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Handling?

M

Mudruck

New member
Greetings all!

Something that Ive been wondering... How often do you handle your snakes? Sunburst seems like being out of her viv and cruising around. I have the "cornsnake book' and it was saying that you only want to handle for about 15 minutes a day. Gosh, Sunburst is just getting warmed up and going after 15 minutes. You you guys think it is ok to handle them more then that or is that too stressful on them?

Thanks all!

Mudruck
 
I have had some that tolerate or "seem to like" being handled for longer periods of time and some that are obviously uncomfortable with the idea of extended human contact.
Use your best judgment you know your animals better then anyone on any forum so therefore would be the best judge.

If it seems like yours is just getting started after 15 minutes than by all means let him/her "play" for a bit. Now if after 15 minutes the snake is doing nothing but trying to avoid YOU its time to put em back.

Example I had a snow that would just chill out on me while I played on the computer crawling around and climbing on me, when she was done she would curl up in the hood or front pocket of my hoody. Some nights she was content for hours. some nights she wanted nothing to do with me. My point is let your snake decide for you.
 
Yup I'd agree with that. Different Corns have different tolerances for handling, so you need to find out what works for yours.

I have a couple that would happily curl up in my lap and not move for hours, but others that will only tolerate being picked up to be moved into feeding tubs and back. The one thing you don't want to do is stress a Corn to the point that it stops eating. In trial runs, I'd say start with shorter handling sessions and gradually build up to 15 minutes (or more) - if that works for the snake and if that's what you want.

It has to be said that handling really is more for the pleasure of the owner than the good of the snake, although the exercise of handling can help improve muscle tone. I definitely agree with cthulhu that you need to be snake-led on this one!

Having said all that, you don't actually have to handle Corns at all really, beyond getting a hatchling/new arrival used to the fact that you're safe and not about to eat it. With 18 snakes, there's no way I have time to handle any of them for any length of time. They probably don't get 15 minutes each over a month. It doesn't seem to have made any difference to how they view being handled - each has their own tolerance and preferences. The laid-back ones haven't got less laid-back because they're not handled regularly.
 
I say if your snake isn't being stressed out, hold it as long as you want.
It is your snake, and you know it better than any book.

I have snakes that will barely tolerate 15 minutes, so I understand the reason Kathy says that in the book.
 
Sienna and Firefly are my pets, so I really look forward to having play time with them. I generally have them out for about 30 minutes, give or take. They seem to tolerate that with no problem and it brings me a lot of pleasure. But, if they seem twitchy or unhappy, I put them back sooner. I wish I had a snake that would curl up on my lap! My girls move around a lot.
 
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