Hard Question

[Zephyr]

I have yet to get any "real" holding out of my vagrans. It may just take alot of time to tame them, but for a snake that seems to like handling, or at least tolerates it, I suggest Thamnophis sirtalis ssp.
So, it's up to you whether you want to try and get him to handling status, keep him as an observable pet, or release.
It all depends on why you got the snake. :P

[Elliot]

That's strange, my vagrans that I just got will sit in my hand for an hour and not move.

[beaniesmommy]

Well he was actually brought home to feed to my Pacman Frog, my husbands idea... My daughter and I revolted and we kept him. He is a nice guy, just maybe not what we are looking for... Our Puget is like I said, just way more mellow, we love to hold him... He even sits in my 3 year olds lap for as long as her attention span will allow.

What is the layman's name for this snake? Thamnophis sirtalis ssp.

[Elliot]

Like easterns and maritimes and I think Oregon red spots and Florida blues and a some more I can't remember.

[infernalis]

Andria, you asked

We have several snakes that I would never subject to much "holding"
yet I would feel an extreme loss without them.

My Nerodia Sipedon (Water snake) is no "holder" by a long shot, I can feed him by holding a minnow by the tail, and he will take it from my hand.

He lives in a pretty hexagon on a stand, and I would miss him so much if he was not there.

Xena my #1 dekay gal, she will wrap around me, and will even throw a fit when I put her back in the tank, by wrapping around my hand. My Puget "Sky" is close.

The corn snake is so handsome, but he once tried to eat my finger, Our Pueblan has the prettiest colors, yet he goes nuts and musks all over whenever any attempt is made to "hold" him.

You obviously feel something for this snake, or there would be no internal struggle, it would be released by now.

So really, if you feel you may regret it later, it's only a one in a million that you would ever encounter that same animal again.

If you find it visually entertaining, whats a little groceries?? Heck, my kids get on my nerves more than any snake ever would, and I still feed them

[Snaky]

I never 'hold' my snakes. It's just not something I find fun, not do I think that it benefits the snakes. It's something personal. But if you know that, then all my snakes are 'display' snakes. It's fun to watch them, study their behavior, follow the shedding, birth, ...

So in my opinion, you really don't need a 'holding' snake, it's just as good to keep the snake for viewing. But if you yourself need it that you 'hold' the snake for it to become really interesting for you, then it's best to let it go.

Altough, I wonder how long ago it was that you catched it... Because letting a snake go after 1 year in captivity, I don't find that such a good idea.

[Stefan-A]

I couldn't agree more.

Personally, I've never really understood why some people have to pet their reptiles, handle them or even "play" with them, as somebody put it. I think the snakes enjoy it about as much as a mouse when a cat is "playing" with it. I haven't seen anything below cats, that would have actually shown any interest in interacting with humans for "fun". Of course, you could ask if a cat's or dog's play is just about triggered instincts or if it is about boredom (lack of stimuli). And if that qualifies as joy.

Of course I admit I handle most of my snakes. A minute or so every week. It's a waste of my time and it annoys the snakes.

[zooplan]

I can´t agree to your clear point of view, Stefan!
There are some snakes in my colletion I know for sure, that they enjoy handling or even are interessted in the change.
On the other hand there are other snakes that never like it.

BTW: I have no time and see also no sense in handling theme for another reason than checking their health or putting them to another box while cleaning the cage.