Does anyone not leave new snakes alone for a week?

When I first started getting into snakes no one told me that I should wait a week to handle. Of course, these were corn snakes though. I never noticed a difference with the corns. I left my ball alone for a few days, and my boa too. But as far as waiting a week, I just didn't know. I'm sure my ball would have benefited from it. I just picked up another corn from the expo in denver on sat. and I am letting him settle till feeding day on Thursday.

I did not know either. the boys played with the snake for a long time. Well the next day he ate, never had had a problem.

I was uber cautious and played by the book with my first snake. However, I've grown to see the signs of stress and just kinda wing it. Olders snake seem to have little issue adjusting. I tend to leave them for a day or two to get used to things. All of my recent snakes have eaten right away.

I really think it's more to do with snake personality than anything. So are just quick to adjust and some aren't. But if you aren't sure what kind you have, I say just play by the book.

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Originally Posted by fluffpuffgerbil

I know the main reason is for them to settle in, but what if they don't get stressed from being held? Does anyone skip the 7 day rule? Just curious.... Just a question that came to mind. I know a lot of people say to keep them in for a week, but I know there are some of you who skip that rule. I want to know what you have to say about why you do! :3

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I personally will leave all new reptiles alone snakes or lizards for at least 2 or 3 feedings to ensure they are not stressed. then if they are babies I will start taking them out a few times a week for only a few minutes or until they start to show signs of stress, then once they can be held without showing signs of stress you are good to go.

I also have a one rule when it comes to snakes, and that is I will never feed then in their viv, I will always use a second viv for that, it just a simple 20G with aspen and a hide box.

when I feed I will take him/her out and place him/her into the second viv, feed and then take out once they go into the hide box, that way I just have to lift the hide box and not handle then. ( you don't want them to regererate their meal).

I also try to feed all my snakes the same day and make a day of it

As others have said it really depends on the snake. I have one that ate the same day she arrived after being shipped halfway across the country over night, but I also have another that took 3 weeks before she would eat.

Personally if you think she's fine with being handled I would give her a day or 2 to settle in and then handle her a little. If she doesn't eat when you offer food then stop handling her until she starts eating regularly.

Every snake is different and the 7 day rule is a general rule that most have found works for them. With the amount of snakes I now have in my collection it's easier for me to leave new additions alone, but with my first few it was hard.

Good luck with your new snake! :)

I think that the one week rule is a great rule if you're dealing with your first snake and you can't "read" snakes yet. People who are inexperienced with snakes tend to handle them in a jerky hesitant way that seems to stress them out more than it does when someone who is used to them picks them up. I notice that people who are unfamiliar with snakes even tend to stress out my snakes that are accustomed to handling.

When I get a new snake and it hides and doesn't come out, it doesn't get handled until it's out exploring. That might be a week, 10 days, 2 hrs, whatever. The exception is that it will get picked up and removed briefly if there is a mess in the tub that demands immediate attention.

I've had some snakes that waited a week or so to start feeding. I've had others who were front and center looking for food the evening I got them. As much as possible, I give the snake what it wants. That might be privacy and that might be "bring me a rat" and so far it's worked well for me to accommodate what the individual snake seems ready for.

Okay, thank you for all the replies! :3
She never freaks out when I hold her, she seems quite calm when I take her out.

I'm not inexperienced with holding snakes. This is my first ball python, but I've held plenty of snakes before. I be very caferful to be calm and gentle with holding her so she doesn't get scared. I don't put my hand over her head either since she's head shy.

my BP was a present and after I got home form work and checked him out he had mites. So day 1, 2 and 3 I gave him a 10 min warm bath and dry to get rid of the mites. Each day I handeled him for about 20 min and watch his face for mites. On day 5 I offered him a F/T mouse and he took it with no problem and hes acting totally normal ever since Ive had him.
after ready about pet stores and petco in paticular I realized captive born means he probaly got imported from africa. but all this seems to not have stressed him out too bad
if your gonna handle him just keep it short and dont mess with the tank a whole lot. i think they like the temp of being held by humans but i think the clanking of the cage all the time when he is hiding would be more stressful

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Originally Posted by fluffpuffgerbil

That seems to be how my snake is acting. I'll hold her for a bit, she'll wander around, then eventually go into her hot hide and sleep.
Haven't tried feeding yet, since I don't have any f/t rats yet. She was fed 2 days before I got her, the breeder told me that she would need fed in 3-5 days, but another breeder we were talking to about food for the snakes said to just wait until the weekend and offer a f/t rat pup.
She was on live rat pinks, but she's big enough she can eat day old rat pinks I guess. I just need to find somewhere to buy them.
Does anyone know if petsmart/petco has rat pinks, FT?

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Yea they do but very expensive for 4 Mice it's 12$ at petsmart but I buy mine for a local exotics store I get the. For 1$ a mice so google ur area and see if there are some pets stores