Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i want to hold my baby corn more often like a couple times a day just so he gets used to me.. the question is how long after putting
him back in his viv should i take him out again? since they are nocturnal should i wait till night to bother him? because he is slower during the day and more active at night..

Well this is just my opinion but I would not handle the corn snake for at least 2-3 days after feeding to prevent it from regurging. Also while they are still real young 1-4 months old I would try to limit the handling of them also, just so they do not get stressed out before they are firmly established. I handle my babies only once per week, but they are only a month or so old right now I feed them and clean their cages at the same time to make sure that they are not getting to man handled.
I know you were hoping for better news in someone telling you to play with them all the time and when they get a bit older they can be handled a lot, but as newborns, not so much.
I hope this helps
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

lately i have been holding him once per day and he seems fine with that because i just cup him in my hands and he usually just stays there because i have the worlds warmest hands lol..i was just wondering for bonding reasons because this is a critical point in the development of a corn

Hello Bigmandan,

Snakes do not like to be handled but can be managed by positive reinforcement using short handling session. This also satisfies our needs to touch them.

Although your snake may look happy and secure in your hands it is hard wired to run. Neonates are afraid of being eaten that’s why they are so jumpy. Image a large animal 100 times your size reaching in and picking you up and holding you for 20 minutes. This Stress also can show in the development of your snake. Neonates not held except as the other post explained will develop better with a very limited amount of contact. Less stress equates to better feeding, better physiological well being.

Or nature is to interact. No so with snakes until breeding time.

I have been lurking here on the corn snake form for some time. You corn snake people have a wonderful site and very knowledgeable people. I enjoy reading this form….

I hope this has helped you.

Dann….