Does my new snake need an adjustment period before I handle him?

There really is no set time. It depends on each individual snake. A new snake should not be handled for about a week after arriving home. A snake should also not be handled for 1-2 days after feeding. If it is cold outside or in the house, limit handling to prevent chill. That said, handle Bruce for 15-20 minutes 3-5 times weekly. If he seems stressed or tries to escape your hold, then return him to his enclosure or don't handle him that day.

Thanks for reaching out about Adoniss. You should start handling him again to familiarize him with your touch. It is not uncommon for ball pythons to hibernate for several months in the cold weather. Start again. Good luck.

Find out when the snake was last fed. If it was fed recently, wait 3-5 days before feeding at home. If it hasn't eaten recently, it may eat right away. Each snake is different and not all will adhere to general guidelines.

Yes, it's definitely common for pythons to take some time to settle in to a new environment - this can make them a bit more irritable about being handled for a while in some cases, and can also mean that they may not eat at first. I would recommend giving them a week or two to settle in before becoming too concerned about this, as long as they seem to be doing fine otherwise.

You will need to gradually acclimate Peanut to handling. Begin by simply sitting by the cage for ever increasing periods of time. Move slowly and speak softly around her. She may retreat to her hide or to the far side of the cage initially. Don't worry, this us normal. When she becomes more accepting and calm, progress to placing your hand in the enclosure. Again, for ever increasing periods of time. She may once again retreat. Make no attempt to touch or hold her. Use small treats to coax her closer to you then onto your hand. Be patient and be consistent. The more you interact with her, the quicker she will become acclimated.

It may be a combination of being in a small cage and a new environment. Ball pythons are notorious for not eating if stressed. Make sure the temperature is correct also. A cold snake will not eat. Wait a few days, then offer a pinkie at dusk of in the evening. Gently tap her nose to elicit a strike. Cover the cage for more privacy/security. You can also try scenting the pinkie with some used gerbil bedding. Ask the local pet store if you can have some from the gerbil cages.

If he isn't struggling or trying to escape, he's probably okay with being held. Don't hold him for too long initially. Gradually increase the handling time to acclimate him. Even though he doesn't struggle, it may still be stressful, so he'll return to a safe place when returned to the enclosure. As he adjusts to his new surroundings, he may begin to explore. A "best guess" on age would be 12 to 16 weeks. Reptiles have different growth rates depending on diet, availability of food and environmental factors.