Does anyone not leave new snakes alone for a week?

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

So far I have left all three of mine alone for a week to get them acclimated no matter how hard it was to do, so I can't speak about that. I have seen some people that say there BP seemed ok and fed them 2 days after getting them home with no ill effects. There's really no way of saying for sure that nothing will or won't happen and you may end up beating yourself up because your new BP is stressed out and roams around it's tub all the time and then won't eat. Again not saying it will or won't happen because each one is different.

We had a lot of trouble following the rule, and actually broke it. We regret it because he never acclimated well to his enclosure and it took him a lot longer to eat for us(It was bad enough he was in winter fast when we bought him. Add stress of new home and then being handled and put back and forth into the new home to being handled again etc. etc. etc...) and it was actually a few months before he would eat--live or f/t. We didn't know what we were doing and didn't know about reptile forums, only caresheets so we struggled. When we stopped handling he actually calmed down(he was prone to striking and hissing at anything) and finally settled into his home. Since then the only time he has hissed has been when I frightened him(was pulling out his waterbowl, it slipped out of my hand. He was sleeping in his hide when he was hit by the wave of water and was not pleased. We replaced the water and got him dry paper towels and he was good as new :P

Of course, our male was wild caught--We didn't realize it at the time, nor did we realize why it would be a bad idea. We just saw ball pythons and we had been doing research on them and decided we wanted one. We just assumed he was a breeder. Some snakes do fine, some don't. The rule just is a guideline..some snakes need more, some less..But if you wait 7 days you can feel more confident you have a snake that is okay in their new home!

Mine was handled from the second i got him home and ate very well the next day. Hes been a awsome eater as well. Doesnt strike or hiss.

I guess it just depends on the snake.

Yes, right now she's roaming around her tub. I've only held her for less than 10 minutes total today and am trying to leave her alone. I want her to feel comfortable in her tub. Thanks for the reply. (I've never left an animal alone for a week, so it'll be really tough.)

Didn't see the posts after RetiredJedi's!

My girl when I've held her at the expo, car, and at home hasn't hiss, striked, or balled at all. She's a little head shy, but that's normal for BPs.
Right now she's in her hotside hide with her head poking out..

I think I got pretty lucky, I brought Cid home and held him for a bit, then put him in his enclosure. He meandered for a bit then went straight into the hot side hide. 2 hours later I tossed a rat pup in there and he gobbled it up quickly. No issues or anything.

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?

I haven't seen rat pinks at the big chain store. I got mine at a local store then ordered them from mice direct and picked them up at Repticon.

Okay, I was thinking buying them from Rodentpro, but I don't need 100 of them!
I was thinking of just getting a few to make sure she'll eat them.

I found someone on craigslist who has live and ft rats and mice. The prices seem a little high for me, ($1.50 for one pink) and IDK if it's smart to buy them off someone on craigslist.
Here;s the add: http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/pet/2535482051.html

It doesn't look odd or anything. I also know the place in Portland has them. Well, I'm pretty sure they do. House of Reptiles, but Idon't really want to drive that far.
I could email the guy there and ask his prices if he has an email.

I didn't follow the rule and I haven't had any issues. She went off feed for a few months last winter, but other than that she's been good. She's actually extremely calm and has just been sitting here on my lap for over an hour now. She's not head shy at all(I'll regularly stroke her head) and she's never hissed or struck at me.

I held mine for the 2 hour ride back from the reptile show. Once home she ate right after being put in her tank. She has been handled every day (except the day after feeding) even during shed. She eats like a pig and is very calm.

Hm... I want to leave her alone for a week, but IDK if I'll be able to. XD she seems to love being held. I was prepared to hold a hatchling at the expo that would ball up or hiss or strike.
I held her and then my sis pointed to another and said that she liked that one, so I put this one back and held the other. She immediately curled up and was a lot thinner and smaller than the girl I ended up getting. I liked my new girl's spunk and attitude. She was active, slithered around my fingers, she did coil when my hand got too close to her head, so I was told just to not put my hand over her head. T'was fine, she seemed good.

She's eaten her last meals no problem according to the breeder, I plan to feed saturday.
IDK if it would hurt her any to be held a couple minutes a day, it may just cause her not to eat..
So then from what I've read, do they often go off feed in winter?

I held her the whole time in the car. (Was an hour drive) she seemed fine. She was a lot more stressed out in the tiny plastic bowl she was given to me in. She liked being held.
The only reason I see her having trouble feeding is that I'll be feeding something else than live pinkie mice. I'm going to try to get her on f/t pinky rats. (Would it be better to buy a live pinky rat to get her to eat it then next feeding offer a f/t pinky rat? And what do you do with a live pinky that doesn't get eaten?)

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Originally Posted by fluffpuffgerbil

Okay, I was thinking buying them from Rodentpro, but I don't need 100 of them!
I was thinking of just getting a few to make sure she'll eat them.

I found someone on craigslist who has live and ft rats and mice. The prices seem a little high for me, ($1.50 for one pink) and IDK if it's smart to buy them off someone on craigslist.
Here;s the add: http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/pet/2535482051.html

It doesn't look odd or anything. I also know the place in Portland has them. Well, I'm pretty sure they do. House of Reptiles, but Idon't really want to drive that far.
I could email the guy there and ask his prices if he has an email.

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Thats not a bad price and you can have a back up just in case she doesnt like the FT

I have always handled all of my snakes from day one... I have never had issues with feeding or anything. Of course they were'nt shy snakes and were out and about exploring the day they were brought home. I think it has to do with the snakes personality. For those who don't know what to look for in a stressed snake I would advise not to handle for the week...

I always wait 2 days, I then offer food. If they eat (all of mine have) I give 2 days to digest, then I will handle for a short time like 10-15 minutes. I will increase handling accordingly to their behavior.

mine was chill from day one but i gave her a week to get to know everything in her enclosure.while doing maintenance,refreshing the water bowl checking the temps lets her get used to your scent and your scent being in her domain.since your getting your husbandry down and all the stress from the move i would give her time.a week isnt too much to ask for when you have years to come.:D
im not gonna lie it was hard for me to stay away but i contained myself.:snake:
ive seen fuzzies at petsmart and petco im sure they have pinkie as well give em a call.

Okay, thank you for all the replies! If she seems not too stressed tomorrow, I'll make sure to leave her be so she can settle in, but I might say hi to her. (maybe not hold her, but pet her back or something. XD) I'll take it slowly. :3 Yes, I know I'll have a LONG time with her!

:fest:

its crazy to think about how long they can live.almost like a life long companion.

:D

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

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.

I agree that every snake is different and some will handle it well while others will boycott food, stress out, etc. I personally don't handle mine until 2 days after the first time they eat for me. IMO, it's not worth risking the potential stress just to handle my baby that I now own and have a lifetime to handle them under better circumstances.

Yeah, I see. She's working her stress out by herself now. XD

And it's true, I will have a lifetime to hold her, I suppose. :3 (Tis hard to leave a new pet alone when you've been waiting forever to get it though, but I'll deal with it)

When I first get new animals, I quarantine them for 1 month, and do not handle them for 2 weeks after I first get them. With established animals, I wait 2 days after feeding before handling (unless it's a notoriously snippy snake, we label them with Ws on the tub and give them an extra day or two before handling).

In the seven day time period it might help to leave her alone just to see if your husbandry is right. If she is doing a lot of roaming during the day then something maybe wrong. Maybe you need to adjust the temps, move to a quiet place etc. etc. Seven days isn't a rule but it's not a bad suggestion either.

ATM she's not roaming about.... apparently she was held while I was out catsitting for an hour...Our friends dropped by real quick on a walk and my sis brought her out so they could see her....
ATM the husbandry seems fine, except for humidity a little high.
Coolside: 78.4
Hotside: 93(could be lower I suppose, but that doesn't seem too awful)
Humidity: 74%
She's just lying there, part of her in her tub, part of her out.

I see you said he might get stressed from not being held? Or from being held? I couldn't tell. Snakes humor you holding them usually, and don't actually enjoy it like a dog or cat. Just let him settle in :)

One of mine (a normal female hatchling) ate on the same day it arrived from a plane trip. I let him rest for a day to digest the food and handled her, she is supre fine. I feed them twice a week. She is on her fifth feeding with me already. No problems here.

Same goes for my normal female, who I fed the day after she was delivered. No they are on the same feeding sched.

I don't wait at all. I handle all of my snakes. I'd honestly only wait the 7 days for a snake that is more delicate than a Ball Python. A Green Tree Python hatchling would definitely not be touched or handled for 7-10 days. They are by far the most delicate snakes to handle to begin with at the hatchling stage.

Trey

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Originally Posted by Sugarbone

I see you said he might get stressed from not being held? Or from being held? I couldn't tell. Snakes humor you holding them usually, and don't actually enjoy it like a dog or cat. Just let him settle in :)

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Heh, well, what I think I said was that she seems stressed after I put her back in her tub after she's held.
I don't even know why she's stressed right now.(Coolside is at 79!,Hotside 91.2, humidity 76%!)
I know the snakes just tolerate it. Actually, the cats hate being held. XD The better thing would be that the snakes don't like being held like a bearded dragon enjoys it.


It's actually nice to hear people don't wait and their snakes still are perfectly fine! I would like to hear someone who didn't wait and couldn't get their snake to eat at all.(I haven't heard anyone say that yet. They either wait the 7 days or hold and their snakes eat... Unless I missed someone's post saying they didn't wait and couldn't get the snake to eat.)

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Originally Posted by fluffpuffgerbil

Heh, well, what I think I said was that she seems stressed after I put her back in her tub after she's held.
I don't even know why she's stressed right now.(Coolside is at 79!,Hotside 91.2, humidity 76%!)
I know the snakes just tolerate it. Actually, the cats hate being held. XD The better thing would be that the snakes don't like being held like a bearded dragon enjoys it.


It's actually nice to hear people don't wait and their snakes still are perfectly fine! I would like to hear someone who didn't wait and couldn't get their snake to eat at all.(I haven't heard anyone say that yet. They either wait the 7 days or hold and their snakes eat... Unless I missed someone's post saying they didn't wait and couldn't get the snake to eat.)

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I've had several that I didn't wait for in my early days of keeping ball pythons that didn't eat. I had to then make myself NOT handle them until they ate for me, which in one case was almost 2 to 3 weeks later.

I'm not sure that you're really looking for experienced advice though? It sounds like you're really looking for "permission" to skip an acclimation period.

Bottom line, it's your snake. We can only offer you advice based on our own experiences. And those of us who have been doing this for several years and those who came before us, pretty much all agree that an acclimation period is pretty important, rather than selfishly getting our own instant gratification of handling the cute new addition before the week is up.

You'll need to make a decision for yourself and your snake. You'll always get differing views. It's pretty clear you're most interested in the views that give you permission to go ahead and handle and not worry about the acclimation period. So go for it! After all, your own personal experience is going to be your best teacher in the long run. :)