How often..

[ssjsmits]

..do you handle your snakes? I searched to see if a thread like this has been made and did not see one. Anywho, I'd like to hear how often you all handle them.
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For me with boas, when I got my first BCI (and second for that matter) years and years ago, I was very conservative about handling them, even for a new boa owner. But I still made it a point to take them out once a week. Back then, I was new to the hobby and didn't pay much attention to shedding frequency, bowel movements and that type of stuff like I do now. Having said that, I was still careful about it. Textbook states wait a minimal of 2 days. Even as a snot nose newbie, I called BS on that. Mostly because I was so horrified about regurgitation stories that I have read about. So I always gave the 2 boas I had at least 5 days before I took them out after feeding them, but yet still made it a point to handle them once a week.
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Over the years, I jumped into Boa Constrictor constrictor. With these guys/gals, I still apply the same "5 day minimum" as did back then. It seems to work because I haven't had boa spit up a meal from handling too frequently. I've noticed with the constrictor ssp., I went even longer between handling, not necessarily in regards to my "5 day rule" I use but just in general for leisure handling of the boas.
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There are many times now, that the boas will have a few meals before I even take them out once, BCC or BCI. Have I noticed a change in their attitude with reference to the boas that were handled more? Yes and no. The 2 BCI's that were handled more growing up are really nice pets. However, they do not seem as alert as the BCCs do, in or outside of the cage. The Peruvians aren't "mean", but they certainly need to be approached differently to some degree. Though I believe that coincides with the Peru locality of boas.
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Of course, I've had a lot of help from our good buddy TexasRattlesnake outside the forums. So I cannot say that all my methods are from my own doing. He has been the biggest help for me with raising BCC.
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I've always thought (and many still disagree) that the less you handle them, the better. I believe that taking them out still acts as "stress" for them, to a degree. Not to turn that into a debate, but with that state of mind I have, that's one of top reasons why I don't handle them that much. Plus, the more boas/snakes you get, you tend to find that you don't have enough time to take them out as much. Which is not a big deal if you're like me and prefer to just leave them alone. But if you do enjoy handling your pets frequently, don't go too crazy when buying them .
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So the actual question at hand: How often do you handle your boas? My answer is; I don't know. Sometimes, it's once every couple weeks, and sometimes it's once every couple months. I have no rhyme or reason to handling my boas because I prefer to just leave them be.
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Having said that, how often to you handle them? (This thread doesn't necessarily have to pertain to boas)

	Boa Constrictor Imperator

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor

[_Sam_]

I dont.. 'cause I has none :P

[ssjsmits]

Originally Posted by _Sam_

I dont.. 'cause I has none :P

Always a jokster!

[Kobi Baby]

I handle Jezi maybe once a week, at least 4-5 days after feeding. Even with the scarce handeling, I don't find her attitude to be taking any turn for the worst whatsoever. She has not attempted to tag me since arriving at my home last year. I find that when I do take her out, she is very calm, and seems to enjoy the free time. Because she is a suriname, I am extra careful not to stress her in any way. I even try to keep the traffic in the room down to a minimum and the door shut half way. Also, she is just a little over a year, so at this age, I see it very important not to stress her. She is growing, and is about to move up a prey size. Once this transition takes place, the only movement in her cage for at least 2 weeks will be water changes and anther meal.
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I am not as picky with Kobi, as she is my little tank, and is a little trooper. But I do wait at least 3 days after feeding to handle her, 2x a week max.
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Riley, the little scrub, has not been handled much, as I have been battling his sheds since I got him. But he is finally on track, so minimal handling will commence at the end of this week, at least 2x a week, 3 days after feeding, feeding every 7 -10 days.
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Sorry if I was rambling...I'm tired!

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor

[ssjsmits]

Originally Posted by Kobi Baby

I handle Jezi maybe once a week, at least 4-5 days after feeding. Even with the scarce handeling, I don't find her attitude to be taking any turn for the worst whatsoever. She has not attempted to tag me since arriving at my home last year. I find that when I do take her out, she is very calm, and seems to enjoy the free time. Because she is a suriname, I am extra careful not to stress her in any way. I even try to keep the traffic in the room down to a minimum and the door shut half way. Also, she is just a little over a year, so at this age, I see it very important not to stress her. She is growing, and is about to move up a prey size. Once this transition takes place, the only movement in her cage for at least 2 weeks will be water changes and anther meal.
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I am not as picky with Kobi, as she is my little tank, and is a little trooper. But I do wait at least 3 days after feeding to handle her, 2x a week max.
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Riley, the little scrub, has not been handled much, as I have been battling his sheds since I got him. But he is finally on track, so minimal handling will commence at the end of this week, at least 2x a week, 3 days after feeding, feeding every 7 -10 days.
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Sorry if I was rambling...I'm tired!

You're rambling, did you see my post?

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor

[Hairless]

I like to wait 4-6 days to handle after a feed.

Some of my boas go several weeks (3-6ish) between handling, however I do interact with them about twice a week. Usually when I change the water bowls. Both my Occidentalis are curious and will approach me if I open one of the doors to the enclosure. Most times I just let them check me out, smell my hand or whatever. If they crawl out onto my arm, I will get them out and handle.

My common boa is very shy and will crawl away from me unless she smells food....then she looses the shyness and brings her kill everything and sort out the food later routine. So for her, I only handle once every couple of months.

My suriname seems very calm. She only rarely seems to be nervous of me and that is only if I don't take my time in getting her out. She will approach me or anything I put in her enclosure. To be on the safe side, I only handle her every couple of weeks to once a month.

Years ago I thought that if I handled them often they would be more calm and easily handled. I don't believe this to be true anymore. How you approach a boa when you are going to handle is far more important than how often you handle. I approach both my Occidentalis in the same manner, but the rest of them need their own individual routine to help them remain as calm as possible. I think defining calmness in a boa is difficult for many people. Just because a snake is not biting or posturing doesn't mean it is calm.

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor

[JuliusSqueezer]

I've been keeping arboreals and venomous so long, I forget that some snakes can come out for chill time. Thanks for reminding me

[jadeboa]

I handle some more than others...........and one........never without SWAT gloves on.........lol.
At least every week.........
My really BIG boas.........come out for exercise.........they are too big to hold or handle.
I have found that some of my boas want out more often than others.
They are all different.