You can hold them whenever, just preferably no longer than an hour or two.
Light?
Change the bedding completely every 6-8 weeks and spot clean daily.
For hatchlings, 5-7 days. Adults, 7-10 days.
Look at the largest part around your snake. Get a mouse/rat that big around.
Their eyes turn blue and their skin dull when they go into shed. One week after this happens, their eyes clear up. A day or two later, they shed. They shed when they're young anywhere from 3-6 weeks while adults shed every 4-6 weeks.
Turn the humidity up to 60%-70% and DON'T handle him.
And after feeding, don't handle for at least 36 hours, preferably 48 hours.
Sam