Day 3 and now what?

So today we will have had Monty for 3 days. He's been pretty timid and if he sees anyone come up while he is out he goes under the aspen or into a hide. I've changed his water and checked temps and such but haven't handled him since bringing him home.

He was fed last Thursday, I was thinking of feeding him this evening, so that way by the weekend when the kids are home we can start handling him some (we should wait 24 to 48 hours after feeding to handle him, right?). Or should I wait a few more days to feed him? Some of the pinkies we have are very tiny, so I was just going to give him a little one to start with.

I know I should feed him in a seperate container, I am going to use the little tub we brought him home in (plastic with a lid and air holes). However, should the tub be out of the viv, or should I put the bowl back into the viv? I was planning to thaw the mouse, then put it in the tub, put Monty in the tub, shut the lid, and let him do his thing. I was planning let him stay in the tub for about 30 minutes and then gently place him back in the viv. Does this all sound like a good plan? :shrugs:

I don't mean to seem nutty about it, but since this is his 1st feed with us I don't want to goof it up. My biggest concern really is stressing Monty out. Any thoughts?

I would feed him tonight...

I would start off with a small pinky to see how he does...


I would feed in a seperate container. What I do is thaw the mouse out, and then put it in the container. I then put the snake in there to do his thing. I come back about 20 mins later.

If it's only been three days...I would personally wait.
I usually wait at least a week after bringing them home to feed them...then two more days to handle them.

It is VERY hard to wait it out...believe me I know...the temptation drives you crazy...but if he is stressed (he is skittish when he sees movement outside the tank...although that is an indicator of nothing...so moot point...LOL) and happens to regurge it begins a whole new WORLD of problems in a hatchling that could have been prevented.

Worth the wait...hard as it may be.

Alias47 said:

If it's only been three days...I would personally wait.
I usually wait at least a week after bringing them home to feed them...then two more days to handle them.

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Wow! My fault...for some reason I was thinking you had her since she last ate...I too would wait until you had her for a week...I waited a week to feed all my new corn snakes...Sorry !!

I thought everything I'd read said to wait 3 to 5 days then feed, then handle? I should wait 1 week to feed him, and then a few more days to handle him?

Monty is 5 to 6 months old, is he still considered a hatchling?

yeah waiting can be hard, especially with the kids all excited. Just change the water and take the kids to a good movie so as to keep them distracted
You can also placing a piece of clothing so that the snake gets somewhat used to your scent

lol gatorlink, i just noticed you have the exact same tree in your avvy, and aspen, adn your snake looks almost identical to mine =p, well anyways my snake te last on thrusday and i picked him up last friday, i was gunna feed him today by buying a mice from the pet store, but mine from thebigcheesefactory are gunna be here tommorw so ill wait. till tommorw to feed

I know this is against everyones recomendations and I dont want to spark a debate, but everytime I have gotten a new snake, I offed it food within a few hours of recieving it. I have never had a new snake refuse a meal, and I have never had a regurg. Just thought I would share my expierence.

But yes, you are better off waiting and I will probably wait in the future.

peep_827 said:

I thought everything I'd read said to wait 3 to 5 days then feed, then handle? I should wait 1 week to feed him, and then a few more days to handle him?

Monty is 5 to 6 months old, is he still considered a hatchling?

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They are usually referred to as hatchlings until they're a year old.
My approach is a settling in period of 3-4 days. I usually handle them first and then feed. I'm not saying this is the "text book" way of doing it, but it generally works well for me. I kinda judge when i feed them based on this first handling. If they totally freak out, which rarely happens, I'll wait a couple more days. I say, take him out, admire him for a few minutes, and feed him!

I agree with mbdorfer. I just got a pair of girls from JM at the Red Dragons Den last Saturday. I waited until yesterday (Tuesday) to handle them. They seemed pretty comfortable so I fed them today and they ate like champs. So I would say that waiting is good but it all depends on the personalities of your snakes.

Phen

peep_827 said:

I thought everything I'd read said to wait 3 to 5 days then feed, then handle? I should wait 1 week to feed him, and then a few more days to handle him?

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You may be able to feed in 5 days...any snake, regardless of age, will be stressed from the new environment...you simply need to allow them time to settle in and get accustomed.
It is a generally accepted practice to wait 48 hours after feeding to handle a snake. Some snakes may tolerate handling sooner...but, especially with a new snake not used to being handled and stressed from a new environment, handling could cause a regurge.
I always wait 48 hours with all my snakes...although I have successfully handled them in the past the next day...it is much better for the snake to allow them time to properly digest their food before handling them.

I think I may go ahead with handling him a bit this evening and see how it goes. At the store he was an extremely outgoing and friendly little snake, and I want him to be like that. So if he seems pretty unhappy with being handled tonight I'll back off another day or 2 but if he seems okay I'll go ahead with a tiny pinkie. I'm just going to play it by ear and see what happens. Luckily my kids are completely in love with little Monty and are being extremely respectful of his need to settle in. I know it's gotta be hard for them, it's driving me nuts! LOL