For snake owners, bonding with their pet snake is an important part of the ownership experience. Snakes may seem distant or aloof, but they are capable of recognizing and responding positively to their owners. The amount of time it takes to form a bond will depend on the individual snake, its age, species, and general disposition, as well as on the owner’s care and interaction style. With regular gentle handling and care, most pet snakes will come to tolerate or even enjoy interactions with their owners.
What is Bonding?
Bonding with a snake refers to the process of forming a connection and establishing trust between the snake and its owner. This allows the snake to feel secure and comfortable with handling and interaction. Signs that a snake is bonded with its owner include:
- Remaining calm and relaxed when handled
- Curling around the owner’s arm or wrist voluntarily
- Coming to the front of the enclosure when the owner approaches
- Allowing gentle stroking of its body and head
- Taking food readily from the owner’s hand or tongs
A bonded snake shows very little fear or defensiveness with its familiar owner. It understands through experience that this human will not harm it.
Bonding is a Gradual Process
For most pet snakes, bonding is a gradual process that takes place over weeks or months. It requires regular, gentle handling sessions where the snake can become comfortable being held and touched. Consistent, low-stress care over time allows the snake to form positive associations with its owner.
Younger, juvenile snakes generally bond more quickly than older adults. Younger snakes tend to be less set in their ways and have an easier time acclimating to regular human interaction. Older snakes that are not used to handling may take much longer to bond or may never fully acclimate to touch.
How frequently a snake is handled makes a major difference in bonding speed. Snakes handled 2-3 times per week bond faster than snakes handled only occasionally. The more positive interactions an owner has with the snake, the faster trust develops.
Species Differences
Certain snake species tend to bond more readily and become more handleable as pets. Good beginner species that generally bond well include:
- Ball pythons
- Corn snakes
- Milk snakes
- Kingsnakes
- Garter snakes
- Kenyan sand boas
Other species tend to be more timid, defensive, or nippy, making bonding more difficult. Still, individual temperament plays a major role as well. Docile, mellow individual snakes may bond well even in typically nippy species like garters and rat snakes.
Best Practices for Bonding
To encourage bonding, pet snakes need very gradual acclimation to handling. Rushing the process or overhandling will onlycause fear and defensiveness. Here are some best practices for bonding:
- Acclimate the snake to its enclosure for 1-2 weeks before starting gentle handling sessions.
- Begin handling for just 5-10 minutes 1-2 times per week.
- Slowly build up handling duration and frequency over 4-8 weeks.
- Handle the snake in a small enclosed space at first, not fully out in the open.
- Confine handling to a small, quiet room without other pets or people.
- Provide hiding opportunities with your hands and body so the snake feels secure.
- Distract nippy snakes with food aromas on your hands.
- Never punish defensive behavior – remain calm and gentle.
- End sessions on a positive note before the snake gets overly nervous or upset.
Following these guidelines and being patient with the snake’s adjustment time will lead to the best bonding results.
Signs the Bond is Forming
With regular gentle handling, you will notice the snake becoming calmer and more comfortable interacting with you. Signs the snake is on its way to being bonded include:
- Staying curled loosely around hands/wrists vs. gripping tightly.
- Tongue flicking less frequently.
- Closing eyes contentedly for periods.
- Not immediately slithering away when placed down.
- Voluntarily crawling onto or into your hands.
- Taking food from hands willingly.
These behaviors indicate the snake now associates you with security rather than fear. It understands you will not harm it and are a source of its basic needs being met.
Bonding Problems
If bonding is not progressing after 4-6 weeks of consistent handling, the snake may have a temperament unsuited for handling. Extremely nervous, defensive, or nippy/aggressive snakes may never fully bond with owners. Other problems that can inhibit bonding include:
- Incorrect enclosure setup causing the snake stress.
- Overhandling and touching sensitive areas like the head.
- Health issues causing pain when handled.
- Genetic nervousness or defensiveness.
- Older snake not previously socialized.
- Insufficient hiding places provided in the enclosure.
If bonding is not progressing, carefully evaluate husbandry conditions and handling methods. Consult an experienced reptile veterinarian if health issues are suspected. Some snakes may remain handleable only by experts despite an owner’s best efforts.
Bonding Duration Examples
Though each individual snake will vary, here are some general timespans for bonding with different ages and species:
Hatchling snakes – 2 to 6 weeks
Hatchling snakes are the fastest to bond, often within 2-4 weeks of acquisition. Handle gently starting at 10-15 minutes daily and increase to 30 minutes over 2 weeks. Hatchlings become comfortable with handling quickly if started young.
Juvenile snakes – 4 to 8 weeks
Start handling juvenile snakes for 10 minutes daily for 2 weeks, then build up to 20-30 minutes daily by 6 weeks. Snakes under a year old still bond relatively quickly with regular gentle handling.
Adult ball pythons – 8 to 12 weeks
Adult ball pythons can require 2-3 months of patient, gradual handling to bond with a new owner. Start with two 10 minute sessions weekly, building to 30 minutes 2-3 times a week by 10-12 weeks. Give adults more time to become comfortable.
Adult corn snakes – 4 to 8 weeks
Adult corn snakes tend to adjust to handling more readily than ball pythons. Start with 10 minutes 2-3 times weekly, building up duration and frequency over 4-6 weeks. Most adult corns bond within 2 months.
Snake Bonding By Age
| Snake’s Age | Typical Bonding Time |
|---|---|
| Hatchling | 2-6 weeks |
| Juvenile | 4-8 weeks |
| Young Adult | 6-10 weeks |
| Mature Adult | 10-16 weeks |
In most cases, the younger the snake, the faster bonding occurs. Hatchlings and juveniles bond more quickly than mature adults.
Conclusion
Bonding with a pet snake takes patience, gentleness, and letting the snake adjust at its own pace. By acclimating the snake gradually and keeping handling sessions low-stress, a close bond can form in as little as 2 weeks for hatchlings or 2-3 months for adults. Set the snake up for success by meeting all of its husbandry needs, and with time, the bond between owner and snake can grow strong.