Should I handle my new BP coming today?

I’ll be receiving a male hatchling today via FedEx Priority Overnight. The enclosure is all ready to go. I’m wondering if I should handle him for a bit or just slide him straight into his enclosure?

I'd do a health check, just make sure he looks good, no obvious wheezing or scale rot, or any other obvious health issues. Maybe get a weight on him. But after that absolutely no handling until he settles in. He needs a week to settle then offer food and if he takes it you can go from there. Most recommend a couple meals before actually handling.

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Originally Posted by Neko_snake

I'd do a health check, just make sure he looks good, no obvious wheezing or scale rot, or any other obvious health issues. Maybe get a weight on him. But after that absolutely no handling until he settles in. He needs a week to settle then offer food and if he takes it you can go from there. Most recommend a couple meals before actually handling.

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What Neko said. Quick wellness check, make sure you don't see any mites or other obvious issues, get a quick weight on him and then stick him in his enclosure to settle. Most keepers recommend not handling until your new snake has taken at least 3 consecutive meals from you.

Congratulations on the new snake! Be sure to share some pics.

Personally I would do a quick check to make sure he doesn’t have mites or an RI and stuff like that then put him directly in his enclosure and leave him alone completely for a week then offer food. Don’t handle him until he has atleast 3 consecutive meals


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I agree with all above posts, so I won't repeat the same info. Just this: it's best to keep a new snake on plain white paper towels for a while- it makes it MUCH easier to see mites, so you can treat (get rid of) them as fast as possible, before they do harm. They're small, but reproduce exponentially- & can kill a snake, especially a small or younger one, quicker than you'd think.

Also, if you have any other snakes (or herps), be sure to keep this new one quarantined! And if you haven't already, please read up & get familiar with what that involves.

I know it's torture, to give privacy & no handling with a new snake, but it's best in the long run. It's no fun when a snake is stressed & won't eat. Just be patient...you'll both get there. ;)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I know it's torture, to give privacy & no handling with a new snake, but it's best in the long run. It's no fun when a snake is stressed & won't eat. Just be patient...you'll both get there. ;)

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This is probably the most common reason why most new BP keepers can’t get their snakes to eat. Trust me I understand the anticipation and excitement of getting a new animal. Just be patient, both you and your snake will be much happier in the long run!


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Thanks so much everyone! I did a quick look over of him and he seems to be fine. I'm afraid I don't know what to look for with mites however. He is in a cypress and coconut fiber substrate. He went into the hot side hide pretty quickly but now he seems like he is trying to find his way out of the enclosure. Is he just "testing his boundaries"?

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Originally Posted by Prism

Thanks so much everyone! I did a quick look over of him and he seems to be fine. I'm afraid I don't know what to look for with mites however. He is in a cypress and coconut fiber substrate. He went into the hot side hide pretty quickly but now he seems like he is trying to find his way out of the enclosure. Is he just "testing his boundaries"?

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Yep perfectly normal for a new snake to explore a little bit. As long as your tempratures and humidity are good your new BP should settle into a hide and start settling in within a few days. Let him stay in there undisturbed for a week and then try feeding, but the most important part like everyone else has said is leaving him alone. Like Snow Balls said, I think most new keepers who have problems with feeding have them because they tried handling too early, or were constantly making changes to the enclosure after they added the new snake.

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Originally Posted by Hugsplox

Yep perfectly normal for a new snake to explore a little bit. As long as your tempratures and humidity are good your new BP should settle into a hide and start settling in within a few days. Let him stay in there undisturbed for a week and then try feeding, but the most important part like everyone else has said is leaving him alone. Like Snow Balls said, I think most new keepers who have problems with feeding have them because they tried handling too early, or were constantly making changes to the enclosure after they added the new snake.

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Speaking of feeding...I've read a lot and there seems to be a divide between giving him live rat fuzzies a couple of times and then transition to F/T vs. starting with F/T. The breeder says he has only been fed with live and recommends I do the same. What are ya'lls thoughts?

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Originally Posted by Prism

Speaking of feeding...I've read a lot and there seems to be a divide between giving him live rat fuzzies a couple of times and then transition to F/T vs. starting with F/T. The breeder says he has only been fed with live and recommends I do the same. What are ya'lls thoughts?

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Feed him exactly what the breeder was feeding him until he’s eating consistently. Then switch to FT or whatever you’d prefer to feed him


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