Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Marking Your Own Presence
• Part 2 of 2: Handling the snake
• Warnings
• Tips

If you are interested in developing a strong relationship with your pet snake, you may be interested in information on how to safely handle such a pet. However, it should be remembered that young snakes are usually not yet accustomed to hands and should be gradually adapted to such manipulations. It is important for the snake to get used to your company, it is important to choose the right time to interact with it, always catch it by the middle of the body, and do not forget about proper safety measures. With a sense of common sense and a careful approach to business, you can easily learn how to handle and properly hold a tamed snake that has been raised in captivity.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Marking Your Own Presence

1. 1 Wash your handsbefore touching the snake. If there is any foreign smell on your hands, the snake may mistake you for food. This can result in a bite. Snakes rely heavily on their own sense of smell. In addition, hand washing reduces the risk of a snake infecting harmful bacteria or parasites.
2. 2 Let the snake get used to your presence. If you have recently acquired a snake, you will need to take some time to accustom the snake to your presence. Place your own hand in her cage for two to three minutes twice a day. Over time, the snake will get used to your scent and realize that it is not a threat to her.
   • In the end, the snake itself will decide to examine your hand.
   • As your pet is still getting used to you, be sure to exercise caution.
   • Remember to wash your hands before placing them in the snake enclosure. If you forget about this, the snake can easily confuse you with prey.
3. 3 Make sure the snake spots you. Do not talk to a snake to indicate your presence, as snakes cannot hear human speech.
4. 4 Move slowly and predictably to avoid scaring the snake. Be sure to avoid sudden movements around the snake. Move slowly near the terrarium and do not frighten the snake by approaching from a strange angle for it.
   • Try to bring your hand to the side of the snake, not from above.
5. 5 Do not handle the hissing snake. If the snake is scared or aggressive, it may hiss. If you hear a snake hissing, then you have chosen the wrong time to pick it up.
   • If, in this case, you try to impose your communication on the snake, it may attack you.
6. 6 Try to handle the snake when it looks a little tired. The snake is best handled when it is tired but still awake. The snake should not be touched immediately after feeding. Likewise, you do not need to pick up a snake that is about to shed.

Part 2 of 2: Handling the snake

1. 1 Wear protective gloves and shoes. Wear protective gloves on your hands, which are especially important for non-venomous, but frequently biting snakes. Sturdy boots are also a good idea, as there is always a certain amount of risk involved in handling snakes.
   • For example, if a snake suddenly finds itself on the floor, gets scared and shows aggression, it may bite your leg.
2. 2 Use a snake hook if the snake is crawling around the enclosure. If the snake is actively moving around the enclosure, a hook can be used to pick it up. After you have lifted the snake with the hook, you can grab it with your hands or continue to hold it on the hook.
   • If you feed your snake directly in the enclosure in which it lives, you will probably prefer to always hook it up with a hook. The hook will help the snake learn to distinguish between feeding time and communication time.
   • In addition, forceps should be used when feeding the snake. The snake can rush to food and accidentally bite your hand. Forceps reduce the risk of such bites.
3. 3 If the snake is alarmed or aggressive, pick it up with forceps. You can use tongs to catch snakes only if you have experience with this tool, otherwise there is a risk of injury to the snake. Grasp with forceps just below the snake's neck and use the grappling hook to support the bulk of the reptile's body. Be sure not to place the forceps directly on the snake's neck, as this could cause injury. Keep the snake at a safe distance from you so that it cannot attack you.
   • Use the lightest possible forceps compression possible so as not to injure the snake.
4. 4 Hold the snake with both hands. Place one hand at a third of the snake's body length from the head, and the other at a quarter of the length from the tail to provide support for the animal's body. Hold the snake with both hands at once.
   • Please note that if the snake moves at the moment when you pick it up in your arms, it may crawl away from the points at which you support it.
5. 5 Lift the snake by the middle of the body. Try not to get close to the head or tail of the snake. It is necessary to lift it by the middle of the body. Be gentle and strive to provide the animal with adequate weight support.
   • If you try to lift the snake by the tail, it can injure itself as it tries to escape from your grasp.
   • If you try to grab a snake from its head, there is a high risk that it will bite you. Snakes have very high sensitivity in the head area.
6. 6 Let the snake adapt on your hands. The snake can twine around one of your arms to stabilize itself. Let her get into a comfortable position.
   • If you are dealing with a boa constrictor, it is likely that it will wrap around your wrist or forearm. This is fine.
7. 7 Pay attention to the snake's feelings and safety. Snakes are emotional enough, so pay attention to your pet's experience. Young snakes may show some fear while getting used to their hands. Some snakes like to be handled more than others. You need to remain confident and calm, which will help the pet get used to your hands.
   • Be sure to remain calm when holding the snake.
8. 8 To bring the snake back, simply put it in the terrarium. You can lower your pet directly onto the substrate in the terrarium, or you can let the pet climb onto one of the branches or the floor of the terrarium on its own. After that, securely lock the terrarium, as snakes are very adept at running away.
9. 9 Wash your hands after contact with a snake. Reptiles can carry pathogens dangerous to humans, such as salmonella. As soon as you finish communicating with the snake, wash your hands immediately.

Warnings

• Cases of death and injury often occur due to the fact that a person tries to independently pick up an oversized snake. A stressed snake can attack, suffocate or bite. There should be an assistant next to you who, if necessary, will help you remove the snake.
• If your build is smaller than the average, you definitely need an assistant.
• Be careful when handling the snake as it can confuse you with the prey.
• Tapping the enclosure can irritate the snake. In this case, the snake may rush at you when you try to pick it up.
• Do not pick up a snake immediately after feeding or a snake that is about to shed. Molting reduces the snake's ability to see, and a recently eaten snake may still be hunting.
• Do not handle large and dangerous snakes without help. If the snake is more than 1.8 meters long, you definitely need an assistant. Respectfully treat long boas, take them in your hands with care and make sure that there is someone nearby who can help you if necessary.
• If there are children in the house, do not reach out or pick up long snakes.
• Do not try to prevent a bite by pinching the snake's mouth. This is guaranteed to make the snake pull away and bite you. If you want to prevent a bite, either wait for a helper or learn how to handle the snake correctly.
• Do not touch the snake's head when you pick it up.
• Don't touch snakes you don't know.
• A frightened snake can be very dangerous.
• Do not touch someone else's snake without the permission of its owner.
• Never handle an aggressive snake without proper tools and training.

Tips

• You can let the snake sniff you with its tongue. Do not be afraid of this. With the tongue of the snake, they identify smells and learn to recognize you.
• Try to avoid sudden sudden movements, but don't be afraid to move. Snakes are by no means vicious animals and only attack when they are frightened. It is prudent to be careful with them, but there is no need to be overly cautious.
• All snakes are different from each other. Some can be worn around the neck, others not. Make sure that you are completely comfortable with your snake before handling it.If this is your first time, it is wise to start with a small snake.
• Only stroke the snake from head to tail. Do not stroke them in the opposite direction so as not to hurt the animals by brushing their scales.
• Snakes love warm places, so your pet can crawl under your shirt. If the snake tries to crawl on you, gently grab it and reposition it.
• Holding a snake in your hands is not difficult and even interesting, but the first time it will be better if someone shows you everything. This could be a reptile specialist from a pet store or another seasoned enthusiast, or even a professional serpentologist from a local serpentologist club or reptile lover. Use an internet search engine to find a similar club near you.
• Consider using two terrariums for your snake, one for feeding and one for permanent residence. This will help the snake learn to understand when it is being picked up.
• Stroke the snake in the direction of the growth of the scales.
• After feeding your snake, wait at least one day before handling it.