Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If you read my earlier posts, I just purchased a Snow Corn (F) and I was reading the messages on mean corns. Now, I have a question. How can you tell if your corn is going to be mean?? The one I have seems to be very easy to handle. I am still a bit nervous about just reaching in and picking her up, so I just dangle my hand in the enclosure and lightly touch her as she is moving around. I guess I sound like such a wuss lol, but I want to be careful not to get bit, cause it could probably hurt her more than me. So back to my question. Do corns begin mean and get worse or do they just snap one day and start biting? And don't think I am nuts for asking but I would think that they kinda know your scent and feel more comfortable with their owners poking around vs a new scent from other people poking around.
Also, one more quick question, where is the best place to feed her? Tomorrow I will try to feed her for the first time and I don't want to anything to upset her. Thanks so much

how long have you had her? what i do is since I have apsen shavings for a substrate, I take a small white ceramic tile 4"x4" (like the kind you use in a bathroom) and place it on the substrate, and put a mouse on that. That way the chance of the snake injesting the aspen is next to none, and I dont have to stress the snake by taking it out of its tank. I know it is reccomeded to feed the snake outside of its tank, but honestly, when you get to feeding day having 5 snakes...thats more difficult than it seems.

It is reccomended to take the snake out of its tank, put it somewhere else, let it eat, then put it back. But being a baby in a new environment I would think it would stress it out too much to eat, so thats what i'd do. you could also use a 4x4 sheet of paper or something and place the mouse on it...just as long as it doesnt get on the apsen is my concern.

Also you were concerned about your snake becoming mean...how long have you had it. They don't really like getting "petted." If you're going to pick it up, just reach in, and pick it up. make sure you are supporting its full body though, if you pick it up in the center let the had and tail flop around...it may very well get mad. If it does bite you, it won't hurt. trust me, i get bitten every time i take my blue beauty out...at least 2 times (actually yesterday was hte first time she didnt bite me lol). It doesn't hurt though, and it wont hurt your snake...unless it breaks off a tooth or something but thats highly unlikely, esp. as a baby. But as long as you handle it daily...of course leaving 2 days after it eats to digest its meal...that way you wont get crapped on or have him regurg his meal...you'll be fine. Start handling for 5 minutes at a time, when he gets comfy then go up longer and longer.

Also...know how your snake defends itself. First it will try and run away from you. So keep a good hold on it. Then it will musk you (probably) to try and get you to let it go. Then it will rattle its tail. If all else fails, then it will turn around and bite you. The two intermediate steps dont always happen, but usually will.

i'm not trying to scare you or anything, most likely you wont get bitten. my blue beauty is the only one who has ever even tried to bite me. my texas baridi's rattle their tails all the time...but never musk. after a couple mins they get calm and will relax on you...good luck!
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)

>>If you read my earlier posts, I just purchased a Snow Corn (F) and I was reading the messages on mean corns. Now, I have a question. How can you tell if your corn is going to be mean?? The one I have seems to be very easy to handle. I am still a bit nervous about just reaching in and picking her up, so I just dangle my hand in the enclosure and lightly touch her as she is moving around. I guess I sound like such a wuss lol, but I want to be careful not to get bit, cause it could probably hurt her more than me. So back to my question. Do corns begin mean and get worse or do they just snap one day and start biting? And don't think I am nuts for asking but I would think that they kinda know your scent and feel more comfortable with their owners poking around vs a new scent from other people poking around.
>>Also, one more quick question, where is the best place to feed her? Tomorrow I will try to feed her for the first time and I don't want to anything to upset her. Thanks so much

Dangling your hand in front of a snake is the best way to get bitten. It is best to just reach in and get the snake in one smooth motion. If you can hang your hand in your snow's enclosure and touch it several times without a reaction then I would say that snow will probably never bite.
Next time you want to hold it just reach in and pick it up.
You will both be fine...LOL
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

>>>>Also, one more quick question, where is the best place to feed her? Tomorrow I will try to feed her for the first time and I don't want to anything to upset her. Thanks so much
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I would just get a deli dish or glad ware container or something similar.
Place the snow and her food in the container and place that back in her tank. Some will take the food imediately and some may take a while.
After she has eaten just open the container and tip it so she can crawl out into the tank.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Thanks so much! I am going to just pick her up from now on. And I did feed her on friday. I used a rubbermaid shoebox size container, she went right for it and it was gone in no time at all. I have only had her for a week and she seems super nice. I am so glad I have responible, knowledgeable people to ask these questions to. Thanks again

>>Thanks so much! I am going to just pick her up from now on. And I did feed her on friday. I used a rubbermaid shoebox size container, she went right for it and it was gone in no time at all. I have only had her for a week and she seems super nice. I am so glad I have responible, knowledgeable people to ask these questions to. Thanks again