Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I have a young corn that I got a couple of weeks ago. When I brought him home, I could hold him and he seemed comfortable. This week, however, he strikes at me and takes a very defensive posture. I know it doesn't hurt, but it's still hard to overcome. I've read on some websites that babies are like that and he will come out of it. Should I leave him alone or tough it out and handle him. He eats f/t pinkie about every 4 days.
Thanks

You can go ahead and follow through handling it now and then, so it gets more used to gentle holding sessions, and after a while, it will see that you aren't a big mean monster trying to cause him great bodily harm, or possibly want to eat it for a snack..LOL!

If you put it up every time it gets defensive, it learns that this is the way to behave to be left alone, which is not what you want.

But don't handle it for at least 2 days after it has eaten to prevent a nervous regurgitation. This is VERY dangerous for the snakes health if it is allowed to happen. It can cause a "domino" effect of things that keep perpetuating the problem if you don't know EXACTLY what to do, and what NOT to do.

best regards, ~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

Thanks Doug.
Do you think I'm feeding it too often? I have been waiting only 1 day or so after feeding.

Well, I would definitely not feed it any more often than that, and it would be quite fine for it to go a couple more in between as well. The snake will grow just fine at that rate, and of course the meals would get slightly bigger as grows too.

If it was a real "laid-back", easy-going snake, it might not matter quite as much, but given the fact that it isn't real used to be held by you yet, this could definitely be asking for problems. Jut because it hasn't regurged "YET" while skipping just a day, certainly doesn't mean it can't, or won't happen sometime soon,....know what I mean?. It is MUCH smarter if you make SURE you prevent this, rather than "hoping" it might not happen.

I know it is exciting, and you very much enjoy holding your new acquisition, I certainly know what that is like..LOL!, but try to put it off for another day, and this will certainly help to ensure things continue running smoothly in the future.

best regards, ~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"