How long should new snakes be left alone?

[Madame_Mel]

So I received my baby checkered in the mail and put him in his new home Tuesday morning. How long should I leave him alone before I can handle him/try to feed? Is there anything I can do to make him feel more secure? He has a few hides but spends all of his time under his water dish and only comes out when the lights are off.

[Mommy2many]

Try acclimating him now. You can try with food or gentle handling. A lamp may coax him out to bask. He will get curious about you and sneak a few peeks when you are not looking. Good luck!

[ProXimuS]

Didn't you say yours was an albino(I think I read that in another post...)? If so, he may be sensitive to the light.

[snake man]

3 days i would say.

[Madame_Mel]

yes he is an albino checkered, he definitely prefers the red basking bulb over the bright one.

[ConcinusMan]

yes he is an albino checkered, he definitely prefers the red basking bulb over the bright one.

Be careful. I wouldn't even use the bright bulb at all and definitely stay away from UV. That means sunlight and reptile basking bulbs. The red ones or ceramic heat emitters are fine. Albinos have no melanin, therefore no protection against UV. They will sunburn and there's a risk of blindness and cancer.

Sounds like your albino checkered is acting pretty normal.

so the seller said all baby snakes got pinky mice every monday...but Ive chopped up, worms, fish, pinky mice and he wont eat anything. I feel like Ive tried everything but live fish at this point...

Give him time. It's a bit early to start worrying about him eating as long as he looks like he has a healthy body mass and isn't "wasting away". Don't offer too often. If he wont eat, wait several days before you try again.

When you thaw pinkies, thaw them in a sealed bag, in warm water. Don't place the pinky directly in water. It washes off the smell. Also, try "braining" the pinky.

[Madame_Mel]

So I got rid of the bright lamp, let him be for a few days, and then put a minnow in his water bowl about three hours ago.. went back to check and the minnow is gone. So either the fish pulled a Houdini or the little guy ate something!

[ConcinusMan]

So I got rid of the bright lamp, let him be for a few days, and then put a minnow in his water bowl about three hours ago.. went back to check and the minnow is gone. So either the fish pulled a Houdini or the little guy ate something!

That's great but you really need to verify if he ate it or not. Perhaps give him a few more and see if a bulge appears in his belly. Also, you gotta be careful about just putting food in and walking away. You don't want substrate sticking to it and getting swallowed.

[Mommy2many]

Be prepared with the correct lamp. He will still sneak peeks at you...

[setfree]

Some people make it day at night with their albinos. red bulb during the day, bright one at night. So that during the day they are out so you can see them. I would go ahead and try to feed it and hold it for just a minute or 2 at first. congrats!

P.S. I hope this makes sense!