Acclimation

[snake_lady83]

I made the mistake of handling my snake for the first 3 days or so when I first got her. I also had her in a tank that was much too large. I took everyone's advice and moved her to a basic tub setup. She has been in her new home for 7 or 8 days now and she has been using her hides that I made for her. The only time that I have disturbed her was to change the paper towels on the bottom and change her water.

Do you think it's "safe" to start holding her? How often and how long do you guys handle your snakes generally. I don't want her to be scared of me, but at the same time I don't want to go overboard and stress her...

Any advice will be a help!

[recycling goddess]

it's definitely time to start handling your new girl. i never handle mine longer than an hour and i start them off with shorter periods... like 15-30 minutes max.

just make sure you wait 48 hrs after feeding... and never handle her on feeding day... otherwise... ENJOY!

[Slithers]

i dont want to be redundant, so Ill just say I agree!

[SatanicIntention]

I prefer to get my babies eating and settled before I start any handling. Waiting after they've had 2-3 meals ensures they will be on a good schedule and shouldn't be stressed. Try feeding her and then 2 days later, handle her for 5-10 minutes. Then wait until 2 days after the next feeding day to handle her again, maybe 5-10 minutes that day as well. Work your way up to about 20 minutes or so per week. I handle all of my Ball Pythons maybe 5-10 minutes twice per week, but the boa, since he doesn't stress regardless of the situation, gets to stay out as long as he isn't trying to go everywhere(which is usually around 2 hours or so.

The balls just stress easily, and I prefer to keep mine eating and growing and doing what they should be doing without me pestering them with too much handling. 5-10 minutes 2 days after feeding day should be enough to get her started

[frankykeno]

I'd agree with Becky on this. Make sure you have at least 3 consecutive weekly feeds first then worry about handling. In the meantime the snake will get used to your scent and movement while you are doing cage cleaning, water changing and so forth. Maybe just an occasional light stroke down her spine to get her used to your gentle touch but I'd leave the actual removing her and handling her sessions until she's an established eater. You have a good 20 years of handling ahead of you but only a finite time to get a good eating pattern established.

[snake_lady83]

Ok. I'm going to try feeding her tonight. Cross your fingers for me!

[frankykeno]

All the crossable bits crossed!

[snake_lady83]

Thanks. I really hope that she eats. I know they can go for lengths of time without eating and be fine, but I'm going to worry just like most mommy's do till she eats for me. "No dessert till you eat your fuzzie young lady" lol