once i have him out for a bit he doesnt seem to mind being touched on the back.

 

[reptilefan95]

You should generally handle a snake for about 30 mins a day untill they are cooled down

 

[derekm]

In the wild, the only thing that touches a snake's underside is the ground, tree or whatever else is supporting it. (And, of course, its prey when its constricting.) Anything that touches its back is probably about to attack, kill and/or eat it. Reacting defensively to having its back touched is probably a deeply ingrained instinctive behaviour that has been selected for over the entire duration of snake evolution. I think you might have to live with it.

 

[Hooglabah]

if you think about it a bit where are predetors going to get em from below or above

primary perdetors of snakes are other snakes , birds, cats and dogs all of which will more often than not attack from above or at the same level almost never would a snake be preyed apon from below.

and he probably doesnt know your there so your simply just startling him a bit

 

[Ryan H]

and he probably doesnt know your there so your simply just startling him a bit

he does know im there, but yeah, it is his instinctive behaviour, should of gave it more thought before i posted

 

[Hooglabah]

as a side note snake dont like being handled they tolerate it. 30 mins a day is about as much as you can some snakes are more tolerant than others and you can handle them more but 30 min is a good rule of thumb.

 

[Hooglabah]

thats all right i used to freak out with my first snakes aswell its good that you ask questions its how you learn so keep it up

 

[dickyknee]

You should generally handle a snake for about 30 mins a day untill they are cooled down

"generally" its best not to handle snakes 30mins a day ......

 

[Southern_Forest_Drag]

agree with dicky 10mins a day.

 

[GSXR_Boy]

10mins a day.

10 minutes a week. Just to clean the enclosure for me.

 

[Ryan H]

i only handle mine about 2-3 times a week for 10 min:|

 

[mungus]

I handle as often as I can............................

 

[melgalea]

You should generally handle a snake for about 30 mins a day untill they are cooled down

stupidist advice i have read today.....
i for one am strongly against handling snakes just for ur own pleasure.
i ONLY ever hold them when i am cleaning out there enclosure or giving them a quick health inspection.
they are not man-handled in the wild so why should they be so in captivity. i think to all our young and new reptile keepers out there, learn to appreciate and get enjoyment out of your snakes just by viewing them. watching them do there thing gives me more pleasure than annoying them ever will.
cheers
mel

 

[Mr.James]

true I think 10-15mins twice a week would be a good average, plus handling for cleaning once per week. They aren't like dogs, but some are very docile and I think its your pet, aslong as its warm and you look after it right, hold it when ever you freaking want, just make sure you do it by the book.

 

[dickyknee]

agree with dicky 10mins a day.

Well i was making the point "daily" handling is not the best IMO ..

 

[JasonL]

I handle as often as I can............................

I prefer for someone else to do all the hard work.

 

[DA_GRIZ]

10 minutes a week. Just to clean the enclosure for me.

same with my snakes, unless i am getting pics

 

[mungus]

I prefer for someone else to do all the hard work.

agree'd, but sometimes you have'nt a choice....................

 

[stretch101]

true I think 10-15mins twice a week would be a good average, plus handling for cleaning once per week. They aren't like dogs, but some are very docile and I think its your pet, aslong as its warm and you look after it right, hold it when ever you freaking want, just make sure you do it by the book.

i agree, our SW is 6 months and seems to like being handled.. or she tolerates it anyway. she is always calm and inquistive. i think its all about how the individual snake reacts to it, they are all different... and its YOUR pet. i didnt buy my snake just to watch her from behind glass, i tried to find one i could interact with as im sure many others have done also

 

[mickyb]

To all those people who say not to handle snakes because they aren't handled in the wild, snakes don't get fed dead animals or kept in cages in the wild either but you don't seem to mind doing that for your own enjoyment. Stop being so hypocritical.