Reptile & Amphibian Forums

She stays in her hide all day. If I turn out the light then she'll come out. In a week or so when I start to handle her. The only way I can pick her up is if I remove her hide that she is in and pick her up. Because she doesn't leave her hide unless it's dark.

Thanks
Shane

Sorry, I didn't ask my question. Should I wait untill she comes out on her own or should I remove the hide and pick her up? If I should wait, how long could it take before she will leave her hide in the daylight with me around. I know she is scared and thinks I'm a predator. What I mean is how long can it take for her to trust I'm not a predator and come out with me sitting here?

Thanks a bunch
Shane

Well, I'm brand new to the snake thing, but experienced w/ other herps. With my new guy, I lifted the item he was hiding under & lay my hand down near him. He waited a bit, then came over to explore my hand, at which point I picked him up. Seemed to work well for us...
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1.0 Reverse Okeetee Corn snake Fuzzy
1.3.0 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.4 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton, Olivia Newton John & Helmut Newton
1.1.0 cats Gus & Mena

I have three that hide all the time, and I just pick up their hides and take them out. I do try to catch them when they're allready out, because it seems so mean to just "pick up" their safe house. But they're rarely out in the day, so pick up the house is what I do. But they do generally start coming out more in the day as they get bigger. My adults come out all the time and even most of my 03's have gotten used to me, my 7yr old, and 4 cats watching them all day. I think it helps that they have always been in the living room (where all the action is) since they hatched. Maybe that gets them used to feeling safe around us?? Just don't rush her, and don't nab her every time you see her out of her hide either, that could make her stay in it more if she thinks your ganna pick her up every time.
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
4.5 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

Hi. Ok, this is what I did when I got my first corns. I just let them be for at least 5-7 days to get used to their new enclosure. Then I just started to handle them. Even now mine hide, usually under the water bowl so I just pick up the bowl. Or they hide in a paper towel roll. They love those. After I pick up the bowl I let them move their head alittle so they know I'm there and then I pick them up. They usually try to get away so you have to be quick. The last thing they want to do is be held. But if you want them tame, you have to handle them. You'll see, yours will start to get used to it and expect to be handled. You shouldn't handle them after they have eaten, however. Wait at least 36-48 hours.