Stressed out new guy

[hollowlaughter]

Yep. Don't handle the animal for a week. You're going to have them for 30 yrs.

Use that week to make husbandry changes to "engage" with your snake. Are the sides of the enclosure covered? Covering three of them can help a BP feel more secure. What size are the hides and do they fit the animal somewhat snugly? If not, consider stuffing them some with paper towel.

It's a point of contention, but the babies I've seen on substrate in large enclosures have done better (YMMV) since they can burrow into it to feel secure.

Also consider adding fake plants from the dollar store, I bought several garlands recently to add to mine's enclosure and it's definitely helped him feel more secure sitting around. PVC pipe has helped as well, giving them tunnels to move around the enclosure out of sight.

Win/win, since that means I get to see him out of his hides looking around far more often. Just wash them first.

Here's how I do the F/T ritual:

• Begin thawing rodent in snake's room at evening.
• Once thawed in water, take it out. Towel dry it a little.
• Start heating with a blow dryer. Continue until dry & fluffy.
• Insides should feel loose. Don't offer half-frozen.

Usually it takes all of 5 minutes until mine is showing interest. This is, for him, coming out of his hide and staring forward through the glass at me, doing an "s curve" with his neck, stiff and alert. Means he smells it coming.

If you get that interest, continue on.

• Focus on warming the head. Aim for about 100F/warm to the touch.
• Immediately offer on tongs to snake, grasping by the feet/tail.
• At this point, your snake may be following the prey already.
• Keep it still, wait for them to strike.
• If they don't, try swinging it very slowly/moving it side to side.
• If there's no response to this, take it out, reheat the body/head.
• Try again.
• If this continues not to work, try making the rodent seem alive.
• Keep the head heated up through this.
• If none of these work you may have a shy feeder.
• Heat the rodent one more time, leave in enclosure on cardboard plate.
• Check if it's been eaten in the morning.
• If not, remove. Do not reheat or refreeze. Toss it.