Once bitten twice shy

To answer your previous question first - It was a frozen/thawed "adult" mouse, about an inch (little under) at the widest part. The snake is over an inch at his widest. Also with regards to parenting - I'm sure you're right that it gets easier after you have more, but so far the snake is definitely a lot easier than taking care of my (now almost 3 year old) son his first couple of weeks, so I shouldn't complain!

I definitely think it's a combination of a lot of the things you've all said - needing to settle in (him and me!) and timing with feeding.

Here's a couple of pictures of the little guy too in case anyone wants to guess his age =)

http://kendelle.compulsive.org/cache...00.JPG_595.jpg
http://kendelle.compulsive.org/cache...et.JPG_595.jpg

I wouldn't recommend handling him everyday, it will most likely just stress him out. Try handling 3 times a week and in a month I bet he will be fine. When I got me girl she would hiss and strike ALOT. I continued to hold her and in a little over a month she was fine. She is still a little nervous but never strikes, just the occasional hiss.