Baby Columbian Red Tail

Question
QUESTION: Hi Jennifer,

Thanks for taking the time to read and answer my question. I have had snake since I can remember and have had my ball python for a little over two years now. Yestarday I purchased a new addition to my collection...a male baby columbian red tail. When I try and hold him he is severly squimish and I was wondering if this was natural for red tails. I am use to the more sluggish approach of the Balls. I also want to feed him here soon. I was wondering how long I should wait before I feed him. He seems pretty hungry to me, but I was wondering if I should handle him more before his first feeding, and with that in mind, after he eats, how long should I wait before I go back to his handling training? Also, I have read so much about feeding inside the cage and not feeding inside the cage and the pros and cons to each. What I am aiming for is to make him extremely docile. I am anticipating that he is going to be nippy from his general demeanor of sliding all around, always in strike position, and I want to cut this bad behavior out as soon as possible.

Sorry for the length of this and how it jumps all over the place. You probably want to kill me right now! But any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks and have a fabulous day!


Michael

ANSWER: Hi Michael.  No problem with all your questions :-)
Give your baby red tail a good week to settle into his new environment.  Then you should start offering him food twice a week since he is a baby.  You will need to wait at least 3 days after he eats before handling him.  This will keep him from regurgitating his meal. I highly recommend to start feeding your red tail in a seperate feeding box.  That really is the best way to feed in my opinion.  As for his high activity level (squirmish, strike position, etc).... you should try and handle him at least once a day (unless he just ate of course).  It is very normal for baby snakes to be "on guard" and nervous for a while.  It is their natural instinct.  Eventually he will calm down with consistent handling.  Good luck and thanks for writing :-)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much Jennifer! :)

I just went out and purchased a frozen fuzzy. It was the only form of fuzzy they had and he is way to small to eat a real mouse! What is your opinion on frozens vs. live if I might ask. In the past, the snakes that I fed frozens too became highly aggressive, especially my spotted python. Have you ever heard of anything like this? You would think that it would calm them down, teach them not to associate movement with food, but for some reason I believe it just teaches them that they can latch on to anything that smells different. IDK...Thanks again! :)

Answer
Hi Again....frozen or live is up to you and your snakes preference. I personally prefer "live" as my snakes seem to like the chase/hunt. And unless I am dangling a frozen mouse in front of them they won't normally eat it.  Now, as to why your snake gets agressive with frozen meals....I don't have an explanation.  That seems odd to me.  But all snakes have their own little personalities.  Take care.