hmm. I was hoping the yearling could be as "approachable" as my 3 year old female (also a retic); that female doesn't need any "hook" or "shield" unless you just handled her food item.

The hatchling WOULD get on defensive pose, but as of monday, hasn't struck at me at all. I refrained from handling again coz he is on shed this week.

As for my yearling; well...I guess I should be lucky that she becomes manageable once she is on your hands already; it's the picking up stage that she doesn't like so much unless I use a "shield" to block her from my hand. But I did notice just recently that she doesn't "jerk" as much when I begin to pick her up.

PS: they're all dwarves; so I don't have to worry about a 40 foot python overpowering me...lolz....

But really;

the yearling's barely 5 feet long

the 3 year old's length is somewhere between 5.5 - 6ft

the hatchling...is a hatchling