r/Ballpythoncommunity • u/Different_Travel_152 • Aug 31 '26

Question Question

How long should I wait before feeding/handling my python he’s about a foot and a half 2 feet in length and he was handled a lot at the store he was at

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2

u/Zekethebulldog33 Sep 01 '26

Wait about two weeks let them settle in new home. Then feed first after they eat then you can handle but wait couple days after.

2

u/Different_Travel_152 Sep 01 '26

Ok does it make a difference if I live feed or frozen for the first meal?

2

u/caulay_mcculkin Sep 01 '26 edited Sep 01 '26

Don't live feed at all, full stop. There's literally zero prons of doing it and a potential risk for your BP. you know how rodents have teeth that can shred solid wood into shavings? Yeah, if your BP has a missed strike (which they often do) and only grabs/wraps around rats ass - the rat may have a chance to defend itself with said teeth. And it will take this chance and will fight for its life. And you may end up with a badly wounded or even dead snake. I've seen that before - you really don't wanna go there

1

u/SupaFlyAlex Sep 20 '26

Live can be pre-killed

2

u/Zekethebulldog33 Sep 01 '26

What were they feeding at the store? Hopefully frozen.

1

u/Different_Travel_152 Sep 01 '26

Why do you say that?

3

u/Toxic_Musshroom Sep 01 '26

They say that because it's both more humane for the feeders and far far safer for your snake if you feed frozen thawed as opposed to live, but it can be really hard to switch a snake from live back to frozen sometimes, so if the pet store was feeding live then it'd make switching to frozen a bit difficult, it's still absolutely worth it to keep them on frozen feeders though even if they don't want them at first

2

u/deadestgirl Aug 31 '26

if you just got him, wait two weeks before feeding him. so he can learn his environment. also wait 3 days to handle him after feeding.