Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all you experts!!

I'm new here - and new to snakes, so apologies for the lack of knowledge and perhaps somewhat silly question.

So what IS the best way to pick up our corn snake?

We've had her for one month - she's approx 16 months old (at least, we were told she was 15 months old when we bought her. The owners of the pet shop hadn't actually bred her, but they do breed their own, so I'm guessing they know their stuff). The thing is that she seems terribly nervous. I know that nervous is simply what snakes are, but she really doesn't seems to like being picked up very much - actually, she doesn't seem to like anything much except her hide box! If I go up to her tank, she might stick her nose out just to see if there is anything more interesting than a human out there, but other than that she stays hidden pretty much all the time. We handle her every day except the day before she gets fed and the day or two after (she eats quite happily - now onto to two hoppers per week after her last shed - which came off all in one piece, eye scales intact: how pleased were we!) but the only way of getting her out is to take her out of her tank while still in her hide box (a portable number with a big flap at the bottom - fashioned out of a small cereal packet - she never went into the one supplied by the pet shop - my guess being that it is too big). Once we have the hide box out, we open the flap and with much persuasion get her out - but she REALLY doesn't seem to like it too much and will often go into that 'S' shape (as in 'get out of my face you foul human'). She did actually strike out at my partner once but hasn't done so again since - but still that 'S' shape... Is is just a question of persevering and the nervousness will go away? Or are we doing something wrong? Is there a special snake-friendly way of picking snakes up? I mean, while we are holding her, it takes just the slightest of movements and she's back in that 'S' shape - bit freaky really! Sorry to ramble on, but reading the messages posted on this forum, you guys seem to know so much - the mere issue if picking the snake up is almost laughable! I really want her to tame down enough for our son to hold her (well, he already has, but only when both mum and dad are there: one to stop Lilly disappearing up his T-shirt, the other to stop his baby sister from squealing with excitement and giving poor old Lilly a heart attack! And frankly, I'm not confident enough to get her out without dad there!). Anyway, I ramble....any advice re holding a nervous snake and persuading her that we are quite nice really would be much appreciated!

Theresa

It's really not that big of a deal to get bitten. I've never been bit by one of my corns, but I did get munched on quite a few times when I caught a wild northern water snake. Those things are know to be biters and I really didn't think it was all that bad. In fact since it was the first time I had ever gotten bit by a snake I was kind of glad for the experience, just so I know that it's really not a big deal. Yes, the water snake broke the skin and drew a little blood, but truthfully I don't remember much pain, basically it's like getting pricked by needles. Though, even that sounds worse than it actually was.

As far as picking it up. Make sure you don't mess around with your hand in the cage too long. The longer you wait because you're unsure of yourself, the more nervous it gets. Just grab it!

As far as how often you should handle it, it sounds like you're doing fine. some are just more nervous than others. I have 2 snakes the same age and they get the same attention, but the one still is the jumpiest snake I've ever held, while the other one is completely laid back.

With your snake, especially if it's been at the pet store for 16 months, it probably hasn't been handled at all, so it's just not used to it. It will probably take it longer to calm down just because it wasn't handled a lot when it was young. But hopefully it will calm down with work. Just keep doing what you're doing just don't be so timid. Like I said before it's not a big deal to get bit.

Just a side note, you mentioned that it was hard to get it out of the hide box. Create a cardboard hidebox from any old box it your house. I mostly use cereal boxes. Cut them so that there is no bottom to the hidebox, so that when the snake is inside all you have to do is lift up the hide box and the snake "appears" underneath it.

Good luck!
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alstiver@hotmail.com

1.0 '01 Hypo snow cornsnake (Tesla)
0.1 '02 Ghost (pastel) cornsnake (Banshee)
1.1 '02 Bloodred cornsnakes (Desi and Luci Too)
0.0.3 Goldfish (Kabuki, Isamu, and Yuki)
1.0 American Eskimo mutt (Rusty)

Thanks for that! Your advice pretty much sums up the whole thing! We do tend to faff around a bit. Re the hide box - your advice is pretty much what we have done - except that we didn't completely cut off the bottom, but left it attached on one side so the the whole box plus Lilly can be removed from tank prior to removing from box - would you say that it is better to remove the bottom completely so that when we lift up the box we would be removing her from the tank itself rather than trying to remove her from the box? (I'm beginning to complicate myself here! What I am trying to say is that her box currently has a large flap at the bottom so the whole box can be removed, the flap opened and then we attempt - in our faffy way - to remove Lilly. Would it be better to do away with the flap, so when we remove the box, Lilly is left in tank and then reach in and pick her up from there? One of these days i will laugh at my nonsense - I guess patience is the key here?

Theresa

Modifyy the cereal cutout hid box so that the flap is gone. That way, when you lift it up, Lilly stays behind in her coil.

As noted, be firm and quick in picking it out of the container. I have been raising 4 hatchings for 6 mo. now and can increase or decrease the nerviousness of the snake by faffing about. Quick in, get the snake and out, the snake doesn't have time to work itself up. Chase it around and it gets defensive. One of the problems I have had (this is for hatchlings, not so much for a juvy..) is the small buggers slip right through your fingers! Solution is to wet your hands slightly so that they stick a bit - harder to slip away keeping you in control.

Stick with it - the post previous is totally true in that in a pet store it likely didin't get much TLC, and it is not used to it. Give it time - remember synominous with herps is - patience.

Many thanks!! You guys are such a great help - hide box modification will happen when she's out this evening - tomorrow we will go for the 'remove box, remove snake' approach! Thanks again. I'll keep you posted - perhaps I'll be posting a message soon saying how tame and fab Lilly has become!

Thanks again!

Theresa

IF YOU GET BIT, WASH YOUR HANDS!!! Especially if the skin breaks. Many reptiles can carry some nasty bacteria and never show signs or symptoms.

Even after you get done holding it's always good practice to wash your hands too.

I had a friend who's little brother got bit by the family iguana and nearly lost his hand from the infection spreading so quickly and horrifically just because he never washed his hand after getting bitten. Salmonella is no joke and it can make you EXTREMELY sick.

Enjoy (lol)

Don't be intimidated. I have a wild caught Texas Rat that bites me almost every time I get him out. It doesn't hurt at all and he usually calms down once he realizes what he's done. I think he kinda feels guilty after he's done it.lol Any way make sure you have a hide spot on the cool end of the tank. In all my tanks I use the small plastic plants bunched up and secured with suction cups in the corner. It gives them a great natural spot to hide. Most of my snakes prefer this to their hide boxes. Its also alot easier to get to them when I take them out.

i have never been bitten by a corn before maybe that's why i might be a little scared when he strikes at me and makes this noise....but im pretty sure if i actually got bitten, it would not hurt and i would not be scared anymore. but anyways, just remember, YOU WON'T DIE, it's not venomous and it wont be able to choke u to death or anything
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"Isn't it funny you hear a phone ring and it could be anybody, but a ringing phone has to be answered doesn't it?"

So what did you end up naming your new baby? Hang in there kid.

=(
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"Isn't it funny you hear a phone ring and it could be anybody, but a ringing phone has to be answered doesn't it?"

I have 9 reptiles,I only have named 2 of of them.My male adult amel is corny,and my leapord tort is named torty.When my son was born 7 years ago he got his name on his birthday from a book i was reading while waiting for him to be born.There is no hope for me.Good Luck...Paul..

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0.0.1 pacific gopher snake ; Mich
0.0.1 albino corn snake ; Shmee