Settling In Opinions?

[Shadrach]

Whats everyones thoughts on a settling in period for new snakes? Remember I asked what everyones opinions are. I myself have never really allowed a settling in period for any snake over my years of keeping snakes.

[Rex322]

i give them one week, then feed, then 2days to digest, then handle them for short periods of time (10-15min) till they get use to me some more.

[louise]

i break the rule and offer them food the first day i get them. butt i do not handle them for a week. all has ate for me the first day except the baby guyana and she had arrived with a severe RI.

	Respiratory Infection Respiratory Infection

[ExecutiveReptiles]

Originally Posted by louise

i break the rule and offer them food the first day i get them.

Thats Great...I do the same thing, Its kinda like gauging how they are going to be, most of the ones I get do feed first day, that tells me they are going to be no problem feeders...Glad to hear someone else does that...A few have refused but after a week of leaving them alone they are good to go..

The ones that refuse after a week or two, I would for sure not handle them, or mess with them, just make sure they have water and let them be...I think quaratining is more important than anything...Just my opinion..Great post...Glad to see peoples opinions on the subject..

[louise]

yes quarintining is the very most important!!! when i got my hognose i bought a mouse right at the show and killed it and fed it to him to make sure he was gonna eat for me. he ate with no problem. but i wouldn't have bought him i he didn't eat. hognoses seem to eat lizards and it is hard to switch them i have heard. lizards or frogs...i forgot which ones.

[Adrya]

Originally Posted by louise

i break the rule and offer them food the first day i get them.

LOL, I do the same thing..!

[louise]

i am sooo glad i am not alone in this. lol

[HavocovaH]

i find that if i put my snake in an exposed bright corner on top of a subwoofer and make funny faces at it and tie a live mouse to its tail and bring in an air conditioner for the first few days it really seems to relax him quite a bit.
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on a more serious note i usually give 2-3 days and then switch to the 10-15 min a day rule until the first time it eats, then a day or 2 after that i will start holding it pretty regularly and judge its reaction to me, if it seems stressed out or scared i'll put it back in the cage and switch to the half hour-hour a day rule until it starts to seem a bit more comfortable. if it's alert and friendly than i know it's settling in and will continue to hold it regularly.