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New snake acclimation period

M

mpdescha

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Hello all,

Last Tuesday I had a yearling Russian Rat Snake shipped to my local Fedex center for pickup after work. I know it is customary to give a new snake an acclimation period before handling, feeding etc. My question is how long? Everything I've read about Russian Rat Snakes indicates them being very calm and personable animals, however any time I enter the room if he is out exploring his new cage he high tails it back into his hide box! He has not offered to bite, but still seems very shy and skittish for a snake that is supposed to be so calm and inquisitive. I've had many snakes before, and I can't remember even corn snakes being like this. I'm really trying to leave him completely alone but I'm just hoping he eventually settles in, as I bought him as a pet and am interested in handling him frequently. Any input? Thanks,

-Mack
 
It all depends on the snake. I have had snakes that fed and acclimated right off bat and I've had others take a week or 2 to settle in.

I agree with Daniel with 2wks being the best time for acclimation.

Since this post is over a week old, I hope things are going well.
 
SofaKing said:
It all depends on the snake. I have had snakes that fed and acclimated right off bat and I've had others take a week or 2 to settle in.

I agree with Daniel with 2wks being the best time for acclimation.

Since this post is over a week old, I hope things are going well.
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Hi, thanks for the response. Tomorrow makes three weeks and he's not really calmed down at all. Actually, today he rattled his tail and struck at me :(. I'm pretty disheartened just because everything I've read about these snakes says that they are calm and inquisitive. Maybe he's jus taking longer to get settled...

-Mack
 
The more snakes I add to my collection the more I come to find out that they ALL have their own personalities. I have a female spider that will eat and breed with anything, sometimes I think she tries to breed with her frozen thawed rats. She is a doll. On the other hand I have a female spotnose who will take any chance she can to strike at me. I treat her like a gaboon viper. You may just have a high strung little guy. I would say that chances are he will calm down given time as I hope my spotnose does.
 
Hey Mack.

I've had lots of Russians. When they're little they're squirmy little buggers. As they get some age on them, most of them do calm down.

I personally think it's just a little ADHD. Handle for two or three days before you feed. Then feed it and leave it alone for a couple days. Rinse, repeat. Best of luck!
 
Thanks for the additional responses! I'm trying to give him short positive handling sessions interspersed with feeding. He will only eat if I put the mouse in his hide and leave (pansy!). I'm really hoping he does calm down over time and with age. I bought him with intention of handling him all the time and that's been far from reality so far. I'll keep you guys posted, and thanks again for all of your input!
 
mpdescha said:
Thanks for the additional responses! I'm trying to give him short positive handling sessions interspersed with feeding. He will only eat if I put the mouse in his hide and leave (pansy!). I'm really hoping he does calm down over time and with age. I bought him with intention of handling him all the time and that's been far from reality so far. I'll keep you guys posted, and thanks again for all of your input!
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Did you ask his prior owner about his personality?
 
bcr229 said:
Did you ask his prior owner about his personality?
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Sure did. Was told that he had a great personality. When I emailed him about it of course he acted as though it was completely out of character and must be the result of the shipping. Been going on about a month now.
 
mpdescha said:
Sure did. Was told that he had a great personality. When I emailed him about it of course he acted as though it was completely out of character and must be the result of the shipping. Been going on about a month now.
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Interesting. Is your husbandry the same as the prior owner's? Maybe you have the enclosure in a more noisy/active part of the house and he's not used to that?
 
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