Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a little Snow Corn which I have had a little over a year now. She's about two years old. But she/he is just now starting to get a real bad attitude with me. Snowflake has bit me a number of times. All I have to do now is stick my hand in the tank and she, I don't know, I guess smells me and almost seems like she just comes out to hunt me down. As soon as Snowflake feels me open her lid, she'll start doing the little tail thing and I'll leave her alone. Cause I have found, that if I don't she WILL lunge and try and bite me. I don't know what to do anymore. She has never been this bad. She has always been the one with more of an attitude than Madeira. But nothing that has bothered me. She seems to be getting worse and I don't know what to do. I have, nor anyone else done anything mean to her. But now I can't trust her with anyone cause I'm afraid Snowflake will bite them. Can someone please help?

My best advice is to just handle her more. In our hobby we "MUST" put up with getting bit, its the nature of the beast. I have yet to hear of a snake that can not be calmed by more and more handling. My snakes get a little nippy if I get real busy and don't handle them for a while but after a few sessions they calm right back down
Foot Hill Reptiles

Try reducing her temps a bit. Get her down to around 80 - 84 . They get grumpy when they are too warm.
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V.P.
Austin Herp. Soc.

OK...Looks like Snowflake is in charge right now. Time for you to take back control. Sounds like you are kinda jumpy about getting bit...And Snowflake knows it. You are now hesitant to do the pick up, etc.

Given your hesitation, I would suggest starting with a pair of cheap latex gloves. The kind you can buy a whole box of cheap, or grab a few from a janitor's cart or at any place that deals with health care issues.

Put on the gloves and go right in there. You will be much less hesitant about getting bit, and Snow will sense it. You will now be in control. And when Snow does bite, it won't be so tasty. If Snow calms down once the pick up is made, you can take off the gloves. You may find that you need only ONE glove, for the pick-up hand. Then you may be able to take it off. A few weeks of this could make a diff. Good luck. Duffy

Oh yeah! She is totally in charge right now... and she knows it which I know isn't a good thing. I have thought about getting gloves like that. But I didn't know if it was bad for them or something if she did bite it. But thanks for that info.

Well my first and foremost suggestion is that you handle her as much as possible. Don't be too extreme or she will get nervous, but handle her at least once a day for twenty minutes or so. I once left a snake with a friend while I was away for 6 months, he took good care of it but didn't handle it. It was nasty when I got back, just wear some gloves if you don't like being bitten, always wash your hands before handling and try to make sure that when you are about to remove her from her tank that you don't back her into a corner.

When you go to pick her up, don't hesitate. I find the more you hesitate the more irritated they become, whereas if you just grab them (not violently but quickly) they will just try to get away and then settle rather than striking.

I'll try holding her for about 20 minutes a day and see what that does. And I do know, the longer I hesitate to pick her up, the more pissy she gets with me. But it's so hard to just go right in there. I have never been like this with a snake before. And I don't know why I am with this one. But Snowflake is for sure taking advantage of this, lol.

I can give you a little secret but don't tell anyone ells LOL Sometimes we just have to take the teeth. There is nothing I hate more than reaching in for a mad snake. I don't care how small it is I do not like to get bit and the worst part is the reaching in, knowing she/he is mad. What I have done in the past Is just look away or even close your eyes if you are afraid if the bite, then if it happens you wont have the problem of knowing its coming and you will see its nothing to write home to mom about. Oh I should also add if you don't count my close call with the Rattle Snake a couple years ago its been 12 years since I had my last snake bite.
Foot Hill Reptiles

Man, I almost hate that snake! I need to clean his cage this morning I'm just dreading going there to take him out. My 13yo daughter laughs at me. The thing is with this snake is that everything is like a feeding response with him. Someone gave him to me last year and I believe the previous owners may have fed him in his cage. Whenever he sees my hand anywhere near his cage, it's like he's hunting me down. About a month ago I needed to get into his cage (cleaning probably) and he was watching me, looking toward the door. I thought I would move slowly toward him and gently pick him up. Boy, he tagged me good! He grabbed my hand so fast, I never saw it coming. He looped his whole body around my wrist and squeezed and squeezed. My husband just stared at us. If anyone touched the snake, he just bit and squeezed harder. Once he figured out I wasn't food, he let go. In the end, it wasn't such a big deal. That was my first corn snake bite. My other corns aren't nippy and I use a hook with the boa. I have other reptiles and they can bite, so like someone said, it's a part of the business. I find that most animals that are nasty in the cage are quite different once they are out.

Here are some things I use with my boa when he gets grumpy. He's not the striking type, but he gets a defensive posture when he gets backed into a corner and that's one snake that I really don't want to get to get bit by! I'm not sure how they would apply to smaller corns. For one thing, I never approach him head-on. He has a big cage that is deep and low to the ground. Whenever I need to get him out, he always ends up coiled in the corner, face toward me. I have a hook that I use to push his head away and straighten him out. Once he's moving, I pull his lower half toward me and take him out backwards. If he's in a smaller container and taking on that posture again, I drop a towel over his head and pick him up from behind. Once he's up, he's great--he doesn't seem to care for the initial lift, though.

My weirdo corn stays in a hidey during the morning hours. I lift up his hidey and he immediately sticks up his head at me. I use the hidey to push his head away and his response is to crawl away. From there I can pick him up from the lower half and he's fine. Whenever possible, I prefer to pick up a snake from behind when they are slowly retreating. The boas and pythons get that double S in their neck, but that crazy corn strikes straight.

Sorry this got long, some meandering thoughts this morning. perhaps I'm postponing the time until I have to clean that cage!

Wow, I'm so glad Snowflake hasn't bit me like that yet. But that's what your Boa and my Cornsnake has in common. It's trying to get her that's the scary part for me. She's always in strike mode, I swear she sleeps like that, lol. But once I do get her, she is fine, a bit hyper, but she normally calms down a lot fatser than Madeira does. Normally she will curl in my hand and fall asleep. But, it's gottin much more difficult to go in there and pick her up. You can't be to fast, cause that pisses her off. And you can't go to slow, cause that too pisses her off. I normally go in there softly and talk to her in a low I'm-not-scared-so-you-shouldn't-be-either, kinda voice, lol.

Something I have done because I have always fed my corn snake in his cage and he looks for food when I open the top is that I put something in front of his face, like a piece of cardboard, a large spoon, whatever is handy. Once he smells it, he realizes I am not feeding and then he is fine to pick up. Of course I also use the precaution of washing my hands so I don't smell like a rat.

>>I have a little Snow Corn which I have had a little over a year now. She's about two years old. But she/he is just now starting to get a real bad attitude with me. Snowflake has bit me a number of times. All I have to do now is stick my hand in the tank and she, I don't know, I guess smells me and almost seems like she just comes out to hunt me down. As soon as Snowflake feels me open her lid, she'll start doing the little tail thing and I'll leave her alone. Cause I have found, that if I don't she WILL lunge and try and bite me. I don't know what to do anymore. She has never been this bad. She has always been the one with more of an attitude than Madeira. But nothing that has bothered me. She seems to be getting worse and I don't know what to do. I have, nor anyone else done anything mean to her. But now I can't trust her with anyone cause I'm afraid Snowflake will bite them. Can someone please help?

Shaky hit on a possibility.
Make sure the temps aren't too high in the tank.
If the tanks get too high it can make a corn snake pretty agitated.
otherwise there have been some good sugestions especially the take charge part. Be the boss don't let her be the boss.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

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I don't think it's the heat. And I only say this cause for some reason my heater has never stuck to the bottom of the tank. I need to get a new one. But I'm not so sure if it's cause of the heat. But because she has had an attitude I have spent less time with her than I do Madeira. And I know that's not making matters and better.

>>I don't think it's the heat. And I only say this cause for some reason my heater has never stuck to the bottom of the tank. I need to get a new one. But I'm not so sure if it's cause of the heat. But because she has had an attitude I have spent less time with her than I do Madeira. And I know that's not making matters and better.

do you have a thermometer?
Are you using a light?
combine a light with higher summertime temperatures and the temps in the tank can go up quickly.
and although the UTH isn't sticking properly it is still generating heat.
just to be sure, you may want to check the temps properly.
Guessing isn't very accurate.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

do you have a hide box if not get one the snake might be a little insecure. i have boarded many snakes for customers and have noticed that the rat snakes and corns can get cage terratorial. which means this is my cage so keep your hands out and off of me the only way you can get rid of that is by handling th snake often. if the cage is large enough give it a choice of two hide boxes both of different sizes remember snakes like tight spaces so just make the hidebox large enough for the snake to fit in. it should be able to go inside and coil up and the sides of the coils should be touching the inside of the hidebox.

How often and how much are you feeding it?

It could be a feeding responce in a growing snake.

Chuck

I feed her two mice, once a week. But sometimes she wont take it. So sometimes she'll eat three mice once every two weeks.

Very very good recommendation. I did not think of the feeding response. Do you feed her in the enclosure? The would be a hit on the head of this nail. As mentioned before my last bite 12 years ago was a Burmese Python that I had fed in the enclosure and the bit was a feeding response.
Foot Hill Reptiles

No, I have never fed her in her tank. Same goes for Madeira. They both have a seperate feeding tank I put them into to feed them in.

Are there any kingsnakes nearby? The scent of a kingsnake can really stress a corn snake out and make them more defensive.

Also have you tried putting a piece of clothing in the snake's cage? That can help a snake become familiar with your scent and make it less likely to act aggressive. I know that that is for new snakes, but anything is worth a shot.

No, I only have two Cornsnakes that live in the same room, seperate walls and different tanks, but same room. Madeira is a few months older than Snowflake. And I know that Madeira is a Male, but I don't know what Snowflake is. Could that be one reason why she is like this too?

If you feed in the tank, she could think that you are going in to feed her. Feed in a separate tank. Other than that, just handle her alot. My 2 year old corn can get a little fiesty at times. If he looks like he wants to strike, I throw a towel over him and pick him up. Once I have him in hand, he doesn't try to strike.

My question:

Do you feed her by hand?

I've never heard of a "mean" cornsnake, so, one thing I thought of is hand feeding. If you are hand feeding Snowflake, he/she will associate your hand with food.

Or, if the area you have Snow's tank in is a "high traffic" area, he/she might be stressed out, which would make the snake go on the defense. If this is the case, you may want to consider moving the tank to a more "peaceful" room/area of your dwelling.

You also stated that your heating pad will not stick. The tank could also be too cool on one side, and he/she cannot move to one side from another to stay at a comfortable tempurature.

Just a few thoughts. Hope they help! Good Luck!

Brandi

No, I don't feed her by hand. I have bamboo tongs that I bought to feed them with from Petco. And she is in my room which hardly ever has anyone but me or my boyfriend in there. Oh, and about the heater. What would be the best one to get? Cause the one I have now I have already bought two of the one I have now from Snowflake. Cause they don't seem to want to stick to Snowflake's tank. On Madeira's it's fine... I clean the bottom of Snowflakes tank to stick it on. And it still wont stay, and I have no idea why.

haha! my heating pad is "testy", too. The one corner has never stuck, but, the rest of it sticks fine.

I use the Zoo Med Repti Therm UTH.

I actually use one that's slightly smaller than half of my tank (it's actually about 1/3 of the size of my tank) so that it's not the full width of Lola's tank. (She likes to hide under the edges of the repticarpet, and I dont want her getting burned.)

Also, I didnt clean the underside of the tank with any cleaners, (Windex, etc.), b/c it, usually, breaks down most of the adhesive.

Also, is Snowflake having any problems shedding?

Just wondering.

Brandi

Yup, I have the same heating pad. And she doesn't have any problems shedding. She normaly sheds about once a month.

You got a lot of good advice and feeding in a seperant tank with tongs is great.
A few things though.Watch your water see if it dose the ring thing when you walk by.You know like in Jurassic Park when thw T-rex was comming.
When I had my corn he was testy has a hornet.I discovered by fluke one day the T-rex thing.Took rolled socks and placed them under the stand legs to take the shock waves.Which I later changed to styrofoam.
And,in a week or so he had calmed way way down.Snakes fell the vibration in their belly.Which will cause them to be jittery.
And,incase you don't know they do not have ears to hear.So talking to them I o not belive helps.
If you don't want to use gloves try hand sanitizer just befor picking him/her up.
I belive you said it was about 1 yr?
If it has a long tapered tail it should be a male.
A female has a tail that kind of bluntly gets skinny.
The second thing is in the 6-7 Years I have had snakes.I have alway been told that corns only need to eat once a week.At least all the others I know in the bussiness or that are just hobbyist say this.
You do not sound uninformed.But,over feeding will make them fat,unhealthy and reduce their life expectancy.I have done a lot of researching and reading over the years,that seems to be the consenses in research also.
And,last please forgive this wordy message.I just hope this little bit of info helps.
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Aninmal crazy you can never have too many Reptiles and Anphibians.I want more

1-Pixie frog "Tank" 1.0.0
2-Bearded Dragons "Salt and Pepper" 0.2.0
1-western hog nose "piglet" 0.0.1
1-ball python "Ono Dakota" 1.0.0
1-Cat "mom-ma cat" 0.1.0 (Stray we took in)
2-Catahoulas "Barney and Lilly" 1.1.0 (Wifes)
2-Fire belly toads "??" 0.0.2(sons)
2-Guinea Pigs "Nemo and Bush" 2.0.0 (Daughter)

Hmmm, the little vibration thing could also be it. She is right, and I mean RIGHT there by my door as you walk in. And my room is right by the hall way, like, my wall and the hall way wall is the same wall. And she is right up against that wall. The hall way has tile and, in my family, we have heavy feet I guess you'd say, lol. PLUS, we have two big German Shepards that run up and down the hall way as if it's a play ground bumping into the wall and everything (we get on to them all the time for that, lol).

And, I do know that snakes don't have ears. But, our vioces have vibrations of there own. And I figured if I talked softly to her and calmly she wouldn't be as afraid of me as she would be if I was just bluntly talking to her. I figured nice, soft, calm vibrations from my voice would would calm her as well as every other good advice I have gotten from everyone on here.

And if you did, what are your temps reading directly over the hot spot?

Another way to deal with undertank heaters is to mount them onto a ceramic tile instead of the bottom of your tank. That way you can move them to wherever you want, plus they tend to stick better since they are sitting on top of the tile, instead of hanging from the bottom of your tank. Another benefit is that you can raise or lower the tank to the ceramic tile/UTH to decrease or increase the temps.
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phflame
kingsnake.com host

Oh, I never thought about that. Thank you so much for that advice. But I have not yet got a new thermometer. I'm only 17 and just now starting a job, with parent not paying for anything for me anymore, lol. But as soon as I can I will. And I will for sure use that tile idea.

do you feed the snake in the same tank you have her in if so that can be your problem i take all my snakes out of there tanks to feed them. i use to feed them in there tanks then half of them started to bite every time i would go to handel them. after i started feeding them in a container they all stop biting.

do you feed your snow corn inside its normal inclosure? If so, try feeding it in a seperate inclosure, such as a brown paper bag. that way they dont associate your hand with food, that may be a problem. Also, do you feed it often, at 1 yar old, both of my corns still glady except 2 prety items every 5-7 days. maybe its hungry!

As I have said in my other reply, I do not feed her in her cage. I have a seperate feeder tank that I feed her in. And I feed her once a week, somtimes once every two weeks if she doesn't feel like eating. And I feed her three mice, she'll sometimes only eat two. But, she still eats.

Thank you all so much for all this great help. Within just the short period I have put this up. Snowflake is already getting better. I picked her up to take her out of her tank to feed and she never once gave me that little tail shake. I actually saw her as being the cute little snake she used to be, not such a little grouch, lol. Once she was done she begged at the feeders door for another mouse. She used to just try and hide under the napkins and it just pissed her off to have me try and find her head so I could feed her another one. But, she is now getting back to what she used to be. Thank you guys so much for all your great help!!! I now have my little Snowflake back, lol.

That's so good to hear!!!

Enjoy your baby!