How long do you wait before handling a new snake?

i got a new arrival this morning and soon as i opened the package she came right out into my hands ans crawled around on me. put her in her cage offered her food and she took it liek a champ lol.

2~3 feedings.

My new pastel wouldn't eat for me so I didn't handle her or my new fire until she finally ate, after 3 weeks, at which point I have been handling them extremely lightly (5~6 minutes a day, tops).

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Originally Posted by xanaxez

i got a new arrival this morning and soon as i opened the package she came right out into my hands ans crawled around on me. put her in her cage offered her food and she took it liek a champ lol.

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I really should have added a "based on the snake's personality" option.

I give them at least a week to settle in before I try to do anything with them. Even then I don't really take them out to hang out or anything since they'd still be in QT and I try to keep contact to a minimum while they are still in quarantine just to be on the safe side.

Ditto that. I wait until they eat. I also, handle them as little as possible until they are out of quarentine.

I say about a week. If the little does not want to be messed with then I just leave it alone and try again at a later time.

I usually wait a couple of weeks, although I don't go overboard on the handling normally

To say a certain time as a rule is hard to say.

I agree with those who say you have to read the snake. They will let you know with their posture, their tone, their behavior whether you are handling them too much, too quick, or too little.

For instance: My new arrivals 1.1 pastel 1.1 fire

The pastels when taken out of the bag were older...very relaxed and moving around immediately in my hands.....when placed in the rack they did not run, they did not ball, they accepted the handling fine.

The fires were totally different...very tense....very skiddish, and during the first day checking temps...etc etc they were very aggressive with posture and striking as I was checking out the tank.


Result: The fires will be offered first meal 3-5 days, no handling, minimal intrusion....etc etc etc

The pastels based on behavior were offered food that night and took it immediately...they were given a day to chill after that and now they are on a normal handling schedule..

You have to read the snake, their behaviors change with shed cycles, feed cycles, etc etc and picking up on that...will be your cue on whether or not they should be given a day off or come out to play and chill...not sure if this made sense.

I don't buy until I handle......but thats just me.

until it eats