The sucky part of new snakes....

[ChrisBowsman]

I got an awesome BP for a great price. His enclosure was put together for next to nothing, and all temps and the humidity are pretty much spot on. My wife was ok with the purchase, so I'm not even in trouble there.

And I can't handle the stinking thing for another 5 days




(sorry.... I know everybody's been through it many times )

[bsd13]

When I first got mine he'd crawl up my arm while I was messing around with his water, setting up thermometers and whatnot. At first I kept putting him back but finally gave up and just started packing him around with me. Everyone I talked to said he'd be stressed and upset, but he ate right away, active at night, sleeps all day, isn't nippy.

All that to say in my limited experience the snake will tell you if it wants to be handled or not. I assumed I'd have to not touch him for at least 5 days, but he had other plans.

[ChrisBowsman]

I did hold him for awhile when I first got him. He was pretty skittish jumpy, so I'm gonna give him the time. Of course, he moved all the way from California to Ohio, so I think he earned some rest

[Ophiuchus]

IMO, the suckiest part of getting new snakes is the anxiety of whether they'll eat the first time you try them.

[ChrisBowsman]

Crap, I forgot about that.

[whitesnake12]

I really dont worry about if they eat the frist time i let them sit for two days take them out for 15 mins see how he/she is doing but if i can tell he/she dosent want to be handle i dont and BPs if they miss a meal or 2 no big deal at all. The only thing i worry about if it bites alot

[reptile3]

Same here, George wouldn't eat the first time, the second time I tried - he did only cause I put him in a container(holes in lid). Then found out he was sick with URI, but he is all better, eating like a PIG!!!

[SoCaliSon]

I adopted a 2 year old female BP last week from someone who could no longer take care of her. She had been kept in Zero humidity for I don't know how long. Her eyes had some dead skin on them that I have no idea how long it had been stuck there. The previous owners told me that they had stopped handling her because she had become aggressive. Well when I got her home and got her tank set up the way it should be... And to my surprise while I was moving things around she did not strike once... Just like in the above accounts... she started wrapping arounds my wrist trying to make it up my arm. Even after all the neglect she totally wanted to have that human contact and she has been like this since. She loves to come out and has shown no sign of stress or aggression. Even with the retained Eye caps it took her about 5 seconds to eat 2 days after I brought her home. I've been letting her chill in a warm wet pillow cased to try to get her to shed those eye caps but she is yet to do it. I have a vet coming to check her out. But After bringing her home I saw no strass or aggression towards me.