Hello, all...I am basically a newb when it comes to BPs, and this forum has been invaluable to me so far, so if I may bend your ear for a moment...

My BP is about 13 weeks old. He had his sixth feeding last Sunday...I started handling him pretty frequently on Tuesday, and I'm just looking for any opinions on whether or not I'm overdoing the handling.

For the first week after I adopted him, there was no handling and very little hassling. He went into a hide after about 20 minutes in his new tank and started camping out. He had been on an every-five-days feeding schedule, and I tried to keep that schedule. So the "hassling" he was subjected to was just feeding attempts (he's fed in his regular tank). At day 5, I offered him a f/t he was not into...I just put it out for him, properly thawed and heated, animated it a bit with the tongs...he just didn't care. Sniffed at it and went back to his hide. I didn't want to stress him so I left him completely alone on day six. On day seven I tried feeding again, he smashed a relatively large (for him) small mouse after about 10 seconds of deliberation. Days 8-10 I left him be to relax and digest, as per the breeders instructions. That brings me to this week.

The last few days, I've been getting home around midnight (all the interactions/feedings thus far have been right about midnight) and pulling him out of his hide to handle him for a half an hour or so. He's just fascinating...don't have to tell you guys that, though! During handling he seems very relaxed/comfortable. I'll keep a hand on him and let him crawl up around me but he usually just likes hanging out in hand, loosely wrapped around a wrist or something. He never coils or balls up, he's not very jumpy at all; he doesn't try to hide or escape. So, I have no reason to suspect he's "stressed" by the handling, but I'm also no expert. Is there a general rule about handling? Or can I handle as much as I want, so long as the snake isn't stressed out? And if he stressed, what should I be looking for--naturally, I'd assume any kind of defensive coiling or avoidance would indicate stress, but is there anything more subtle I should watch for? He makes no effort to "get away" or avoid being handled when I turn his hide over to get him out.

Any input is appreciated!