Acclimating hatchling - when to feed?

[NH93]

Hey everyone,

I bought my first ball python this weekend at the CRBE in Toronto (which I have already posted about, yay!), and I am wondering, how long should I wait to feed him?

Knowing he is two months old, he should be eating every 5-6 days... however, I also know that I should wait about a week (yes?) before trying to handle or disturb him. I made this mistake with my first corn snake, by not acclimating her correctly her first week. I fed her two days after getting her on her regular schedule, and also handled her the first and second day of having her (oops...).

So, I got Beau on Saturday, and was going to wait until this upcoming Sunday to try handling him, and thought about trying to feed him the Monday. Unfortunately, he is in blue right now, and I have no idea when he will shed. I ALSO have no idea when he last ate!
He was CRAZY active last night, most likely looking for food.
So now I am wondering; do I wait to feed him until Monday when he has hopefully shed (meaning he has probably gone 10+ days without a feeding), or do I feed him before the week of acclimation is up??

I think I may get a hold of his breeder to see when he last ate.
Please feel free to give me your opinions, or other suggestions!

Thanks for reading

[MrLang]

Congrats on your new snake!

They can go a long time without eating. I personally would wait until after he sheds to try feeding. It shouldn't matter the last time he ate unless he looks deathly thin - which is probably not the case. The hungrier he is, the more likely he will be to eat for you on the first try. I would wait until after he eats at least once or twice before handling - and always wait 48 hours after a meal to handle.

[NH93]

I assume I should wait to handle him after the feedings, to make sure he is actually feeding properly and not too stressed?
This is going to be tough... I don't want to wait two more weeks!

[Rickys_Reptiles]

He's going to shed in a few days. I'd offer food the day after he sheds. Don't worry about food now - just make sure to keep his humidity high for the next few days

[NH93]

Also, I suppose I should mention that I will be feeding him outside of his vive - so waiting to handling him until after his first feeding is technically not possible (but I could just not "play" with him beforehand). I know everyone has their own opinions about this, but mine stands firm that it is something I want to do with all of my snakes. I also feed ONLY f/t, not live. Luckily he has been eating f/t already!

But going back to my other question; I should wait to handle/feed until after he sheds?

Thanks!

EDIT: Thank you Ricky, I uploaded this question right after your post and didn't see it!

[Neal]

Yea just bump up the humidity and let him shed, then actually I'd probably wait until the day after he sheds just to let him fully recover from shedding.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Also, I suppose I should mention that I will be feeding him outside of his vive - so waiting to handling him until after his first feeding is technically not possible (but I could just not "play" with him beforehand). I know everyone has their own opinions about this, but mine stands firm that it is something I want to do with all of my snakes. I also feed ONLY f/t, not live. Luckily he has been eating f/t already!

But going back to my other question; I should wait to handle/feed until after he sheds?

Thanks!

If I may offer some friendly advise

1) Feed him inside his viv. If you're really against it (not sure why you would be) then - once he's coiled around the rat, quickly put him in a separate tub to finish. Moving prior to feeding can often times cause your BP to refuse food, especially as hatchlings. BPs are much pickier than corns.


2) I'd leave him alone until he's done shedding, and done eating.

Drew is very available though, if you have questions about feeding etc I'd contact him. If you dont have his phone # or email he replies to messages on his FB very quickly.

[Neal]

If I may offer some friendly advise

1) Feed him inside his viv. If you're really against it (not sure why you would be) then - once he's coiled around the rat, quickly put him in a separate tub to finish. Moving prior to feeding can often times cause your BP to refuse food, especially as hatchlings. BPs are much pickier than corns.


2) I'd leave him alone until he's done shedding, and done eating.

Drew is very available though, if you have questions about feeding etc I'd contact him. If you dont have his phone # or email he replies to messages on his FB very quickly.

Yea I missed the post about the feeding him outside of his enclosure. I wouldn't particularly do this with BP's because of the vast number of things that can make them go off fed.

[NH93]

Thanks for the advice! I have contacted Andrew (or Drew?) to see when Beau's last feed was.
As a few others have suggested, I will wait until Beau sheds to feed him.

I don't want to feed in his vive because I have had a bad experience with a cage-aggressive corn -- I realize that they are different, and that BPs are pickier, but it is something I'd like to learn for myself, and also hopefully, if possible, get my snakes in the habit of. The corn has already gotten the hang of it.
Obviously I want what is best for my pets, but the BP is young, and I'm hoping to be able to "shape" him, if that makes sense?

I promise I won't come back in a few weeks saying "My BP won't eat!" if he gets stressed about moving containers

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Thanks for the advice! I have contacted Andrew (or Drew?) to see when Beau's last feed was.
As a few others have suggested, I will wait until Beau sheds to feed him.

I don't want to feed in his vive because I have had a bad experience with a cage-aggressive corn -- I realize that they are different, and that BPs are pickier, but it is something I'd like to learn for myself, and also hopefully, if possible, get my snakes in the habit of. The corn has already gotten the hang of it.
Obviously I want what is best for my pets, but the BP is young, and I'm hoping to be able to "shape" him, if that makes sense?

I promise I won't come back in a few weeks saying "My BP won't eat!" if he gets stressed about moving containers

Snakes can't learn, their brains lack that ability.

As long as you handle your snake regularly, he'll be fine. I promise you (and you can hold me to this) feeding your snake in its enclosure will not make him "cage aggressive".

It is your call though, you are it's mother now and you need to do what you feel is best

Just remember. Corns and Ball Pythons are as similar as a Whopper and a Big Mac. Similar - but not the same. I hope you know what I mean