Snakes

[Kalrine]

@Blue Lime; Yeah, ball pythons are usually pretty cool with handling. Cleo will actually hang around me shoulders half of the day, just sitting with my while I'm at my computer. However; she is a pretty gigantic, mellow girl and very used to being taken places, petted, and being out of her tanks. I'm sure my juvenile pastel BP would put up with me, but because he is still a bit small I just hold him a few hours a day maximum. Lastly, I would not hold my stressy, inexperienced, very tiny hatchling albino BP for more than an hour a day. I hold him more than 15 minutes now only because he has finally relaxed around me. Of course, you should not at all hold your snake before, on, or after feeding days, during winter, or in shed. You can bend the winter rule if its warm where you live (its quite warm all year where I am, so my snakes don't really mind).

@Race On; By the way, yes, she was very likely drinking. c: When my little ball pythons drink, it just looks like they're just sitting there with their snoot in the water. cx The big girl is very obvious when she's drinking, because you can see her throat moving just a bit, as a human's does when swallowing water.

[Grimace]

Handling amounts really depend on the snake.
I have a few who would probably have issues if handled more than once every few days, while on the other hand my retic would probably do fine being handled just about all day every day if the temps were okay.

[blue;]

@kalrine;
I hold my BP for a while each day, though I will not be today or tomorrow because we will be feeding him.
And, by not holding in the winter, don't necessarily take him outside...my house is pretty warm inside and outside is a cold snowy mess aha. I wouldn't take him out there.

[Saracirce]

Blue Lime, you're supposed to leave your snake completely alone the first week you get him. You're stressing him out.

[snowdrake]

Ugh... I just held a 7 metre phyton today cx
Geez, that thing was heavy but she also was very tamed and I think she enjoyed laying around my neck for an hour xD

[SylverTears]

I don't like to over-handle my snakes. I usually hold them every other day, sometimes only 1-2 times per week (depends on the snake). And I agree with saracirce in letting your snake adjust before handling.

[Kalrine]

@Blue Lime, Science, and Saracirce; Yes, the snake definitely needs to adjust to its new environment before being held- and preferably already fed once or twice. I handle Cleo frequently, and Bee every couple of days; and I'm holding Cheese as we speak. I had to let him settle in for 2 weeks, because he is quite shy. Cleo adapted much more quickly. Bee took a month to adjust before I could hold him, and also needed assist feedings. Now he's very friendly and takes any mouse, rat, or soft fur offered.

By the way, Science, I'm curious; what kind of snakes do you own? c:

[blue;]

Okay, I will stop from handling him and let him adjust more than he has already
We are trying to feed him now, and he seems very interested in it.
Edit;;; He ate it!!!

[SylverTears]

@Kalrine

I'm glad you asked!
My friend is coming over today to photograph all of them (except for one, my pastel female ball python, who lives at my Nana's house) so I'll be able to post some nice pics later today.

The first snake I got nearly a decade ago. "Slinky" is a normal male corn snake. He's a very big boy at almost 6' and 1,000 grams. He's got a very friendly disposition, I like to take him to educational shows for kids (not to mention he eats f/t small rats like crazy.)

I have five ball pythons: Flicker, Phantom, Remmy, Sapphira and Citrine. Flicker is a male low/medium white piebald who weighs 470 grams, one of my tamest snakes. Phantom is an ivory (502 grams) who was named because he used to be a bit secretive and hissy, now he's fat and friendly. Sapphira and Remmy are mates that I purchased at my local reptile expo back in October. Sapphira (1,600g) is an adult spider female, Remmy is a lesser male (1200g). I hope to breed them very soon.
Citrine, my female pastel, is a rather interesting individual. She got a burn from a heat pad (back when I was new to keeping snakes and didn't have a thermostat). She used to be a super picky feeder, but now eats fairly well on f/t weanling rats (she's really small for her age).

One of my favorite snakes has got to be "Four", my salmon red tail boa male. He's super friendly, inquisitive, and good with kids. He eats like crazy, even sometimes when in shed.
I also have a kenyan sand boa male, "Leo" who is such a cutie! I can't get over his adorable-ness!

My female anery honduran miksnake, "Sylver" is the tamest honduran I've ever met. She's a yearing female and probably my favorite snake.

My brand new baby woma python, who I have not yet named (I'll post pics and you guys can try to name her) is a very beautiful female, but quite cage-aggressive and feisty. She loves to bluff and mock-strike, but she never bites (except once..)

Lastly, I have a Brazilian Rainbow boa female, "Iris" who is a little baby. She's such a character, very friendly and a great eater.

In case you are wondering, I keep all of my snakes in animal plastic rack systems.

Posting pics later!

[Kalrine]

@Blue Lime; Thats great! Because he ate it, I'm sure he's well adjusted. Give him just another day or two because he ate, and you can handle him after that.

@Science; Wow, I can only hope to have as many snakes as you. xD My sister used to have a gigantic 14 year old albino corn snake (pushing to be 7ft) named Narissa; she was so sweet and friendly. I love Brazilian Rainbow Boas and have been considering buying one; are they at all difficult to care for? Looking forward to your pics!
Ball pythons would have to be my absolute favorite snakes (I own 3), but now I've taken an interest in another; an adorable juvenile scaleless Texas ratsnake! He looks so unique and has such shiny cute eyes. ♥ Looks a lot like this. He is only $85, and I really want him; but I just got Cheese, so I highly doubt I'd be permitted to keep yet another snake in the house- my family dislikes them enough as it is. I haven't held him, so I don't actually even know if he's alright with handling or not. Not like I could get him anyway, I only have #cdcdcd4. I'd have to find miracle money. Ergh, oh well.