Some Baby Redtail Tips Please....

[Mark_scuba]

I just bought my first RTB and my family loves it...
Ive had it for 3 days and no problems untill tonight...
My son wanted to show his friends the new addition to our family so i brought him outside and let my son hold him.. Then another little boy asked if he could hold him so i said sure , but dont make any jerky movements...
Well i guess the little fellow was nervous and bit the lil boy good on his wrist and scared him half to death momentarily.. It made him bleed a little so my wife put some disinfectant on it .I explained to him that the snake didnt mean it and was more scared than him..(didnt want him to hate snakes or be afraid) Any way I just wanted to know if this was normal snake behavior ?
From what i have read from this great forum it is, and I will be feeding him f/t rats and in a separate bin to keep him mellow also trying to handle him as much as possible...(is their such a thing as too much?)Any other tips on having a non agressive RTB would be very helpfull...
Thank s in advance...Mark :P

[Freakzilla6942]

I handle my snake alot!!! my rule of thumb is i usually place my hand against the glass and move it around alittle to let the snake know i'm there..then i remove the top... usually they willl start coming out on thier own....if not i stroke them about midway on thier body (within thier line of vision) if they make an sudden movements in my direction i back off... (I have a glove I use just for this) then i'll put on a glove that smells like me and only me. and put it near them to where they can "smell" it. 9 out of 10 times they just start crawling up my arm if they don't wanna be bothered they usually back off..just the way i do it...i'm sure the pros have better suggestions

[Shadrach]

First off I see one thing that triggers me into thinking that your little buddy was just startled. You metioned you've had him 3 days and so far so good. 3 days isn't really alot of time for him to get settled into the routine of things and therefore he just done it out of defense. Not saying that the little guy will be aggressive all his life just a natural reaction to the situation he was in. Big has teeth is probably gonna eat me better strike him first. Don't let it deter you any also let the little boy handle him more after he settles in some and becomes use to being handled to show him hes not a "BAD SNAKE" Also remember there's 2 types of people that own snakes those that have been bitten and those who's gonna get bit.

[Freakzilla6942]

this might sound nuts but if your little baby keeeps wanting to bite..minds well let him..while he is young...once her knows you ain't food and you ain't scared things will be different...i know the pros will probably jump on me for saying that. but it's worked for me...then again I'm crazy