new tic

[Gio]

Sorry for confusing you! definitely it was blood from the mouse since the breeder said yesterday was actually the feeding day so if you'd like to try, just do it so I just feed him and surprisingly he ate so well.
And you pointed out that I actually wore the gloves because I don't want to frighten him from my frightened reaction. (But this small creature frighten me a lot!)

He's small still (yours). Use the hook training that ALL retic breeders and keepers recommend. I don't like to use gloves and will take a bite from a small snake. I think the gloves can cause some distress and the snake doesn't get used to your smell and the feeling of your skin and body heat IMO.

Here is what I have done with my last 2 snakes and they have calmed quickly.

Dwarf X SD tiger retic that is 5 months old. He's brand new like your guy.




Leading to this.


I can put him back on the branch, and if he wants to crawl away from me a bit he can.



Use a stick/perch or branch and let them get secure on it. Eventually they will more over your hands because they have nowhere else to go. When the hand on the branch is in a fist, they are less likely to bite. However if little fingers are out in front of them, they may try for them. This guy has settled the fastest out of the last 3 of our 4. The first was a royal python and she had zero problems.

My boa was a biter, or tried to be. He would strike and huff and puff. He only got me once and it was a feeding mistake not a defensive bite. I always used a hook to start things off with him.

This (coastal carpet cross) was a fairly quick settler too, but by far the most sporadic and nasty when it came time to handle her. She has the record for biting me which is only 2 or 3 times. It was so ridiculous and funny I had to laugh. But every time I used the branch she mellowed out. I first started this technique with her.



Not a retic, but there are some similar behaviors especially when small.





I'm no expert, but this has worked well, and if you have a small snake that is semi arboreal, short periods of this type of handling seem to be less stressful for the snake than full on contact to start with.

I call this the "Acclimation Branch".


Apologies for all the photos but I wanted to show you this since you are a little nervous. It keeps the snake away from you a bit if needed as well and may make you feel more at ease.

You have a beauty there.