Just picked up a new pastel need help

[Sloburn]

I just went to my first reptile show and picked up a great looking hatchling male pastel. Pictures will be posted soon. I have always purchased pet shop snakes and held them first just to see how they react. Well I seen this guy he looked amazing. Well when I get him home I get his tub ready. When I pick him up he was shakin really bad and next thing you know he strck out just at mid air. So of course I realized he is a little scared. So I started to move him around a little bit to get im in his enclosure. Well he struck about 5 times before I got him secured in his enclosure. My question is. Is this typical for reptile show snakes. They are put on display all day long in a hot light then put back in the container they came in then moved around to a car then into their new home. What would be the best thing to do before he is handled again? Give him a few days before he is held?

Thanks for the help!
Kevin

[FatBoy]

Just let him be for a few days to settle into his new enviroment. Make sure all his husbandry is CORRECT. Chances are he will settle down and allow himself to be handled. I have a 06 female that I have had for 2 years and I still can't handle her. Some are just skittish, usually the girls! LOL

[Argentra]

Precisely. Most young snakes are skittish, especially after being in a show all day and lugged around. Leave him alone in his new enclosure for at least a week without doing anything but spot cleanings and water changes. Then feed him but don't handle him. Once he's feeding consistently, THEN you can start holding him and getting him used to you.

Hopefully he won't be one of those rare stubborn snakes that hates being handled...like my Het Albino male. At least I have plenty of other snakes that love being held to make up for him and any new ones I have to leave alone (spider female currently).