How much handling is too much handling?

[bender29]

I was just curious as to how much handling ball pythons can actually tolerate. I'm sure this differs by snake, but I don't want to over-handle my BP.

I handle him daily, is this too much? I don't do it for hours on end, but I don't want him to become snippy either. He is more of a "pet" over a collector snake. I'm not planning to breed, etc.

On a side note, what are warnings/signs that a BP is ready to go back into his cage? Whenever mine is out he seems extremely curious. Slow moving, but curious about everything. Or will almost fall asleep in my lap. Completely different from my friend's corn snake, which is pretty much on a mission to escape him.

Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you!

[Spaniard]

Like you said each snake is different. I usually don't have mine out for more than 15 minutes. Some signs thats he's ready to go back in the cage would be if he got really restless and was constantly trying to slither away. I would say a calm bp is a happy bp. If you ever run into feeding problems though daily handling could become an issue but otherwise its all about getting a feel for your snake and its limits.

[NateDogg13]

I hold my oldest about 3 times a week or so for about 20-30 mins and shes usually just fine, I put her back in the tub when shes starts moving around alot. Shes not very head shy and when she starts moving around and i touch her head and she acts like nothing happened then shes just exploring, when she gets startled from her head touched shes goes back because she doesnt want to be held anymore. My younger one doesnt like to be held harldy at all, either shes curls up in a ball or shes moves around very quickly til she finds a spot to hide. If I let her hide in my hands for about 5 mins or so she warms up and comes out and shes ok after that. Her favorite spot when out of the tank is wrapped around my gfs hair like a hairtie. Weve taken her places just wrapped up in her hair and she never has a problem then. When my gf holds her its usually one of the first places she tries to go.

[k1ingdomKaa]

i was told about 30 mins a day for like the first six months then ease down a little, im sure if you hold your snake when cleaning the tank (like to move into another tank) and to do other things with it ever once in a while is okay.

[Sparky1]

Yeah you just need to watch your snake, and what it is alright with. I have some that like to be out and others that dont like to be out much at all.

[NickP]

Here is what happened to me. I was handling my snake 10-20 minutes a day about a month ago, then I started handling more (upto 25 mins). Then I started doing it twice, once at 5pm, then again around midnight. Soon I noticed my bp got less restless and started hissing a lot more and once even snapped into the striking S and struck at me few times. So I eased down, and since then have only been handling him max 20 mins per day. I've also given him days off several times and he's back to his normal super calm, super cool ways

The point of the story is that once you're handling too much your bp will let you know by his behavior.

[bender29]

Here is what happened to me. I was handling my snake 10-20 minutes a day about a month ago, then I started handling more (upto 25 mins). Then I started doing it twice, once at 5pm, then again around midnight. Soon I noticed my bp got less restless and started hissing a lot more and once even snapped into the striking S and struck at me few times. So I eased down, and since then have only been handling him max 20 mins per day. I've also given him days off several times and he's back to his normal super calm, super cool ways

The point of the story is that once you're handling too much your bp will let you know by his behavior.

Well mine hasn't gotten that grumpy yet. Thank God for that.

[MelissaFlipski]

We handle our snake anywhere from once or twice a week, to everyday (sometimes twice a day) in a week. We always give her 48 hours after a meal to digest before handling again.

A few times, she started to open her mouth a little - not big like a yawn. So I took it as a sign that she wanted to go back. She has never shown any other signs, except of not wanting to come out (balling or holding on to her tank "furniture" and not letting go) or not wanting to go back in (trying to quickly come back out before we can put the top on.

I think you will learn your snake's moods, and he will let you know.