Stress from moving?

[IR_Slacker]

Hey all, just joined the forum here. I just got my first snake, Bella. Approximately 6 year old BP. She came from a home where they had her since she was just a baby. I was wondering, how long should I wait before I start trying to handle her and move her enclosure decorations around? I have already changed out her water and she has been exploring the tank and moving around quite nice. She doesn't seem too shook up about the car ride and being carried up 3 flights of stairs, but I am just curious as to what precautions should be made before my first attempts at handling.

Thanks in advance.

[jpsteele80]

Id give it about a week personally

[sharthun]

I would also wait until you have a successful feeding or two.

[aaron_cg]

What they said. One thing to remember is that snakes aren't able to show emotions like dogs and cats do. Sometimes it's hard to see the signs of stress in them. Let him chill out for a bit, then get him back on feeding, then get back to handling.

[IR_Slacker]

Well as far as waiting for a feeding or two, the previous owner said they would remove the snake and feed her in a tote bin. But as of late they had to just throw the rat in the tank with her because they couldn't care for her anymore. And that is also about 2-3 weeks from now. A solid week is do-able. She seems very friendly and curious!

[jpsteele80]

When I got my retic in I only had her 4 days before I fed her but I had all the info on her and she was hungry, do you have all the records on her? Feeding,shedding ect. If you have android there's a great app called reptile logger that keeps all that info.

[IR_Slacker]

Actually just got an android last week. I will have to check that out! She seems like she is just finishing a shed, there is still a few little pieces left on her in some spots. I will give it a week and then re-organize the enclosure to how I see fit (obviously with the snakes needs put before mine). Could use a nice spot cleaning, there is a few spots of poop laying around

[jpsteele80]

If she has spots where she still has old skin stuck on her the humidity isn't high enough, try bumping it up

[IR_Slacker]

I just got her today, I have since covered 3/4 of the top of the tank with plastic and misted a bit. I didn't wanna go crazy with the misting because it seemed to scare her. She has a water bowl she can fit in and another one just next to it. Going to wet the substrate pretty good tomorrow after work. Humidity is at 70%

[aaron_cg]

Also, feeding in the enclosure is better than feeding in a separate bin. Less stressful for them.

[IR_Slacker]

Doesn't that make the snake associate opening the lid with feeding and become more hostile when opening the lid?

[pdomensis]

Doesn't that make the snake associate opening the lid with feeding and become more hostile when opening the lid?

No more than the snake associating feeding with being put in a bin. I personally think it's nonsense either way. It won't take you too long to be able to see when the snake is in feeding mode and know when not to stick your hand too close. You can also try hook training. Usually a light tap will snap them out of feeding mode and they'll let you handle them.

[aaron_cg]

Exactly what he said. You can make hook for about $10 and about an hour of your time.

[EL Ziggy]

Feeding,shedding ect. If you have android there's a great app called reptile logger that keeps all that info.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the tip Steele. I was looking for a good android reptile app. I like the reptile logger. Has everything I need for record keeping.

[IR_Slacker]

So are we all in agreement then that feeding should be done inside the snakes tank?

Update btw, she seems to be exploring her tank quite a bit more and is definitely enjoying laying underneath the lamp I put on top. She keeps going to the top of the screen and smelling it or licking it, whatever that is that they do. I think she may be trying to catch the scent of my cat

[jpsteele80]

Thanks for the tip Steele. I was looking for a good android reptile app. I like the reptile logger. Has everything I need for record keeping.

No problem, it works really well for keeping records

[IR_Slacker]

So the owner said she would be looking for a rat in about 2 weeks, but she is extremely active tonight and is extending her body quite high up to the top of her tank, and licking the air. I was reading this indicates that she is "hunting" or looking for scents of food.. should I buy a rat tomorrow and offer it to her? I don't want to over-feed.

[moonchild]

Sorry if you already said so and I missed it, but do you know when the last time she ate was? I would go ahead and feed her if she seems hungry, unless she ate less than a week ago.

Also, do you know what size rats they were feeding? If they were too small, she might be getting hungrier more quickly. Just a thought.

[eminart]

So the owner said she would be looking for a rat in about 2 weeks,


Unless they had fed her the day you got her, I'd say you should feed her a little sooner. You can go longer, but I think 7-10 days is a good feeding schedule. Feed smaller items if it's too much food.

[IR_Slacker]

Well she ate a medium rat without hesitation. Devoured that thing! It didn't stand a chance lol.

[aaron_cg]

Congrats! The first feeding of a new Snake is always nerve racking.

[EL Ziggy]

Congrats on the successful first feed. One down, 782 to go :)

[sharthun]

Congrats!:)

[jpsteele80]

Congrats on the feeding

[IR_Slacker]

Thanks everyone!