Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm a first time snake owner, and have had the pleasure of aquiring my first snake, a 7week old baby okeetee cornsnake. Since Ive had him (about 2 weeks) he's been totally docile and been handled great with no ill effects. Today I picked him up (like I usually do to transfer him to a feeding box), and he bit me. Of course, it was more surprising than damaging, but I was wondering if it is normal for snakes to from time to time, nip at their owners/handlers. Should I be wary of this behavior, or is it normal? Is there a way to break that habit before he gets bigger and older?

Did you handle his food before getting him? Could have smelled mice on you. Did you come at him from directly above just like a predator would do? Did you move quickly and startle him? It isn't unheard of to get a nip here and there from very young snakes. It is most likely that he will grow out of it and even more likely that you just scared him and that is why he bit you. next time make sure he knows who/what is reaching in to get him.
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"
0.0.1 Black Ratsnake "Molly" (Flogging Molly)

As we say in Missouri, "I ain't goin back to Missouri!"

I was reading posts like this on the burm and retic forums and what was recommended there was to do nothing different. Just reach in calmly and gently pick him up. If he bites you, let him. If you snatch your hand back it enforces what he wants by you not picking him up. This could condition him to bite/strike whenever you reach in for him. If you just let him bite you and still pick him up as if nothing is wrong then this habit is not instilled. Granted bites from corns are not as bad as burms or retics but if you want a snake you can take out and handle its better to let him bite now and see that he doesn't get his way then when he is an adult. This works well as long as he is feeding regularly. If not then leave him alone until he is and then start handling him. I have been doing this with wild caught adults as well. The bites really are not that bad and after a few sessions of them biting me and not getting what they want (me not touching them) they then calm down because they "realize" there is no threat to them.
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1.0 het albino ball
1.0 norm ball
0.4 norm ball
0.1 snow corn
1.0 butter corn
0.1 norm corn
1.0 southern plains rat
1.0 striped Cali king
1.0 western hog

thanks for info. that makes sense to handle him regardless. A bite from a 7 week old will be much easier from one that is 3 years old.

my little blizzard mistook my finger for a mouse pink and latched right on, strangled and everything. didnt hurt at all, i couldnt even feel the teeth, just pressure.
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jake

my addiction:
1.1? normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
0.1? amelenistic corn snake (zyklon)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven