gary the garter!

[becka]

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do all garters not like being handled or is it just mine? he seems to hate my guts!

[drache]

I own the spectrum
everything from the garter that hates to be handled to the one hanging out in front and sliding onto my hand the moment I open the sliding door
most tolerate handling, many settle down into it

[Stefan-A]

It's the same with my garters. Half of them almost don't seem to care if you pick them up, the other half freaks out if you even try.

[adamanteus]

Yes, I find the same thing. Although I seldom handle my Garters just for the sake of it.... only when necessary for cleaning etc.

[reptile3]

my 3 are ok with the handling... I think they know, it's cleaning time, or picture time! But I only handle them for about 5 min or less.

MY ball python on the other hand, would love to be handled day & night. :D

[becka]

ah i see! i dont really handle any of mine mine unless its cleaning day...but its important they tolerate it as it makes my life easier!:) trouble is hes so fast, hes already leapt out of my hands and i didnt find him for 5 weeks

[Aundrea]

My garter is OK being held. He freaks when you get him but once hes being handled he settles down some. Now one of my Dekayi's LOVES to be handled. He would love to be handled all day long day and night if he could :D

[infernalis]

I can only reinforce what has already been said.

MOST of my garters freak out when touched. (then again most of my garters were born this year)

Whenever I move them to the feeding boxes, I use a method first suggested by Shannon, Show them a morsel of food on the tongs, and once one grabs it, I lift them out by the food item.

I clean while they are in the feeding boxes, and when finished, I just slide them out and let them crawl back into the enclosure on their own.

[zooplan]

If handling is so scary to them, you might start working at the terrarium more frequently.

[guidofatherof5]

A lot of mine will have a startle response when first approached but calm down quickly. All our babies are in the livingroom and are used to high traffic. With five children they get handled a lot. Most of them don't mind and seem to like it and expect it. Some take longer than others, I think the "Flight or fight" responce is strong and hard to modify. I have found that setting at the enclosure talking to them gets them more used to you. Having a food item in hand never hurts, there fear can be over ridden by their hunger. Be patient.

[Snake lover 3-25]

All three of my adults are perfect lol I love them:D

My biggest femle who was origionally WC tries to push her way out of her cage when I walk past. She is around my neck all the time. The other two adults are just very calm and like the warmth of my hand. The baby is frightened when I first pick her up but calms down quite fast and just keeps weaving through my fingers.

I try to handle my adults as much as possible. Especially my biggest. I think that if the want to get out and explore or be warm in your hands you might as well let them:D

[garterchick]

my female flame loves being handled and comes out of the tank as soon as i open the lid. my pugets and one of the new red-sided girls do that too but i think they're just looking for food while "big red" is looking for interaction. the rest of my garters really don't like being held and just as soon musk me if i "force" my company on them.

[Sid]

I'll have to echo most of the earlier replies. From my experience most garters react differently. I have some very mellow ones and some from very shidisk to down right nippy. With enough handling most will settle down nicely.