New BP: when does 'settling in' time begin?

[MsMissy]

So, I picked up another one. Quick CL find, guy really needed to rehome and yes, I'm a sucker. Anyway. The tank was missing a lot of things so I've had to do a quick run for necessities and then work on a remodel. Part of that meant waiting for a thermostat to arrive.

My question here.... Cheddar has been here a week Saturday and as I've been remodeling, he really hasn't had his 'alone time'. Amazingly docile BP, about a year old. Don't mind the tank, I've changed it many times since that pic was taken. Anyway, my question... When does his settling in really begin? I'm going to have to really take his tank apart to get the thermostat and UHT all situated and he's probably hungry. Been running with no belly heat since I won't run a UTH without anything to regulate so been holding out on feeding him. I'm in the desert so ambient temp hasn't been a problem. Oh and my 17 year old can't keep his paws off my snake *grumbles*.

Since I'm posting, I'll throw in a pic of my new boy....and a new one of my pig girl finishing off her last dinner.





Shes been relatively grumpy since taking this one down...poor dear, I misjudged its size but she got it down, and kept it down. Her hide usually lives under the vines, moved it for her to eat.

[Coopers Constrictors]

Every time you re arrange his tank, he has to re settle back in. Could take a day, could take a month. It's different for every snake. Just get the temps/humidity right and leave him be for a week.

[Diamond Serpents]

I don't feed or touch my new BPs for 2 weeks. I just check and make sure they have clean water. My new pin I've only picked up her hide twice for a quick peak cause I wanted to make sure she's ok.

[Diamond Serpents]

Every time you re arrange his tank, he has to re settle back in. Could take a day, could take a month. It's different for every snake. Just get the temps/humidity right and leave him be for a week.

This is very true, set it up leave him alone.

[MsMissy]

Guess I find a way to lock the tank when I'm not home to keep the boy out of it. I won't have a solid grasp on temps until the UTH is established. That of course will change my humidity. For the good at least, we have storms coming thru still so naturally high levels have been helping me, but once that goes away I'll need the humidity from the UTH/ water bowl thing.

Thanks guys... Really was hoping for a diff answer as Sunday will be 2 weeks since he ate but better safe than sorry. I'm also doing a rare switch from f/t to live <ok, might just bash the little sucker against a wall on my way to his tank so.... fresh kill???>so that could be a challenge as well.

[Marrissa]

I guess it just really depends on the snake. I fed my BP on day three after his arrival. He's eaten every five days for me on the dot. I messed with his tank a lot making upgrades and such. He made the switch to the T8 without any issues, and never acts stressed if I add/take away stuff from his side of the enclosure. He just finds his hide again and holes up. This is my first and only though, so I guess I just got lucky with an awesome first BP. I hear all these stories about stressed snakes and snakes refusing to eat and have never had issues with mine so far.

[Diamond Serpents]

Np, and to help you on humidity. What you can do to help out a glass set up is take tin foil and cover 85% of the top. It might not look pretty but it will help keep the humidity in.

[steve_r34]

Idk how every else does it but every time I get a new snake they always ate for me with in one or 2 days n always settled in quick idk if I get them from good breeders or what it is but I don't keep my snakes in tanks they go in bins so maybe its not a big change for them .. not saying what I do is right or wrong but it works fine for me ... they all seem happy n healthy n that's what counts I. Don't hold the frequently just a quick into when they arrive and then I wait a week or so to really handle them

[MsMissy]

This snake is probably the calmest I've encountered. He takes everything fine, already thermo regulates and loves his hides. Admittedly, the hide on his hot side is a little big but I stuffed a bunch of moss in it and covered the entrance with vines and leaves and he has no problem at all. I don't want to feed him without belly heat established but really hate the idea of him going three weeks without eating unnecessarily.

It shall be very interesting to see how he does with live. Starting out a little bit on the small side and I'll be watching closely to ensure no issues come up. You would think the 17 year old could at least weigh him while having him out against my orders but noooooo. If he's afraid of it, I'll just pop it back in the cage it lives in and try the 'fresh kill' thing next time. I truly hate the f/t thing. My girl is very young and completely ignores a defrosted mouse even with every trick in the book.

[Velrys]

I have to Echo Steve,

Every time i bring an animal home it seems to always be close to feeding day so i throw one in and they have gone for it every time.... well ok... out of a dozen animals 9 have taken food the day after i brought them home.

HOWEVER... i set the rack drawer or tank up ahead of time with heat that i adjust so that it is already set when they get home. The hid is in there, EVERYTHING is ENTIRELY set up i just place the animal and let it be... for a day. The next day, maybe 20 hours later, i drop food and they take it with 15 minutes.

Seems like maybe the "settling" period has more to do with getting used to unsatisfactory conditions and less to do with actual time. So that if the enclosure is good for them they dont need much time to settle in at all.