handling after eating?

new to this site and looking to get my first ball python.

can you handle a bp after feeding right away? or do you let him sit in the feeding cage for a bit?

You need to wait at least 48 hours...Otherwise you run the chance or regurgitation...and you don't want that!!!!!!!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BiggBaddWolf

You need to wait at least 48 hours...Otherwise you run the chance or regurgitation...and you don't want that!!!!!!!!!

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x2 Exactly!

X3! ;)

If you use a separate feeding container, you can carefully lift the snake and gently put it back in its regular enclosure once it has had enough time to get the prey item all the way down into its stomach. Other than that, avoid handling the snake for 48 hours after eating.

However, it is not necessary to use a separate feeding enclosure, and it can be a source of stress. Most of the members of this site feed their snakes in the regular enclosure.

You may have heard that feeding in the regular enclosure can cause the snake to get aggressive, because they'll think it is feeding time every time you go in the enclosure. This is not true. The snake can tell the difference between your hand and a rodent, although if you have rodent smell on your hand they can get confused. Also, as long as you go in the enclosure at times other than feeding time, such as for giving it fresh water, cleaning the enclosure, and handling, there is no reason the snake would make that association anyway. In fact, it seems just as likely that feeding in a separate enclosure would cause aggression, because the snake would associate being taken out of its regular enclosure with feeding time, so it would become aggressive every time you took it out, but this doesn't happen either. It is just another totally incorrect myth.

Agreed! No need for seperate container! Wait 48 hours after feeding to handle like stated!

To be fair my Milk Snake views every time the cage opens as potential feeding time and has a tendency to eyeball fingers as if they were fuzzy-sized mice. I keep warning my roommate to stop wiggling fingers at her, she starts looking like she's wanting to eat, lol! That said my Ball doesn't expect food every time the tub opens...I feed him in his tub since he's more comfortable there. :)

I wait 24 hours till I handle my snakes after feeding unless I see bulge and I have never had any problems.

Like stated above 48 hrs is great.
But in some cases next day only if you really must and then keep the snake totally supported and clean out the cage or what ever the rare emergency is then set back as fast but gently as poss.
By day 3 I say you up for a real normal holding time without any worries at all.

thanks guys