How long should I wait to handle my new BP?

[Slicercrush]

Hi guys! Recently, on Sunday, I went to the White Plains reptile show, and bought myself a little normal BP, which has now been named Paarthurnax. While coming home, since I was in the passenger seat, I took him out for a moment to give him another look over, and he seemed quite calm, flicking his tongue and trying to explore around him, before resting on my arm for the rest of the ride. After introducing him to his new tub setup, even though I had heard you should wait a few days, the breeder mentioned he hadn't fed in about a week, so I offered a thawed fuzzy, and he took it down quite quickly, but only after I laid it down in the cage and he could get a look at it for a few minutes. Its been about 2 days now, and with how comfortable he seems to already be, do you guys think it would be ok for me to start trying to handle him in small amounts? I'm not completely sure how old he is, but he is about 2 feet in length and a male, if that helps.

[Kira]

I recommend not handling him until he has had 2-3 consecutive meals. He's probably pretty stressed right now since he is in a new environment. Overhandling can lead to meal refusals. Waiting a few weeks can be hard but I assure you it's worth it as many new owners struggle with getting their new snakes to eat.

Keep in mind that ball pythons live 20+ years so you will have plenty of opportunities to handle him

[tttaylorrr]

wait for 3 consecutively successful feedings, which would be 3 weeks on a 7-day schedule. if he feeds once, but skips next week, then that clock resets.

[Craiga 01453]

I also prefer to wait for 3 consecutive feedings without refusal.

Also are you talking a mouse fuzzy? If so, that is too small for a BP. They eat hoppers out of the egg for 3-5 meals before moving up to small adult mice.

[Slicercrush]

I also prefer to wait for 3 consecutive feedings without refusal.

Also are you talking a mouse fuzzy? If so, that is too small for a BP. They eat hoppers out of the egg for 3-5 meals before moving up to small adult mice.

Rat fuzzy, but thanks!


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[c0r3yr0s3]

Paarthurnax? Isn't that a dragon from Skyrim? Great name choice

[Slicercrush]

Paarthurnax? Isn't that a dragon from Skyrim? Great name choice

Yep, friendly dragon of the greybeards little hard for people who dont know the game to pronounce, but personally i love it!

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[c0r3yr0s3]

Yep, friendly dragon of the greybeards little hard for people who dont know the game to pronounce, but personally i love it!

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I love that game... the blades are mad at me because I refuse to kill him. Well, that and I tried to kill them for trying to get me to do it but they are unkillable. That is the only xbox1 game that I got 100% completion on...back to the topic of your thread, definitely wait until 3 consecutive feedings. It's hard to do and I personally feel like I'm neglecting the snake but it's for their own good

[c0r3yr0s3]

Oh, I almost forgot.... please post pictures

[Slicercrush]

I love that game... the blades are mad at me because I refuse to kill him. Well, that and I tried to kill them for trying to get me to do it but they are unkillable. That is the only xbox1 game that I got 100% completion on...back to the topic of your thread, definitely wait until 3 consecutive feedings. It's hard to do and I personally feel like I'm neglecting the snake but it's for their own good

Itll be hard, but theres already one feeding down, and i know that itll help me in the longrun. He was just so cute when i first got him for inspection...but i have to be strong...


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