A feeding and a handling question

[Trackstrong83]

Hey everybody, I just got my first ball python today (pics coming soon I promise!) but anyways... She has been on a schedule of feeding every Wednesday, but she didn't eat yesterday, so it's been a week and a day since her last meal. Like I said I just got her today and she is happily hanging out in her hide, but how long do you think I should wait to feed her? The breeder said she was a terrific eater, never missed a meal before yesterday, so should I wait another week or maybe another day or two?
Also, I know you're supposed to do the whole "wait a week and let them acclimate" thing before you handle them. But she is great with being handled, so is it a must that I wait a full week? Or does it really just depend on the animal? Thanks a ton guys

[Evenstar]

BPs are shy by nature and even if you don't think your baby is stressing, she probably is. Wait a week before handling her. What I would recommend is to feed her on her normal feeding day next week - Wednesday. Then you should give her about 48 hours more before you handle her so she can digest her meal. Trust me, if you wait and she eats well for you next week, it'll be worth it. Getting a baby ball back on track when they won't eat is no fun.

Congrats on your new baby! We'll want to see pics once she's settle in!

[robinbanks]

A week without feeding is really nothing. Kind of need a little more info though, does it eat live or frozen and if it eats frozen you may need to ask the seller his Technique on how he fed it. congrats on your new snake .

[Trackstrong83]

Thanks for the help I'll let her settle in for a week then.

She eats live now, but I am going to eventually transfer her to frozen. I am going to offer a frozen hopper to her Wednesday, and if she doesn't take it i'll give her live. I've heard some snakes are picky about going from live to frozen, and some take it no matter what. So i'll offer frozen and just see what happens.

[RobNJ]

I handle all of my new snakes on an individual basis in regards to when I'll feed and/or handle them. Some I'll feed the day they come in, others I'll wait a week...then there are the couple that have gone a good while before taking a meal. I usually have a good idea of which ones will eat and which ones won't right out of the box...and so far my judgement has served me correctly. I wouldn't suggest you go ahead and try feeding/handling right off the bat, as I've not seen your snake first hand, but I'm more than comfortable with the time frame in which I choose to feed/handle newcomers.