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New aggressive behavior... help

ElusiveKimmaby Oct 11, 2004 11:32 AM

Hi, I've got a little 2 ft snow corn, and she had a reputation where i got her from for being "such a sweet snake." I've always been able to handle her without her doing much more than trying to hide, but never anything like trying to strike. Now when I try to pick her up, she aims at my hand and she hasn't struck yet but she acts like she wants to. I think this could be from feeding her in the tank for the first time last week. I'm REALLY kicking myself for it, but I was in such a hurry and I couldn't feed her again for 3 days. Maybe I should've just waited the 3 days Anyway, now she's acting snotty and it makes me nervous to try and pick her up, and of course, being an animal, I'm sure she can sense it. I want to break this habit right away. Anyone have any suggestions?
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purrhisschirpmeowwoofblubsqueak

Replies (1)

Hotshot Oct 11, 2004 05:29 PM

The only way to break this is by just going ahead and pull her out the enclosure and handle her. If you leave her alone when she strikes or rattles her tail, etc. then you are just reinforcing her actions.

Are her cage temps the same? Is she possibly going into shed? Have you changed anything about her husbandry that would agitate her? If not, then it could be just the time of the year. A couple of my snakes usually get a little more agitated right around this time of the year because of millions of years of survival instincts kicking in for hibernation.
Brian
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RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath" (KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Yellow rat snake "Wolverine" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)

RACERS
1.0 Eastern Yellow Belly racer "Nightcrawler" (MO locale)

KINGS
1.1 California king snake "Bandit and Moonstar" (Coastal phase)
1.0 Prairie king snake "Bishop" (KY locale)
0.1 Black king snake "Domino" (KY locale)
1.0 Desert Kingsnake "Gambit"

MILKS
0.0.1 Eastern Milk snake "Cable" (KY locale)
0.0.1 Eastern/Red milk intergrade "Omega Red" (KY locale)
Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

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