i know this may sound weird but it makes sense to me ...
i know snakes can smell a prey smell (rat smell) and that signals the feeding response, in my snakes at least. i also feel that they know my smell. i alway allow my snakes to smell (few tongue flicks) me before i try to move them. i seem to get less of a startled response when handeling them if i do this. my untested theory is that just like they can smell the known prey smell and know its time to eat, they can smell my smell and know its time to have someone bother them. i have not had any problems with doing this, but i also judge their mood before bothering them. if you interact with an animal enough you can tell what actions they take and the way they act when they are just not in the mood to deal with you (for my large male it is him moving away from me and making his breathing a little noisier but not really a hiss .. kinda sounds like hes got a booger in his nose). also some of my snakes tend to be more inclined to deal with me bothering them at different times (day vs night). you dont seem to be doing anything wrong care wise so just start payign more attention to your snakes moods and act accordingly.

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