Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had my male okeetee corn snake for about 6 months now, and he is rediculously aggressive.
I bought him from a local pet store as a hatchling, and he was quite sweet when I got him, but progressively got nastier as time went on.
I've been persistent in handling him despite the biting, hissing, tail buzzing, and striking- but nothing seems to be helping.
He is not fed in his cage, so no hand/food confusion, and he's not just biting- he puts on the whole threatening show every single time I handle him- even if the last time I handled him was that same morning.
Tonight he really started to concern me since he was hissing and striking at me through the glass when I would come anywhere near his cage, so I decided to see what you guys had to say since I've run out of ideas.
Could it be possible I ended up with a "freak" mean corn snake? The female I have (bought from a breeder instead of a store) is the sweetest thing I've ever owned, and she's roughly the same age as the little brat- and her routine is exactly the same as his- they just have two totally different personalities.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Maybe he's hungry...what are you feeding and how much

To me it sounds as if your handling to much. Especially since your writing your corn was sweet in the beginning.

How often do you handle your snake and how long? And if you pick him up how do you do that? And how to you handle your snake when he's out. Are you walking around or sitting comfertably?

Anyway it sounds like your snake has turned nasty because he dislikes beeing handled. Some of my corns like beeing handled, others prefer not to. I would get angry if stressed to much as well.

Good point.
I dont think snakes generally like being handled..i think some tolerate it better than others...everyone seems to want to hold there snake all the time and i just dont think they like it. I hardly ever hold my snakes and they are all just fine when they get handled..

I agree with the handling, too. I let my corn out for supervised exercise, but I don't hold her too much. She's just too squirmy to make it worthwhile. Smaller snakes tend to be a little nippier, too. Your corn may also have an unseen injury that makes being handled painful.

Snakes aren't really big in the intelligence department. I think it goes one of two ways on the initial encounter...will it eat me or can I eat it. Your snake probably think he's defending himself from harm.

I would also check for other stressors: mites, lack of a good water supply, feeding schedule, humidity, temperature, shed problems, physical injuries, and other people who may be mistreating it.

Personalities do differ. It's really rare, but I've known corns to be just like you describe yours. I kinda like them when they have attitude. It's kinda cute in a relatively harmless animal. You just may have a nasty snake.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
He's fed one F/T pinkie twice per week, and is only handled a couple times per week since I don't want to handle him too much after eating.
When I first started having problems with him, I started using a hook to pick him up out of the cage- thinking that maybe a big hand coming coming down towards him was too intimidating. It doesn't seem to make too much of a difference either way.
His cage is a ten gallon tank, with 2 hides, humidity is at 50%, and his basking temp is in the high 80's, with the cool side being in the mid 70's.
I suppose I may just have to accept him as he is, and that he might not get any friendlier.

Thanks again for the help!

Make sure that you are getting accurate temps where the snake spends his time. If you are using those stick on thermometer strips, you need to upgrade to either a digital or a temp gun and measure the temps on the bottom of the tank. In any case, I think that a basking spot in the high 80s is way too hot. And a hot corn is a cranky corn. Try lowering the hot side and see if it make a difference.
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phflame

I think your Okeetee needs more food. One pinkie twice weekly just doesn't seem like enough for a 6-month old corn. For comparison, I have a pair of 6-month old Amel Corns that are eating two fuzzies every week. Pinkies are tiny. Try increasing the food and then not handling for at least two days. I feed all (I have a lot) of my snakes in their tubs or tanks. I have Kings, Corns and Bulls. Some of the Kings when small are freightened and will strike and musk but when they get some size to them settle down nicely. Good luck.

For what it's worth, I have an 03 male creamsicle that was like that. I left him alone,as far as handling, for almost 4 months.
This really seemed to help him calm down. all I get now is an occasional tail buzz, but he doesn't strike anymore. I also do not handle my snakes on a daily basis. I have 15 and they are handled before feeding, and when cage cleaning is necessary. I do not take them out for "play". They all handle well. Good luck with yours.

I have some hypo's that are just insane.There fed well,temps are correct,and have plenty of hides.They started out mean and never changed.Not evey corn is going to be friendly and pleasant to hold.It doesnt matter how much time I actually spend with them.I do know that there predictable and I only hold them after I down a few cold ones.lol...Paul