Hello am new here I just got a red tail he is 7 months old. I got him on the 27 of Dec. When I opened the box I seen that his eye were blue ( I think he is going in to shed.. am new at this???)and was cold. So I gave him a room temp bath. I was trying to hold him but he was bugging out so I put him in his cage. He went right in then hid in the wood hide. The temp of the cage is good now but I am having some problems with the humidity. I had aspen but the humidity was only at like 40%. So I got him some reptile bark (100% fir bark). Is this ok and good for humidity? This is what I am trying to get to, when I was trying to put his new bedding down and I when to get him I slowly put my hand in the cage he hisses at me and boom the next thing I know is he was on my thumb/hand. He was biting down and he was coiling over my hand. What do you think I need to do? I tried to email the man that I got him from but he has not gotten back to me at this time. Help me out I would like for him to be nice

Red tail


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He appears like he is in shed from the looks of his eyes in his picture. I would not handle him and give him time to settle in for about a week or so. When snakes are in shed they cannot see real well, if at all so their defensive mode is to strike at what appears to be a threat. I never handle any of my snakes when they are in shed,unless I absolutely have too.
He really just needs time to settle in right now without being handled.
As far as the bark I would ditch that stuff and just go for paper towels,, that reptile bark has been known to come with mites,, which are a real huge pain in the butt.

Also remember to feed in a seperate container so he does not associate the opening of the cage with food. This will save you a lot of bites in the future

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I have sucker tattood on my forehead

You've been given some good advice thus far, though with your heating and lighting set up you'll lose a lot of humidity if you change to paper. I would change the bark out for a organic compost, I've found this to be the best substrate to date and use it in all my tropical caging. Bark is just to prone to wood mites though they aren't any harm to the animal they are unsightly and annoying.

I would give your snake at least till it's shed before handling it again. Though the bite you explained sounds more like a feeding response then defensive. So it may be best it fed after it's shed and then giving it a few more days until you try handling it.

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Sorry can't help you with the snake, other than say that sounds like it is scared and needs time to acclimate. But did want to say WELCOME!

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i agree with what the others have said, let him shed, let him feed, and then try handling a little bit. it may also be a good idea to have a squirt bottle of water/rubbing alcohol mixture by his cage incase he latches on again. just squirt it at his mouth and he'll let go. He'll soon learn that humans taste like crap! good luck to you!

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Welcome! And yes I agree youve been given some great advice. I never handled my snakes when I had them when they were in shed mode.

Welcome to HC Network....you have received some great advice....when he bit you, it sounds like he was in a feeding type of mode....give him about a week and feed him...and dont forget...dont handle him for a day or 2 after feeding...so he doesnt regurgitate....good luck!

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

What you are describing is a feeding strike. Do you have mammal or bird pets that may have had their odor on you? Particularly rodents? When the eyes are blue like that they cannot see well and the snake may have mistaken you for prey. Try spraying down the cage a couple of times a day with a plant mister bottle.

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Merlin,
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welcome to HC! glad you joined. i'm with everyone else on the advice you were given. i don't have any redtails but its common to let your snake settle in for about a week especially if its in shed. good luck with him/her!

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