Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My corn hatchling has been hiding for about three weeks straight. She used to come out at night, and climb all over everything, and I would watch under the black light, but now she doesn't even come out at night. I thought for a while that she was scared because I stupidly had her cage on my desk, and figured her hiding was due to my always being there, and vibrations, and etc, so I moved her away to a secluded spot, with no vibrations, but she (I've decided she's a she until I get some decent evidence one way or the other) still doesn't even come out at night. She stays in the same hide ALL THE TIME. A couple days ago, I went looking for her to make sure that she hadn't died since the last time I fed her. She was fine, but in the blue. However, I don't think that's the only reason she's hiding because it's been so long. I don't want to stress her any further, in case this is a stress related thing, so I don't even get her out of her hide - I just mist the cage itself and hope that's enough. Anyone have any idea why she's doing this? By the way, I've since put my black rat snake, of the same size, and probably same age, on the same spot on my desk to see how he (again, guessing on gender) would react, and he's perfectly fine. He's been there for two weeks with no problems, he's even out and about right now, looking at me from his branch, in broad daylight, so I'm starting to think the vibration had little to do with it. Any thoughts?

Could be your new baby corn is more sensitive then your black rat.My corns would hide all the time when they were babies . Now that they are going on 2 year olds they come out alot. If you just got yours and she was active for the first few days it was probably checking out its new home and now feels secure and is doing what snakes do...hide. Esp when they are in shedding mode. All mine hide during that time. My jungle carpet python will hide for a couple of weeks till she actually sheds.
I wouldn't worry to much. I have a honduran milk that hides 24/7 too.
I would handle her more often once she has shed so she will get used to it. When I handle mine I just pick up their hide and pick them up. Also when mine were babies I fed them like every 5-6 days. Just my thoughts.

Yeah, I guess you're right, it's just that I had her for a few weeks, and she seemed fine, and then one day she went into her hide and has yet to willingly come back out of it. I take her out to feed her, and she sucks down the pinkie like it's nothing, then when I put her back in her cage, she goes directly to the hide and doesn't leave it again until the next time I feed her. Anyway, I'll start to handle her again after she sheds. Speaking of shedding, do you think misting her cage is enough, or should I remove her and mist her directly?

Do you have more then one hide for her? Where is she hiding? If she is more on hot side then temp may be too low. If she is more on cool end temp maybe to hot. Be sure you have a temp gradiant so she can choose. Mine LOVE paper towel rolls.
As for the shedding, I do both...I'll mist there tanks a few times (not so it's dripping wet) and when they are nearing their shed cycle and the eyes clear I'll handle them and mist them while I have them out. They all have good sheds...always.

my little zoo:
jungle carpet python
2 corns
tangerine dream honduran milk
sonoran gopher
2 anoles
3 fire bellie toads
2 dogs
4 cats