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Kehhlyr
The Resident Loon
United Kingdom
284 Posts |
 Posted - 01/07/2011 : 00:05:51
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I've seen on a few threads about snakes settling in and thought it'd make a good thread on it's own.
What are peoples opinions on the '7 day settling in' rule?
And have people had any other settling in issues or routines? (aside from quarantine obviously.
I used to give my snakes a settling in period, however many that I get now I don't give much more than a day or 2. I do this for many reasons, mainly because the snake has got to get used to me regardless of if it wants to or not.
The only time I will give a lengthy hands off period myself is if the snake comes to me as a problem feeder or similar.
Also I move webcams around in my snake rubs and have noticed that the snakes that are handled from day 1 are more tolerant of the ones that aren't.
My little retic for example REALLY does not like the cameras, either photo ones or webcams, it's taken him about 2 weeks to get used to having one in his rub and not trying to strike it to death. |
-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
SOME OF MY ANIMALS
 
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2011 : 00:18:15
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Good topic, Kehhlyr!
When I get a new arrival in, I inspect it, take a few quick pictures, and then set it into a temporary "quarantine" home, where it will reside for the next six months. I usually get in new arrivals on Thursdays, and once set free in their viv, do not handle them again for eight days. Five of this is settling in time (til Tuesday, which is feeding day around here), and three of this is digestion time (after Tuesday).
That said, I will often go in their viv -- but not touch them -- to check temps, clean feces, or change water. They thus know I'm around, just are not harassed until I know they are eating.
If a snake seems especially people wary on arrival, I may also toss a piece of dirty clothing in a corner of the viv to help adjust it to my scent. |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
Edited by - Snakesitter on 01/07/2011 00:19:40 |
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CDN_Blood
Rainbow oddball
Canada
489 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2011 : 00:32:53
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Hmmm...not sure how to answer this to best effect. While I personally make sure I'm the first thing a new arrival gets used to, there is absolutely a settling-in period.
While I've been around the block more times than I'd like to think about, I can't say my approach has ever had any detrimental or even ill-effects for me, but if it was over-done, I could see it having a negative effect quite easily. It's all about reading your snake, and no, I don't mean closing your eyes and feeling the bumps of it's scales like braille, I mean understanding it's body language and behaviour.
Now with that said, it's been my experience that Rainbows boas do tend to adapt more slowly than just about any other snake I've worked with, but if you get them as new-borns and are very gentle with them, it can often be a quicker road to adjusting more rapidly than acquiring a pre-established animal.
Interesting topic - can't wait to see how she goes  |
TODD
25 Years of Commitment and Responsibility in Private Herpetoculture |
Edited by - CDN_Blood on 01/07/2011 00:34:40 |
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gmac
Grumpy Scots Admin
United Kingdom
710 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2011 : 00:54:18
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I always offer any new arrivals food here first usually within a few hours or so of them arriving, My snakes recently have been coming from as far afield as Germany so always empty on arrival, and the journey in the car seems to bring on a nice feeding response.
After that I let them digest the food for a few days leave them in quarantine and will handle them within a few days after digesting |
GMac
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ptmbradley
Hatchling
United Kingdom
105 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2011 : 02:53:39
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I normally let mine have the 7 days, but only coz that's what I read on the care sheets. But as I mentioned in another post, my latest 3 haven't had the luxury coz I'm treating them for possible mites. But they haven't seemed to be remotely affected by not being left in peace. In fact, they seem to have accepted me very rapidly. When I visited Mike to collect them last Saturday, they all had a little hissy moan when we picked them up, but I've handled them every day since and dunking them in the bath and they've stayed completely placid.
The baron, my BRB, was given a full week of peace before i handled him. He's another very placid snake that has shown no aggression whatsoever so far. Normally he balls up when I pick him up and when he realises he's not coming to harm he unravels and climbs over me for a bit until it's obvious he's getting restless which is when I put him back.
My 3 corns also had a week to settle, but even now after a couple of months of frequent handling they try not to be picked up, although they're fine once out.
My OH got a spotted python and I told her she was supposed to let it have a settle period. But that was never going to happen with 4 excited children and it got handled by the whole family, and their friends, from day 1. But it seems like a very happy snake and will just wrap itself round your fingers and sit there for hours!
Interesting topic. You should post it on TCS too. Sorry for waffling!  |
Boas: 0.1 Arabesque, 1.0 Brazilian Rainbow, 0.1 Crawl Cay, 1.1 Hogg Island X, 0.1 Hypo Hogg, 0.1 Kahl Albino (poss coral)
Corns: 1.1 Anery, 1.1 Butter, 1.0 Carolina, 0.1 Hypo, 1.1 Snow, 1.0 Sunkissed
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newbie
Hatchling
184 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2011 : 06:16:19
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Interesting topic! I observe the 7 day rule, simply because I was advised to and due to what happened with my 1st corn, as mentioned on my other thread.
Rio mostly hid away for the first couple of days, but seems a lot more active having been left alone a while, but I can see that if you've got a snake that particularly needs regular handling or has the potential to be viv defensive, then leaving them alone for the 1st week probably won't help! I'll give you my final opinion after trying to hold her this weekend, if I still have my fingers it's all good, if not, I might suddenly become pro-early handling!
Don't think there's a right or wrong answer here, interested to see everyones different views |
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gmac
Grumpy Scots Admin
United Kingdom
710 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2011 : 12:16:44
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What i did forget to mention:
I do agree with the 7 day hands off feed approach for new keepers, not only does it give the snake a chance to settle it also gives the hooman a chance to relax and let the adrenaline drop a bit as a new owner possibly wont know what kind of reaction the snake will produce or how to deal with it at the time.
I never handled the royals though as I let them feed a good few times before handling as they are reputedly unpredictable (fussy) feeders so i do like to settle them in first. |
GMac
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gingerpony
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
1442 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2011 : 14:22:09
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i recommend new snake owners to leave their new pet alone for a week as new pets are often the centre of attention being passed from one friend to another to another to another.......numerous times a day, probably for the first week or so or till the novelty wears off
in practice, i try to give them a week of settling in, mainly as i'm so busy, then handle them briefly before feeding and leaving alone again to digest the meal. some snakes trash their enclosure on a daily basis from day 1, they obviously have to be handled and tipped over water bowls have to be mopped up etc and i've not had any adverse reactions from daily handling after a 12 hour settling in period. however i DO agree that experienced handlers/keepers can read a snake's reaction much better than a new keeper and can act accordingly themselves |
Dumerils boas, BCO hybrids, Sinder hypo boas, ratsnakes, cornsnakes, Day geckos
LOCATION: Leeds/York area
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Kehhlyr
The Resident Loon
United Kingdom
284 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2011 : 04:05:13
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quote:
Originally posted by gingerpony
..........however i DO agree that experienced handlers/keepers can read a snake's reaction much better than a new keeper and can act accordingly themselves
That is the bit that I should've made clear in my post but failed to. |
-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
SOME OF MY ANIMALS
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prozacbear
Snake mite
United Kingdom
35 Posts |
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Snakes settling in period.
