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I just adopted a 7 ft Retic that was brough into a petco by someone who couldn't care for him any more. He's a bit on the skinny side, but seems quite healthy with no damaged scales. He is also quite friendly letting me hold him almost any time after just a couple days of living in a new home.

He does have a feed response that keeps him wanting to bite for a while after eating, but that is normal.

I have had a Ball Python for the last 7 years who I got when he was just born so he is super tame and will just about eat a mouse out of my hands w/o biting. He's about 5ft right now and about arm thickness.

My questions are, should I do the same thing with the Retic that I have with the ball to make him friendly - namely hand hold him every day or two or put him on my lap when I'm on the computer. This seems to have made the ball be completely passive and easy going with humans.

Granted the Retic is larger, and with a head that is much bigger so is holding him in my hands regularly still advisable? I have a hook on order (never needed with the ball) so I will be able to test his mood w/o use of my hands soon.

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New Pet looking at my camera gear

I think it would be hard to sit with him in your lap, as all my retics are on the move constantly as soon as they are out of their enclosures.

But holding him is good for socializing him i just stand when holding mine. Except when i let them roam the apartment when they are out.

Nice Tiger retic. How old is he? If hes still under one year he's not small at all. Retics are supposed to be slender snakes for their size's.

Retics seem to be much more active than balls. I've kept both (have both). My retics, most of them are sweeties (one exception that is highly defensive) but they do not stop moving once they're out of the cage; it's constant exploration. Climb the doorframe, to the ceiling fan, to the computer, up the windowsill...
so yeah handle 'em but you can't really do it passively.
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.1 corn snake
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