Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Stuart]

Just curious about how often you all handle your snakes? Having read through a thread in the monitor section with regards to peoples opinions on handling large monitors and wether you should at all I was curious if peoples opinions were the same with regard to large snakes?..
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[The Docta]

Here's my boring answer,

"As often as necessary, as little as possible."

Saludos

Jürgen
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1,1 Elaphe dione; 1,1 Elaphe schrencki;
1,1 Zamenis persicus; 2,1 Rhinechis scalaris;
1,1 Gonyosoma prasinum

[mark]

i handle mine throughout the day depends how much ive drank

on a serious note now depends realy i handle some more than others my male royal i handle him most days as nothing seems to phase him and hes eating like a train my female on the other hand i say once a week i try not to handle her as much as shes very secretive and dosent take much yo put her off food i find shes alot better this way and as for my burm that will be a daily thing as when shes 18+ foot i want her to know im not a threat lol so to some it up imo it depends on the snake and its personality(JUST LIKE TO ADD FROM MY OWN EXPIERENCE IM NOT AN EXPERT)
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boas and burms

[mark]

22 veiws and only 2 replies
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boas and burms

[Dan]

[stormiemanda]

i only have a texas rat snake but im terrified of him so i dont handle him but my dad gets him out once a month or there abouts i do try to handle him with my dads help but he sences my fear and goes all skaty on me!!!
manda xx

[Stuart]

Thanks for the replies so far..very interesting post Dan.. I have had numerous burms ranging from babies to 10ft and tbh I wouldn't have trusted any of them.I used to handle the ones I could as much as possible in an attempt to keep them relatively calm..this didn't seem to work as they remained unpredictable.I also spent almost a year working with a red tail boa from a baby trying to calm it somewhat to the stage where it would tolerate some handling!!..This was also fruitless and the snake remained very very aggressive even with its next owner who continued trying to calm it unsuccessfully..I personally try and handle my snakes quite regularly..not daily but regular enough for them not to act fearfull when I approach.I think this is nescessary with some of the larger snakes etc..Interesting point you raised Dan about the keeper recognition..I hear alot of people mention this especially with retics..Whats your thoughts on it?
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[Dan]

I think recognition is very real when it comes to retics and i have heard the same about the king cobras. Many retic keepers would agree it is very real with their own examples of it, like them i have my own. The actual method of distinction is some what of a mystery, i have a feeling it is a combination of senses but i'll never be able to prove it.
It is is part of a larger group of abilities that form the perception that they are amongst the most intelligent of reptiles, however the actual definition of intelligence leaves a lot to the individual keeper. Finding the common ground before defining intelligence is a must that is often forgotten.
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TFA

The future is bright, the future is a net like pattern.................

I'm NOT an expert, so if you don't want to know my opinion don't ask!!

[Stuart]

Cheers Dan that was going to be my next question..did you think the recognition was down to sight or smell...or combination of both..with this is mind if you cease to handle them for long periods does it affect the way the snake reacts towards you? Or is there still some sort of recognition there do you think?..
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[SteveL]

i handle my snakes now and then ,the kids like to feel them ect but to be honest i like them in the vivs so nothing can go wrong !!
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