handling "?"

should you wait for the snake to get used to his new home before you handle him, or can you handle him right when you get him?

It's considered a general rule of good snake husbandry to wait a full week before handling the snake.. but really after the week is up, you should offer food. If the snake eats, wait the 48 hours for him to digest before handling (always do this) and if he doesn't eat, don't handle him until he does.. and offer food weekly.

If by "handle" you mean picking him up and placing him in his cage, then absolutely! :D

No, snakes should not be handled until they have adjusted to their new environment. You will just be adding unnecessary stress that may cause problems.

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Originally Posted by Shelby

It's considered a general rule of good snake husbandry to wait a full week before handling the snake.. but really after the week is up, you should offer food. If the snake eats, wait the 48 hours for him to digest before handling (always do this) and if he doesn't eat, don't handle him until he does.. and offer food weekly.

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thanks!

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Originally Posted by xdeus

If by "handle" you mean picking him up and placing him in his cage, then absolutely! :D

No, snakes should not be handled until they have adjusted to their new environment. You will just be adding unnecessary stress that may cause problems.

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kool, thank you :D

i dont somewhat agree i just got my ball python and he was perfectly fine searching me i held him for about 20 minutes and then put him in the tank and he was fine. It depends i dont find anything wrong with it, i dont think it stresses him out anymore than going into the box on the ride home. It's personaly up to you. As long as hes not stressed or scared id go for it.

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Originally Posted by samila18

i dont somewhat agree i just got my ball python and he was perfectly fine searching me i held him for about 20 minutes and then put him in the tank and he was fine. It depends i dont find anything wrong with it, i dont think it stresses him out anymore than going into the box on the ride home. It's personaly up to you. As long as hes not stressed or scared id go for it.

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Good for you! Personally, I don't feel the need to handle a new snake right away with the potential of adding stress and possibly having feeding problems, extra agression, or even a repiratory infection. An extra week or two out of the 25-40 years I'll have the snake doesn't seem like that long to wait.

it all depends on the snake. My first BP, i could handle him any time, and he still would eat on time, and not get stressed out, but when i got my het. pied he was stressed out and i didnt handle him, AND i had all sides of his tub covered.
Just be safe and don't handle him/her. Its a good practice.