Any way to get him used to handling?

[ConcinusMan]

Once a day keeps it fresh in his mind while more often will probably just cause a lot of stress. In the AM (after a cool night) when the lights/heat first come on, and the snake is cool, is a good time. Just be consistent. Never put him back or down when he acts poorly, never reward him (putting him down) for musking you. Very shortly after he calms down, put him back and leave him alone the rest of the day. Remember you're trying to teach him that being calm and not musking will result in him being put back and left alone. It only took about two weeks of this to teach my babies. Now when I pick them up instead of squirming and musking, they just go limp and go with the flow. Adults seem to learn a bit faster, especially large females.

[Selkielass]

My snakes tend to poop when they become active- I think the movement of crawling and squirming gets 'everything' moving.
I just keep a lap towel handy and if things get too messy both the snake and I get washed up in a sink of lukewarm water.

I've conditioned mine to not mind handling through gentle persistence and by getting them to associate handling with then getting fed. (At least a bite of worm is waiting when they are returned to the cage, and I've started feeding Ziva her mice while holding her in my lap. (She is calm and quite gentle and deliberate about taking her mice.)

I agree with previous posters that you don't want to reward musking and struggling with immediate capitulation. Hold and restrain gently until he is calm, or at least tired out before putting him home.

[kibakiba]

I wouldn't do it more than 3 times a week. With Snap I make sure not to pick her up more than once on they days I plan on holding her, unless I need to. I hope that makes sense. You don't want to force yourself on him, that will make him trust you less.

[RedSidedSPR]

Gotcha, thanks. I do it about 3-4 times a week. Sometimes less. I tried offering him a fish (by far his favorite food, as you might know) while holding him but he wont eat it..

[ConcinusMan]

Not even my tamest snakes will eat while I'm holding them.

[kibakiba]

Ember will eat while I'm holding him, but only if he gets to pick it from the dish. He's really a spoiled boy. I don't do that often just because I don't want to end up hurting him somehow... But even Mama, who I've had for a year, wouldn't ever think of eating while I'm holding her.

[RedSidedSPR]

He's getting the hang of it now. I've picked him up twice this week for short amounts of time and he was perfectly relaxed and calm! I think scooping him up from underneath while he's curled up helps. Just out of nowhere he's dosnt mind handling all that much

[ConcinusMan]

Not even my tamest snakes will eat while I'm holding them.

Not exactly true.^^^ For some reason, the two albino radixes (only) will take food while I'm holding them. Might have something to do with the fact that they are garbage gut eating machines.

I think scooping him up from underneath while he's curled up helps.

It definitely does.

[guidofatherof5]

He's getting the hang of it now. I've picked him up twice this week for short amounts of time and he was perfectly relaxed and calm! I think scooping him up from underneath while he's curled up helps. Just out of nowhere he's dosnt mind handling all that much

That's good news. Sounds like he's getting you trained.
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[RedSidedSPR]

Steve, you make it seem like garters are evil and will take over the world someday. But it's true.