Does anyone not leave new snakes alone for a week?

How do you know if a snake is stressed or not?

Just because you picked it up and it isn't fighting being held is not a reliable indicator. Balls are fairly docile. It's not that they like being held - as a rule, they just aren't programmed to fight back against being handled.

Eating? Does the fact that's it's eating mean that it is not stressed? Does the fact that a snake doesn't eat always mean it IS stressed?

I see alot of justifications being tossed back and forth for messing with an animal shortly after bringing it home. When it comes down to it, other than gratifying an owners need to hold his/her new animal, what is the benefit of not waiting?

Bottom line is that some stressed snakes will tolerate being handled. Some stressed snakes will even eat. Stressed snakes will even use their hides and in general, will seem outwardly calm - none of these behaviors exclude the possibility that the animal is stressed.

Likewise an acclimated animal can strike, go off feed or act agitated.

When I move a snake from one enclosure to another, I give it time to adjust to it's new surroundings. When I get a new snake I give it time to acclimate.

I'm not saying that everyone should wait seven days. I'm just advocating that it's a relatively painless way to INSURE that there are no issues acclimating new arrivals.

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

I'm not saying that everyone should wait seven days. I'm just advocating that it's a relatively painless way to INSURE that there are no issues acclimating new arrivals.

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To use your own argument against you, how do you know that 7 days is enough? Maybe you need to wait a month. Maybe you should wait until their first shed. Maybe you should never handle them at all to avoid the fact that you might stress them out. What made 7 days the magic number?

My point is, either you're right and you can never have any way of knowing if they're stressed, or you have to admit to one of the following:
1) Acknowledge that there are external signs of stress to indicate when a snake wants to be left alone
2) Admit that some stress may be present, but it likely not that harmful as long as the snake is acting "normal"

Either way, I think as long as your snake isn't trying to attack you constantly, is eating, and isn't trying to kill itself to escape, it means you're probably ok.

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Originally Posted by Jeo123

To use your own argument against you, how do you know that 7 days is enough? Maybe you need to wait a month. Maybe you should wait until their first shed. Maybe you should never handle them at all to avoid the fact that you might stress them out. What made 7 days the magic number?

My point is, either you're right and you can never have any way of knowing if they're stressed, or you have to admit to one of the following:
1) Acknowledge that there are external signs of stress to indicate when a snake wants to be left alone
2) Admit that some stress may be present, but it likely not that harmful as long as the snake is acting "normal"

Either way, I think as long as your snake isn't trying to attack you constantly, is eating, and isn't trying to kill itself to escape, it means you're probably ok.

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Why not just wait 7 days to be safe?

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, why not leave the animal alone for a week to allow it to acclimate? This whole idea that someone can't control themselves for 7 lousy days and stop touching or mucking with an animal is ridiculous. Wait 7 days and let the animal get used to it's new surroundings. There's no argument outside of a health emergency to NOT be safe.

The whole point of my post was to point out that there are often not any indicators present - which means that you can't ASSume it's not stressed because it's eating or not biting.

It's not a discussion about why I'M right. It's an attempt to get people to acknowledge that the standard acclimation time of 7 days that most of the hobby goes by is set for a reason.

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

Why not just wait 7 days to be safe?

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, why not leave the animal alone for a week to allow it to acclimate? This whole idea that someone can't control themselves for 7 lousy days and stop touching or mucking with an animal is ridiculous. Wait 7 days and let the animal get used to it's new surroundings. There's no argument outside of a health emergency to NOT be safe.

The whole point of my post was to point out that there are often not any indicators present - which means that you can't ASSume it's not stressed because it's eating or not biting.

It's not a discussion about why I'M right. It's an attempt to get people to acknowledge that the standard acclimation time of 7 days that most of the hobby goes by is set for a reason.

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Couldn't have said it better myself.

In this age of instant gratification, it's hard to get that point across. Seven days isn't going to kill anyone to wait. You're going to have YEARS with your new pet, why not let them have the BEST start possible?

Why is it that it SEEMS the newer keepers want to just dismiss a time held and respected guideline amongst those who have worked with these animals and have had time and the experience to observe the subtle behaviors that indicate stress, but that a new keeper interprets as "happiness" ("always active" and "want to be out with me" are some of my favorites)?

That said, I'm guilty of the itch to want to mess with and hold new critters. I have a POG that's been here less than a week that I just love to pieces that I'm itching to hold and "play" with. But I'm leaving him alone.

I want to add a couple things.

You can't say "she loves being held" because snakes merely tolerate it. Some better than others. She probably doesn't prefer to be held over being in her hide, but she may not mind it either. So be careful ... we have to remember that snakes do not think this way.

Also, I would get the pinks from the guy on CL. That is a bit high of a price for today's market, but maybe not in your area and a hell of a lot cheaper than it will be at petco/petsmart.
I would try to find little pet stores though, they often have them as well.

thanks for all the replies, I'll keep what you've all said in mind. the biggest indicator of whether's she too stressed is if she'll eat or not saturday.
I can see she's not very happy in her cage right now since she's always looking for a way out. Why, I'm not too sure, the only thing is the humidity is too high, but there's no condensation so I'm not too worried about it. The coolside is at 75*F, maybe a little more in the day and drops to 70*F at night, but this one guy I'm talking to who keeps and breeds ball pythons told me not to worry too much about the coolside as long as the hotside temps are fine(which they are).
I agree that the 7 day rule is important and if I have her out at all, it's only for a few minutes, maybe less then a few minutes and then she's right back in her home. Almost all animals have a '7 day rule' that people recommend, but I haven't seen much point in it with others. I won't handle her much until I make sure she'll eat, but I won't be cursed for life if I take her out for a minute and put her back in. I'm apparently not the only one who hasn't followed the guidline for leaving the snake alone for 7 days. Anyway, I hope this didn't come across in a snappy or rude tone, I don't mean for it to sound that way, but it's hard to set a certain tone over the internet, I'm sure you can understand. :3

Thanks again for all the posts, I appreciate it.

The restlessness is sure a sign of stress, settling into the cage. Once you find her in her hide, it will give some ease of mind. Most of the time this is the case in my experience anyway. All snakes are different. This is a sign you should probably leave her alone for a little while longer.

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Originally Posted by Jessica Loesch

The restlessness is sure a sign of stress, settling into the cage. Once you find her in her hide, it will give some ease of mind. Most of the time this is the case in my experience anyway. All snakes are different. This is a sign you should probably leave her alone for a little while longer.

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Agreed. Restlessness and trying to constantly escape is one indicator of stress.

A "happy" ball python is one that stays inside its hide most of the day and comes out to lazily cruise in the evenings.

Yes, I don't bug her if she's in her hide. I only took her out for a bit today because when I got home she was wandering about. Coolside temps went up, humidity down, so it's still working itself out. I plan on not holding her for the next few days since it's getting close to the time to feed her.
Is it possible she may not feel secure enough? I do have some fake leaves I could put in there to clutter it up more incase she feels too exposed. Her hides are too big for her also, she only takes up 1/3 of the room in there.

It's not about bugging her if she is in her hide... if she is in her hide, she probably isn't stressed. I take mine out of their hides all of the time, and I'm sure they don't like it but they don't seem to mind either.

If she is wandering, leave her alone, and let her work out her stress.

She will settle down as time goes on, she just has to get used to her new, strange home.