Tot with hesitation getting snake (5)
I believe the answer is:
adder
'snake' is the definition.
(adder is a kind of snake)
'tot with hesitation' is the wordplay.
'tot' becomes 'add' (synonyms).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'hesitation' becomes 'er' (sound used when hesitating).
'add'+'er'='ADDER'
'getting' is the link.
(Other definitions for adder that I've seen before include "Venomous type" , "a poisonous type" , "Mathematical reptile" , "Small poisonous snake, viper" , "1 of 21 [SNAKES]" .)