new snake

Question
hi i just got an indian python, at least thats what the store told me, yesterday. i held it for a long time in the store and there were no issues. i got home today and went to pick up the snake and it started hissing at me...it stopped but i am still kind of afraid to pick it up. Is it ok for me to go ahead and pick it up if it hisses. Also when i got it it felt really scaly does this mean it is about to shed? I am a first time snake owner so i dont know much. if you have any handeling tips that would be nice too.

Answer
Hi
After giving your Indian Python a couple of days to settle in, begin picking it up and handling it gently. It may try to move away from you and may threaten you by twitching its tail and hissing. Be gentle but persistent. Daily contact will begin to establish a level of trust and confidence between you and your snake. When it is comfortable with you, you can begin taking it around the house. Always be gentle and try to avoid sudden movements. If the snake wraps around your arm or neck, you can unwind it by gently unwrapping it starting at the tail end, not the head. Also...the scaly feeling you feel may be due to it getting ready to shed.  Their eyes will turn a cloudy, "blue" color and it could be a week or two before they actually shed.  Hope all this helps and thanks for writing.