Handling

[Kirke13]

I've had her for a week and a half. She ate her first meal on Thursday.
I have taken her out and changed the substrate twice due to me spilling the water bowl one time, and her peeing the other.
1. When is it ok to start handling her?
2. And how long should the beginning handling sessions be?

She is a baby, I don't know how old but I would guess around 4-5 months but I want her to get to know me and I want to give her some time out of her tank.
Thanks again for any advice. This forum is awesome btw. I believe my knowledge to be more than the guy who sold me the snake only because of what I've learned here. Thanks again.

[Jessica Loesch]

I think people normally recommend 10 min at a time, and gradually working your way up!

[Maixx]

This is the advice I was given and follow.

After eating don't mess with them for 48 hrs -always-
Don't mess with them in shed -always-

New snakes first month.
Week 1: don't handle, only enter their enclosure to clean and change water.
Weeks 2-4: 15 -30 min once a day, don't take out more then once a day, it gives them time to de stress between.

[Kirke13]

Thank you very much. I shouldn't feed while she's in shed either right?

[DellaF]

Mine are always hungry after shed. A couple have eaten during shed but for the most part they refuse.

[kitedemon]

Some snakes will eat during a shed however late in a shed the old skin becomes less elastic and if a large meal was offered the snake may not be able to get the shed over the meal lump and that can lead to all kinds of issues. Generally I don't offer during a shed and if I was too I'd go very small. It is not common at all but it has happened.

[Maixx]

Some snakes will eat during a shed however late in a shed the old skin becomes less elastic and if a large meal was offered the snake may not be able to get the shed over the meal lump and that can lead to all kinds of issues. Generally I don't offer during a shed and if I was too I'd go very small. It is not common at all but it has happened.

I had this happen with my pastel, ever since I take them off food as soon as they turn opaque. He ended up with this tight band of skin right above his stomach, that I had to cut off he ended up very stressed, and I ended up helping him finish that shed.