Especially for young snakes, a new home with new enclosure and accessories can be stressful...sort of like us being abducted by aliens and dropped in a new state.I usually give mine about a week to settle in before I offer the first prey item. I don’t handle any more than absolutely necessary until they are consistently eating - minimum 2-3 meals. So only if I need to remove them to clean the cage or change water. This is the hardest part for me...waiting.
In my opinion, having your hands hovering nearby probably feels threatening...giving your little one a fear that “a big creature is going to grab and eat me”. When it comes to handling I try to come from the side, versus overhead, and gently scoop them up. Little ones will hiss and strike, though often without an actual bite. With gentle consistent handling, they will calm down. It takes patience and perseverance. I also recommend keeping handling sessions short, 10-15 minutes tops to keep from stressing them out too much but giving them enough time to get used to you.
Reply With Quote