How long do you give your ball python to settle in

[brixton]

Ahoy Everyone
I just got my first ball python on saturday and he is 3 months old his name is TOKYO and i have seen many different views on how long you should give them to settle in everywhere from a week to 2 days and i was just wondering how long everyone gives there snakes????

cheers
Brixton
p.s will post some pics once i start handling him

[darkbloodwyvern]

Give him at least a week. You are going to own this snake for up to 40 years! The wait will be worth it. I do not handle for a week, then I try to feed them, so in reality it is more like 9-10 days before I handle a newbie. I barely touched my pastel when she came in because she ate, then immediately went into shed 3-4 days after eating. It was SO frustrating!
I hope not many people told you to only wait two days? that is not such a good idea, you want to minimize stress to the animal as much as possible. They are in an entirely new environment and need time to settle in. Some people prefer to rush off and do things the second they arrive at a travel destination, but snakes usually not so adventurous!

[Beardedragon]

I gave my first ball python two full weeks, but I admit this was my first snake and i was scared to touch him After that I gave all mine one week, and they all turned out fine and ate like champs.

[mikedahitman87]

I gave both of my snakes 5 days before their first me meal. Then waited until each had eaten 4 times without refusal before trying to handle them. This is does not include any times I may have to remove the snake for cleaning purposes.

Suggestions for first handling:
do it during the day
make sure the snake is alert and flicking its tongue
make slow movements
avoid touching the head

[littleindiangirl]

You havent got the option I would choose. I choose for BP's to default and give them 2 weeks of alone time to acclimate.

[Windridge Kennels]

I handle them right away a little, like the day I get them- take some pics and stuff. But for the most part, I leave them be for about a week before I really start hanging out with them a lot. Mine are pets above all so I hate not being able to hold a new one but as someone said- it's worth the wait!

[starmom]

I leave my new snakes alone for 2 weeks.

[Jenn]

Two weeks.

[JoshJP7]

2 days then I offer a meal... Once they find their hides and go to sleep for awhile theyre usually pretty good. I have this great luck though with getting new snakes and them going right into shed after arriving so they usually dont get messed with for awhile... must be the humidity.

[littleindiangirl]

2 days then I offer a meal... Once they find their hides and go to sleep for awhile theyre usually pretty good. I have this great luck though with getting new snakes and them going right into shed after arriving so they usually dont get messed with for awhile... must be the humidity.

Many times snakes in a new environment will go into shed, a few of our snakes will even shed the night we get them (from shows). I know I read that in a book, might have been the Barkers book... lol