Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently got a beautiful baby Okeetee corn. She's eaten once and doing well. However, she's very feisty and I've been bit twice (not like it hurt or anything, tiniest little pinpricks of blood I've ever seen!). That was the first night I got her, but even today she was in strike position. I've been instructed to begin handling her to calm her down. Should I ignore her biting and handle her anyway, or when she's not feeling like it should I not bother? This is my first snake, and I want to make sure I start things off right.

~Aurora

Yes, handling her on a regular basis will get her started to be more calm and hopefully to stop biting. BUT, you don't want to handle right after feeding. Best to wait 24-48 hours at least is recommended. Keep in mind your new corn is a baby and is defending its self from everything till he/she get accustomed to life in captivity. Most calm down after a couple of weeks. I have a baby sonoran gopher that was striking and biting when I first got him also. He is better but still wary of me though but doesn't try to bit anymore. Good Luck.

Aha! The ol' biting trick, eh? The first bite comes as a bit of a shock, doesn't it?!?!?!

Handling baby regularly will get him/her used to you (and you used to him/her) The more you do it, the more relaxed you'll both be with each other.

Another method I have heard of, is to put something in the vivarium that smells of you - a handkerchief (clean, please!)that you have had in your pocket all day is great - That way snakey associates your smell/taste with the smell of home and safety. It's worth a try!

If the biting becomes too much; you could have a go at wearing some thin gloves. The bottom line, really, is that if baby bites, don't just put him/her straight back int the viv. (S)he needs to learn that biting won't make you go away and leave her alone!

Think someone has already mentioned not handling after snakey has eaten. This stresses them out, and could result in your shirt/carpet being given a "semi-digested mouse" theme.

Hope this helps!

Cat & Tim,
and Gonzo (Baby Anery Corn)
and Lola (Bitey baby CRB!)
And Rio (Big, moody, corn!)
And Ollie (Hungry Royal!)

I would recommend handling your new snake for short periods of time as often as possible...at least everday. Most small snakes are defensive in the beginning, because they are so very susceptible to predation. However frequent handlings that are brief enough to not be stressful, are the best way to tame one quickly.

Two caveats to this advice though:

1) If the snake bites, or musks, or defecates on you, do NOT allow that to be the end of your brief session. If you do, you will simply have reinforced the snake's behavior by telling it, "If you do (this) to me, I'll let you go sooner!" Don't go down that road.

2) I would not handle a snake for 24-48 hours after a meal IF it has shown a propensity to regurging its food. If a snake has never regurged its meal, I handle it everyday, inlcuding immediately after feeding. Only if it is a regurger do I give it a rest after feeding, but you need to be prepared for that possibility.

Good luck with her!
-----
Darin Chappell
Hillbilly Herps
PO Box 254
Rogersville, MO 65742

n/p
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Paula
19 Corns,6 Ratsnakes, 1 Ball Python, 2 Hognose
Snake Addict
www.tlcreptiles.net

Thanks for the advice, everyone! It's just what I needed to hear. And yes, I do know not to hold her after feeding. I held her today after posting this and she was very calm. I also really like the hankercheif idea. I'm sure she'll grow up to be a calm, happy corn.

~Aurora