New BP owner

I just brought home my new baby girl on Sunday. Finally talked the wife into letting me get a snake! I have picked the brains of the staff of the shop I got her from and most of the snake owning friends that I have but some more advice wouldn't hurt either. I got her all set up and she started exploring right away and I completely left her alone from Sunday night until this morning (Tuesday). I went to change her water out and she seemed to just be watching so I went ahead and decided to see if I could pick her up. I gave her a little pet along her side and she coiled up a bit and figured maybe I startled her a bit and let her be. Finished changing water, checked on the temp and humidity. After she started moving around I gave her another pet and started to lift her up and she tightened her tail around a branch and got stiff and tried to coil back up. Left her alone again. I've read conflicting ideas and am looking for more feed back. The store I got her from said to give her a day or two (and I'm pushing it at 36 hours) and some places on the internet say anything from a couple of days to a week or two. Other places say after a couple of days just pick her up anyway there's no other way for her to get used to it. Fridays are her feeding days and she did eat last Friday, I was hoping to get a couple of handlings in before this Friday. So longer story than I wanted it to be, should I give her the full 48 hours and just pick her up anyway this evening or lay off longer?

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Originally Posted by Ozifur

I just brought home my new baby girl on Sunday. Finally talked the wife into letting me get a snake! I have picked the brains of the staff of the shop I got her from and most of the snake owning friends that I have but some more advice wouldn't hurt either. I got her all set up and she started exploring right away and I completely left her alone from Sunday night until this morning (Tuesday). I went to change her water out and she seemed to just be watching so I went ahead and decided to see if I could pick her up. I gave her a little pet along her side and she coiled up a bit and figured maybe I startled her a bit and let her be. Finished changing water, checked on the temp and humidity. After she started moving around I gave her another pet and started to lift her up and she tightened her tail around a branch and got stiff and tried to coil back up. Left her alone again. I've read conflicting ideas and am looking for more feed back. The store I got her from said to give her a day or two (and I'm pushing it at 36 hours) and some places on the internet say anything from a couple of days to a week or two. Other places say after a couple of days just pick her up anyway there's no other way for her to get used to it. Fridays are her feeding days and she did eat last Friday, I was hoping to get a couple of handlings in before this Friday. So longer story than I wanted it to be, should I give her the full 48 hours and just pick her up anyway this evening or lay off longer?

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Shes not going to "enjoy" being picked up ever. She will begin to toloarte it eventually, but that does take some time. for now, quit petting her and just pick her up. She may bite you, but it doesn't hurt that much. Pick her up regularly and she'll get used to it sooner or later.

I've found that new arrivals, even adults that are used to being handled, can take 2-3 weeks to settle in, feel secure, and start eating. Other than changing her water, spot-cleaning, checking her hot/cold side temperatures and humidity to make sure they're correct, and offering food every week, I'd leave her alone.

While changing out water this morning she came out and I picked her up and held her for a bit. Only took about 5 or 6 minutes before she started exploring. A bit later the wife was checking on her and wanted to try and touch her so I picked her up again and immediately she started wrapping around my hand and exploring the area. So far so good! Thanks for the input!

The 36 hour should be okay IMO. Longer maybe better, may not. I just do the "pick it up and hope it doesn't bite" approach. You're going to get bit sooner or later so may as well get a feel for it while she's small. The stress level she has will go down every day. given the fact she's already eating in the new enclosure is a good sign as well. Good luck with your new addition!