Respectfully, I must disagree with those who say a snake doesn't change over time. I cannot say for sure that it *is* the handling that mellowed out my garters. They are '08's, and are now much more calm. I don't know if it is a factor of their age or my handling them.

I will say that I have handled my '09 babies more than I handled my '08 babies. In '08, I listened to my husband who told me I would "stress them out". In '09, I told him they were my snakes, and he can raise his snakes anyway he likes, but I'm handling mine. The '09's are much more calm than the '08's were at their age, and even come to the glass when I look in at them.

I can't say for sure, but this anecdotal evidence suggests handling does help calm them down. I also don't put them back until they settle down, at least a little. Even snakes can grasp cause and effect, IMO.