mlededee, I bought snakes from Alan Bosch as well, but at the Dixie Reptile Show in Birmingham. He is a good guy. It's not a hard and fast rule that a week is how long it takes to settle in, but it is a good general guideline, particularly as some snakes actually take longer than that to destress and settle properly. I know it's difficult to leave them alone for an entire week, but it really is better to do it.