I also am new to the snake owners world but I am enjoin it very much
(I have had my snake for 5 days it came in his own cage witch was a good thing but it was nasty with no hide and starven so after haven him 24 hours I decided to go ahead and try to feed him and he ate pretty fast so I feed him another mice and waited 24 hours to clean his cage because it was truely nasty and I not that kinda person and I made him a nice cave to go into and the first day he was still active then guess he found out he liked his hide because he doest hardly come out during the day but in the morn it looks like he has redesigned it him self so he is coming out at night good luck with your snake and you got the best of help on this web sight people are great here and very helpful good luck