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My son has a female corn snake, almost a year old. When she was really small she didn't mind being handled at all but now she really doesn't seem to like it.
She rears back as if to strike (though she hasn't) or tries to move away and hide. Does anyone have any advice?

>>My son has a female corn snake, almost a year old. When she was really small she didn't mind being handled at all but now she really doesn't seem to like it.
>>She rears back as if to strike (though she hasn't) or tries to move away and hide. Does anyone have any advice?

when you first open her enclosure just reach in, palm facing her, and take her by the body and lift her out.
Quickly but gently.
If you let your hand linger she may see it more as a threat.
It is better to just be quick.
Once you get her out let her move freely through your hands.
Do this on a regular basis and she will calm down and get more used to handling.
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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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Ditto on draybar's advice!, the quicker and smoothly you do this, the less time it gives the snake to "zero in" on your hand and become defensive. When done quickly and gently, they are in your hands before they knew what happened!LOL

If you go for the snake, then change your mind and pull back suddenly, the snake usually sees this as a very threatening gesture, and actually thinks YOU are "zeroing in" on him.If it makes you more comfortable, you could use a small "snake hook" fashioned out of stiff wire, or something similar,..just make sure you smooth the hooks tip so it doesn't polk the snake when you slide it underneath. Once you have the snake out for just a bit, things get better, and it will get better as time goes on.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Totally agree with all that was posted. One thing I learned on accident and NOT sure a great tool to help, but!

When I have baby kings or even larger ones that are chronic biters as some are, I wipe my hand with alcohol sanitizer. let dry, then handle the snake. It is a VERY effective tool to stop a biter. We had a 3' king that bit the owners finger once, and before he even tried to get it off, it had 1.5" of his finger in his mouth. I've also had baby kings bite the side of my hand and try to eat my hand.

So, it works great for this issue. I know it will help with biting, but afraid it may associate this nasty smell and taste with handling? Although when I use it, snakes do settle in when I handle them showing them to customers. And I do explain this to customers, but most king snake people seem to know some are like hamsters are to the rodent world. Quite eucipretus!

I just wanted to mention this as it is different, and maybe a few might use it?

good luck.
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Thanks for reading.
Big Tom

www.HerpZillA.com
www.HerpHelp.com

Thank you I think that you might have found the problem. Since he's become nervous with her he is tending to hover his hand around a bit instead of just picking her up.

We will try the more direct method and se if it helps!!!

Lol You certainly know hamsters . I have read Ca kings are biters so many times that I bought a Thayeri King instead and glad I did very docile after 3 yrs never even an attempt to bite.

the hook idea worked really well for me. i was a bit nervous at first picking her up. what worked really well for me is using chop sticks (just make sure there's no ruff edges).

Yeah, the hook deal really does work super on spooky, or ill tempered snakes. Even works wonders on very small snakes that are difficult to grab with your fingers.

This works even better yet when the hooked snake is lowered into your free hand, as opposed to reaching for it once it's hooked. They don't notice being lowered into your other hand, but they DEFINITELY notice a big "monster hand" coming towards them!LOL....snakes are just "programmed" that way.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

We tried the hook and it worked like a charm. She was completely calm and mellow.
I just lifted her and set her into his hand and she was fine.

Thanks a lot for the help!!!

n/p
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"