How Long Should You Hold Your Snake
For snake owners, bonding with their slithery friend is a unique experience. A common question for new and potential owners often revolves around handling – specifically, how long should you hold your snake?
The straightforward answer is, typically, no more than one hour per day.
It’s crucial to ensure handling doesn’t stress the snake. Over-handling, especially right after feeding or during shedding, can induce stress and potentially harm your snake’s health. So, moderation is arguably the key when it comes to snake holding.
Understanding Your Snake: A Quick Description
Snakes, your potential reptilian companions, come with unique attributes and behaviors that are truly remarkable and fascinating. They are cold-blooded animals, which means they cannot regulate their body temperature internally. Instead, they rely on external heat sources and are often found basking in warm spots to raise their body temperature. Their mode of locomotion, feeding habits, and behaviors all get influenced by this cold-blooded characteristic.
The behavior of snakes can be quite varied, depending on their individual personalities and species. A great many are nocturnal, preferring to hunt and explore at night. They can be solitary creatures, with moods that range from docile to aggressive, depending on various factors including their environment, health, and possible stressors.
One of the more interesting aspects of snake behavior is skin shedding. This process, known as ecdysis, is essential for the snake’s growth and health. A healthy snake will typically shed its skin every few weeks. The shedding period can be a stressful time for the snake, and it may exhibit extra caution or aggression. You can tell that a snake is about to shed when its eyes turn a milky blue color, a state known as being “in blue”.
The iconic hiss of a snake is often misunderstood as a sign of constant aggression. While hissing can be a sign that the snake feels threatened or scared, it’s also used in various other contexts such as during mating calls or to communicate with other snakes. Knowing your snake and its behaviors will allow you to better understand its unique ways of communication, including the significance of a hiss.
Setting the Stage: Creating the Ideal Snake Environment
As a snake owner, it’s important to set the stage correctly for your slithery friend in order to optimise handling time. A major part of this preparation involves creating and maintaining a habitat that closely mimics the snake’s natural environment. Here’s how you do that.
Mimicking Habits in the Wild: Appropriate Snake Habitat
It’s vital that your pet snake’s captive environment mirrors its wild habitat as closely as possible. You aim to recreate all the key elements that would naturally be part of their everyday life, from the right temperature conditions to a fitting hideout.
Temperature Conditions: A Key Factor
A snake’s metabolism is highly dependent on the heat it experiences in its surroundings. Too hot or too cold, and it can lead to the snake’s discomfort and even health problems. Depending on the species, snakes typically prefer temperatures between 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. However, during their nocturnal activities, they’re comfortable with slightly lower temperatures, around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Comfort Zone: Providing a Secure Hide
In the wild, snakes use natural shelters such as rocks, burrows, and vegetation to hide from predators and feel safe. As such, your pet snake’s enclosure should include a secure hide where it can retreat to feel secure. This hide could be anything from a commercial reptile cave to a simple cardboard box. The goal is to provide a safe space where the snake feels snug and undisturbed.
Snake Bedding: A Noteworthy Detail
The bedding, also known as the substrate, plays a significant role in your snake’s enclosure. Not only does it retain heat to help maintain the appropriate temperature, but it also absorbs waste and helps to keep the environment clean. There are several acceptable types of substrate for snakes, including newspaper, reptile carpet, and aspen shavings. Keep in mind that your choice should be based on specific needs of your snake species.
Decoding Your Snake’s Body Language
Understanding what your snake is trying to communicate through its body language is a key step in taking compassionate, appropriate care of your scaly friend. Though their expressions might seem strange and enigmatic at first, you can gradually decipher some common behaviors they exhibit.
Understanding the Snake Ball: A Defensive Mechanism?
The snake ball – a pose where snakes coil up into a tight round ball – is often misinterpreted by many snake parents. It’s tempting to read this behavior as a sign of contentment or relaxation, similar to a cat curling up into a ball for a nap. However, it’s actually a defensive posture. Snakes do this when they’re feeling threatened or stressed to protect their vulnerable head and neck. If your snake repetitively turns into a ball when you hold it, it’s a clear signal that it’s not feeling comfortable and needs some space.
When Your Snake Wraps Around Your Arm: A Display of Affection?
Many snake owners get excited thinking that when their snake wraps around their arm, it’s a sign of affection. In reality, snakes do not have the ability to express such emotions. The wrapping and holding behavior has more to do with the snake seeking safety, warmth, and support. Snakes frequently cling to branches and other objects in the wild, and your arm simply replaces these, providing a secure place to rest. If your snake wraps around your arm and holds tight, it’s usually an indication that it feels secure and safe. Remember, always handle your snake gently, regardless of what its body language may suggest.
The duration for which you should hold your snake can widely vary depending on the specific species, individual temperament, and its comfort level with being handled. Many experts suggest that about 10-15 minutes per day should be enough interaction time for most snakes. However, observe your snake’s behavior during handling to assess its comfort level. If it starts showing signs of stress, such as trying to escape, it might be time to put your pet back in its enclosure.
The Main Attraction: How Long Should You Hold Your Snake?
Though longed for, the time you spend holding your snake isn’t as straightforward as one might imagine. Striking a balance is key to ensuring your scaly friend remains happy and healthy.
The First Encounters: A Gradual Approach
When you first get your snake, it’s crucial to ease into the process of handling. In these early encounters, you want to limit the time to roughly 5 minutes, giving your snake time to adjust to its new environment – and to you. Handling should be limited to once daily, avoiding feeding days and the few days after.
Frequent, Short Handling: A Winning Strategy
Frequently handling your snake – but keeping sessions short – is the best strategy during the initial adaptation period. These brief interactions (about 10 – 15 minutes at a time) will help the snake become accustomed to you without causing undue stress. As the snake gets more comfortable, the duration can increase gradually.
Handling Tips for New Snake Owners
If you’re new to snake ownership, remember to approach your pet from the side rather than from above, avoiding any potential predatory instincts. Smooth, confident movements are key. Also, remember that snakes prefer warmer hands, as cold can be a shock to their system. Lastly, always support their body fully and never squeeze or restrict their movement.
Established Snake Relationships: Increasing Snake-Human Contact
As your snake becomes more accustomed to you, you can safely increase the handling time. A well-adapted snake can be handled for about 30 – 60 minutes each day. However, each snake is unique and may have different tolerance levels.
Understanding Your Snake’s Tolerance Level
It’s essential to pay attention to your pet’s behaviour to determine its tolerance level. Signs of stress such as excessive squirming, hissing, or attempting to flee are clear indications that it’s time to end the handling session.
Avoiding Stress: Knowing When to Put Your Snake Down
Snakes also need their quiet time. After a handling session, give your pet some time to rest and de-stress. And remember, never handle your snake immediately after it’s eaten or while it’s shedding, as these are sensitive times when they may be particularly prone to stress.
Expert Warning: Situations Where Snake Handling Should Be Avoided
It’s important to refrain from handling your snake in certain situations to ensure their well-being and to reduce stress. These situations include pre-shedding and post-shedding periods, after feeding, and when your snake is ill. Let’s dive into each situation to get a deeper understanding.
Pre-Shedding and Post-Shedding Periods: The Influence of Sight
During pre-shedding and post-shedding periods, your snake’s vision may be impaired. The telltale sign is a blue or milky coloration in their eyes due to the accumulation of a fluid that helps separate the old skin from the new. Known as ‘blue phase’, this period can make your snake feel vulnerable, defensive, and stressed. Therefore, it’s generally recommended to reduce handling or avoid it during this time to avoid unnecessary stress.
After shedding, your snake will likely need some time to rest and regain its energy. Again, this is a period during which minimizing handling will contribute to their health and comfort.
Post Feeding: Why You Should Give Your Snake Some Space
After a meal, snakes need time to digest their food and will typically become lethargic and less mobile. Handling a snake during this period may cause them to regurgitate their meal or result in digestive complications. Therefore, it is generally suggested to wait at least 24-48 hours after feeding before handling your snake again. You should also observe your snake’s physical behaviour. If it still appears slow or defensive, it may need more time before it’s ready for interaction.
When Your Snake Is Sick: Protecting Their Fragile Health
Lastly, if your snake is ill, it’s vital to avoid handling them too much. Stress from handling can compromise an already weak immune system and may delay their recovery. If your snake is sick, minimize handling and seek veterinary advice to ensure the best care. It’s also crucial to wash your hands both before and after handling a sick snake to prevent further infections and to protect your health as well.
Does Handling Rats for Snake Food Make Snakes More Aggressive When Being Held?
Many people wonder if handling rats for snake food makes snakes more aggressive when being held. However, it’s important to note that snakes’ behavior isn’t influenced by the method of obtaining their food. If you’re curious about how to kill rats for snake food, research safe and humane methods.
Owning Snakes: Other Key Factors to Consider
When it comes to owning snakes, there are a lot more factors to consider than just knowing how long to hold them. Two key points to take into account are their feeding habits and the cleanliness of their housing. Let’s delve deeper into these two factors.
Appropriate Feeding: Ensuring a Healthy Snake Diet
To ensure that your pet snake thrives and remains healthy, learning its specific diet requirements is crucial. For starters, the diet of a snake largely depends on its species. While some snakes eat a diet of insects and amphibians, others eat small mammals and birds. It’s also important to note that snakes do not need to eat as often as other pets. A general rule of thumb is to feed them every 1 to 2 weeks, but this may vary depending on their age and size.
Befriending a snake also means getting comfortable with feeding it live or frozen-thawed prey, such as mice or rats. If you’re uncomfortable with this part, owning a snake might not be the best fit for you. Finally, remember that over-feeding can be dangerous, leading to obesity and other health issues in your snake. To aid in digestion, allow your snake to rest for 24-48 hours after feeding, which means avoiding handling during this period.
Proper Hygiene: The Importance of Cleaning Snake Tanks
We can’t stress enough the importance of keeping your snake’s tank clean. Snake habitats need to be sanitary, so regular cleaning is a must. Feces, urine, and uneaten food can quickly accumulate, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and parasites, which can lead to the snake getting sick.
How frequently you’ll need to clean the tank can depend on the snake and its diet, the size of the tank, and the materials used in the tank. However, a good rule to follow is to perform a quick spot-clean for waste and uneaten food everyday, and a thorough clean where the snake is removed and the entire tank is cleaned, at least once a month. Also, remember the importance of washing your hands both before and after handling your snake to avoid the spread of any possible pathogens.
Last but not least, the correct environment is also important, as some species of snakes require specific temperature and humidity levels to thrive. So, ensure that you have proper heating and cooling systems in place in the tank.
Resources
- https://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/ensp/pdf/snake_broch.pdf
- https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/snakebite.html
- https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/resources/texas-junior-naturalists/snakes-alive
