Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a pair of Children's Pythons last week. I was hoping to further my involvement in the hobby by trying to breed them in a year or two. I figure life would be easier if they were handlable, if not then fine. I read somewhere that babies should not be handled until they are bigger and some articles say handle them to let them get use to it. After being in the hobby only two years I confused on which way to advance....any help would be great appreciated

>>I bought a pair of Children's Pythons last week. I was hoping to further my involvement in the hobby by trying to breed them in a year or two. I figure life would be easier if they were handlable, if not then fine. I read somewhere that babies should not be handled until they are bigger and some articles say handle them to let them get use to it. After being in the hobby only two years I confused on which way to advance....any help would be great appreciated

I handle my pair all the time except when the female is hugely gravid, like right now. I also handle babies from the time they start eating well and on. Though I will admit the little snot I have right now that is about 9 mos old is just as likely to spend her time clamped onto my finger, or shirt cuff and me waiting for her to realize her silliness and let go. But I wouldn't say not to handle them.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

I handle my hatchlings with no problems. I think the caution is in handling too much, but it probably doesn't make that much difference. My childrens pythons are docile from hatching to adult. I think the main thing is don't be intimidated if they strike as if you don't react, then they won't really do much, and if they do, they are tiny and it won't hurt anyway. I have seen no negative effects from handling with breeding in my childrens pythons.
Good luck, they are great snakes.
Justin J

i got these snakes as hatchlings from too different clutches i know the pics arent great but you get the basic idea

just another pic to follow up the first one