How long should I wait before feeding my new friend?

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Rule of thumb is a week to settle in. That said, I've had some get shipped in and unboxed in the morning, and then I noted them begging/hunting that evening when thawing feeders so I went ahead and offered a rat. Quite a few took it.

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I normally will wait a week too but I've also fed some that day or the next because they genuinely looked interested in what I was offering and didn't hesitate to eat.

Just got a new Ghost Desert ball last Wednesday. Fed him F/T on Friday (instructions per the breeder) with no problem. Other than that, I have only changed water daily and left him alone to settle in. He has been moving between hides and seems to be settling in alright. My plan is to fed him again on Wednesday (7 day point), leave him alone for a couple more days to digest, and then keep handling to a minimum the rest of the second week. The third week and beyond, increase handling a little more and get a few more feeds in.

I always try feeding them the day I get them (or the next day if needed). It's let me know how they are doing. If they eat, they're doing well, and they go on the normal schedule. If they don't eat, I put them back and then let them sit for a week before trying again.