Adjustment time

I know snakes who've been mailed especially need time to adjust and recover from their trip. For Falkor, we gave 3 days as recommended and I've read that BPs need 2 weeks! How long do you guys recommend as far as just letting Gomez be and letting him settle in? Do you have a process that you follow with new snakes? We want this to be as low stress as possible for the little guy.

A week with no disturbances......then after two successful feeding....I usually handle. One of the best indicators of ball python stress is its appetite....it it eats well, then it is most likely not stressed....but if it is not eating, give it some time alone and make sure it feels secure. Did that answer your question? ;)

Just a note about handling...some take to it well, others don't. We're finding with our bp's though if we make it low stress it seems to work really well. Things like handling in the evening when they are more naturally active, making sure the transition from enclosure to hand and back to enclosure is very quiet and smooth, giving the snake a moment to know you are there and establishing habits and routines so they get to recognize they are about to be lifted from their "home"....seems to help even our most stubborn snake Brannagh to accept handling better.

It's the hardest part of getting in a new snake to leave it be for that first week and even then to keep handling to a minimum while you establish a good feeding pattern. Believe me, everyone here will know how you folks feel. We all go through it every single time we get a snake no matter how many we already own....the "itching to touch" syndrome LOL.

It'll pass quick enough though and you'll have a lovely snake for all your efforts I'm quite sure. Oh and don't forget the irrestible urge to get more royal pythons and the raging case of obsessive-compulsive disorder free with every snake purchased! :P


~~Jo~~

While a week or more being left alone except for cleaning is ideal, I would just see how he reacts to his new environment and the stress of shipping. He may be perfectly fine in a couple of days and ready to eat and then a couple days later, ready for a short handling session. I would just play it by ear! Oh by the way, I can send along some obsessive compulsive disorder if you need some! Oops, time to check the thermometers again!! :)

I'd make fun of Jamie's raging OCD but I'm far too busy checking to see who pooped, who didn't poop, who ate, who didn't eat, whose in shed and why isn't that other snake in shed and obsessively staring at a spot on Rionach that might (or might not be) something I need to (or perhaps don't need to) worry about.....................:P


~~Jo~~

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

I'd make fun of Jamie's raging OCD but I'm far too busy checking to see who pooped, who didn't poop, who ate, who didn't eat, whose in shed and why isn't that other snake in shed and obsessively staring at a spot on Rionach that might (or might not be) something I need to (or perhaps don't need to) worry about.....................:P


~~Jo~~

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We are a scary group of people...

lol! You guys crack me up. :) If there's anything people *should* be OCD about, it's taking care of their critters. Cool, we'll just take it slow and play it by ear. It's Gomez's show, and we'll pay close attention to what he wants and needs. /(^v^)\

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Originally Posted by MedusasOwl

lol! You guys crack me up. :) If there's anything people *should* be OCD about, it's taking care of their critters. Cool, we'll just take it slow and play it by ear. It's Gomez's show, and we'll pay close attention to what he wants and needs. /(^v^)\

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I have no doubt in my mind! He will be ready to go a week from tomorrow. He will probably eat on Wednesday so it will give him a full 5 days and an empty belly to travel. He has been eating every 5 days or every 7. I like to switch it up with all my snakes.

Okay great! I'm axious to get his set up together asap! I haven't heard from Matt yet, so I might panic and get a more typical UTH later this week.

Matt should be able to get you set up. Give him a call tomorrow if you don't hear. He is very good about getting back to people but the holiday season is nutty! You only need to have it set up long enough to stabilize the temperature on the hot side to 90-94. Shouldnt take more than a day to get things in place.

I'm being very excitable and panicky, he'll probably get back to me tomorrow. Either way I'll get in touch and try to calm down. :)

Believe me, I get the nervousness! No worries, it'll all work out fine...

Glad to know that even more experienced folk in pet delivery get the nervousness ;) I fret over every little thing sometimes because I love em so much and want to do right by them. Hence researching like mad.

You should have seen me when we got Falkor. The delivery person came really early and I was still in bed (I tend to work late at night) but I shot straight into the livingroom out of a near dead sleep, lol! Poor delivery lady probably thought I was crazy, I looked awful but SO happy. Same lady delivered the frozen mice too, I bet it'll be her with Gomez. I think I amuse her with my reptile excitement antics. /(^v^)\

Don't worry about it Sheree, we're all the same! When our lovely male came in from Adam at 8BallPythons I could barely sleep for checking the FedEx tracking site constantly LOL. I swear when the FedEx guy arrived that morning I nearly snatched the box out of his hand, scribbled my name quickly and I hate to say it, but I think I slammed the door in his face as I ran off to open the box.

Snake people are nuts, we need a support group (but then we'd only spend the whole time snarfing down coffee & donuts and talking snake anyways LOL). Wait till the breeders start hatching out next year's clutch and you get to level #2 of the addiction....the obsessive daily checking of their websites for any announcements....I was pretty normal till Daniel hooked me on that! :P


~~Jo~~

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Don't worry about it Sheree, we're all the same! When our lovely male came in from Adam at 8BallPythons I could barely sleep for checking the FedEx tracking site constantly LOL. I swear when the FedEx guy arrived that morning I nearly snatched the box out of his hand, scribbled my name quickly and I hate to say it, but I think I slammed the door in his face as I ran off to open the box.

Snake people are nuts, we need a support group (but then we'd only spend the whole time snarfing down coffee & donuts and talking snake anyways LOL). Wait till the breeders start hatching out next year's clutch and you get to level #2 of the addiction....the obsessive daily checking of their websites for any announcements....I was pretty normal till Daniel hooked me on that! :P


~~Jo~~

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So true! You should see my list of must haves...I think I am definitely going to change my direct deposit to go right to Adam!!

Pitiful bunch we are. I've already got plans for my "free" check in January (the one that comes twice a year when you're paid every two weeks that has no bills or rent due against them), my profit sharing check (I have no clue how much or how little that will be), my tax money, my "free" check in August (yup, already figured when the second "free" check fell) and my vested stock options! LOL

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Snake people are nuts, we need a support group (but then we'd only spend the whole time snarfing down coffee & donuts and talking snake anyways LOL). Wait till the breeders start hatching out next year's clutch and you get to level #2 of the addiction....the obsessive daily checking of their websites for any announcements....I was pretty normal till Daniel hooked me on that! :P

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You're an evil evil temptress, you know that? :devilish: Evil! Stop tempting me! :P lol!

Actually we only really have room for one more, so seriously I can't go browsing. We have room for Gomez and for if/when Gomez needs a cage upgrade, but no room for another tank so... Till we get a house, Falkor and Gomez are it in the herp department. Our last baby of any species for a good while. But someday... yeah. You know I'll be scary, lol! And luckily for me, Karen loves the snakes to bits and has given me carte blanche when we have the space and money. But till then... *resists level 2!!*

*joins the support group and has some donuts* Hi, my name is Sheree, and I have Multiple Snake Aquisition Disorder :no:

MSAD... fortunately i haven't got that disorder yet. *whew* but if it becomes anything like the rest of my life (10 fish tanks - multiple birds, multiple cats, multiple kids, multiple lizards, multiple frogs... oh man i'm scaring myself)

no worries, i'll be there soon enough!

Hehe, I actually got that from MPAD which is more all inclusive, which I most certainly have ;) It sounds like you've already got a bad case of it too!

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Originally Posted by MedusasOwl

Actually we only really have room for one more, so seriously I can't go browsing. We have room for Gomez and for if/when Gomez needs a cage upgrade, but no room for another tank so...

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Ahhhh, but see, the thing is, you only THINK you have room for one more! I'm in a one bedroom apartment. I swore Kashmire was the last pet.

Now I've cleaned off the computer desk in the bedroom to make space for two more girls in rubbermaid tubs (perfect, because it's really two shelves that these will fit perfectly on, and there IS an identical desk in the living room that could be cleared off too if needed), and I've cleared out an area where I can put a rack with five tubs so that I can have five 'youn 'uns. And the rack is a very efficient use of space!

So, yeah...........carry on! :devilish: ;)

Oh Robin you genius! I had completely forgotten to add in those two extra paychecks next year! Gawd luv ya woman! LMAO



~~Jo~~

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Oh Robin you genius! I had completely forgotten to add in those two extra paychecks next year! Gawd luv ya woman! LMAO



~~Jo~~

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*chuckle* I try! LOL Those two extra paychecks each year have purchased some fun things! Although the one in August may have to finance a trip to Daytona! LOL

And if our stock continues to go up, those vested stock options will be financing some new snakes too!