Questions on handling

[TheMacPanther]

I just (as of about 2-3 hours ago) received my first ball python from a good friend who was moving and couldn't keep him, he never handled it much save for feeding it and I would like to start handling it pseudo-soon. This is my first snake and I was wondering if anybody had any suggestions on how to start? He told me it was about 5-6 years old, is this too old to get it used to human contact?

P.S. All other advice on keeping it is more than welcome, I want to make as few costly mistakes as possible.

Thanks

[ShaolinShadowBoxer]

give him/her about a week before you start handleing, u dont want to stress him/her out anymore than it prbly is from being moved to a new home, i usally give about 1week before i feed a newly aquierd bp, then start handleing the following week, also what kind of set up are working with? if it hasnt had much human contact once u do start handling it do so about 2-3 times a week so that it gets comfortable with you, there pretty calm by nature so every thing should be fine.