Quote Originally Posted by jjspirko
Nice pick up some day I need to have one of those specificly since they are native to the southwest and Texas.

On the feeding, everyone says wait a day or three or what ever number they seem to pluck from their butt on that day. My view is a stressed snake will not eat, if you offer and he/she eats that tells you they are not stressed.

Read "Keeper and the Kept" by Karl K and learn the orgin of the fame of the Okeetee Cornsnake. You will also read about how Karl (one of the real pioneers of modern herping), fed a new captive corn snake anoles FROM THE HAND only moments after catching.

I think the entire herp world is generaly well over thought. In most instances snakes need the following,

Good temps
A place to hide
Water
Food

If you give them that they are cool. They don't "think" they can't understand time. They only get the moment they are in, that is the entire ability of their mental functions. This is in part why they are relatively content in a small cage much smaller then the area they live in, in the wild.

I actually think it helps to feed a new snake. They eat and they then find a warm spot and sit and digest, how much better could you do for getting a new snake settled in. Think about a couch on Thanksgiving day after dinner, everyone is quite "settled in".

I honestly think when it comes to snakes most people think far to much! Dogma is not true just because it is accepted,
I agree

If I pick a snake up at a show I usually offer food right away because generally they weren't fed recently because of travel and I like to see if they are comfortable enough to eat.
I do limit the handling time as much as possible though.

As you said, seeing them eat and then settle into a new home is a good thing.