Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My corn snake is about 18 months old and used to be really tame, he would eat out of your hand etc.

However as he's got older he seems to enjoy being handled less and less.
Now it is very difficult to get him out of his tank and coils up ready to strike, shaking his tale.
I tried to hold my hand at the other side of the tank so he could get used to it before I picked him up but he struck at my hand across the tank and bit me.

I'm not sure how to handle him now and haven't got him out of his tank for a couple of weeks for fear that he's too agressive.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to calm him down a little.

Thanks

he would eat out of your hand...

thats a problem. hand feeding your snakes can lead them to associate your hand with food. I've seen that happen to so many people. First off, get yourself a pair of tongs for feeding!

if you want to reacclimate your snake to handling, you can, but be prepared to take a couple hits. once you get your snake out of the tank, hell probably calm down.

and remember, don't leave him alone if he strikes at or bites you. your snake will associate that behavior with being left alone, and he'll never tame down.
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Corn Snakes: Eden, Mars, Sierra, Lavendar, The Tweedle Twins
Crested Geckos: Parker, Emily Dickinson, Bonnie, Benz, Jude, Cali
Leopard Geckos: Paris, Helen, Annabelle, Artemis, Vesta
Jambea Dwarf Retic: Montague

Well I hand fed my corn today NO problem what so ever. First I Split the pinkys head open (smell would be potent so he would not get confused) then took some tongs and dangled the pinky infront of him, he quickly snatched it and ate in my hand. I know this "shouldn't" be done but I see a guy named Jetzen on the kingsnake board doing it ALL the time with EACH one of his snakes. Quite impressive actually, and If a snake is being handled and will actually eat in your hand then I believe (may be very wrong) that he trusts you and doesn't see you as a threat to him. Why else would he eat while a person 80 times bigger than him stares directly at him? I don't think anyone should try this unless they know what there doing but wasn't so bad when I did it.

yes, but jetzen is a very experienced keeper and takes along time to get that trust even if they eat out of your hand the first few times, doesnt mean they will forever. Jetzen has some amazing snakes.
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1.0 Albino Corn "Lucky"
1.0 Snow Corn "Snow"
0.0.4 Southern Ringneck "Collar", "Bc", "Lazy", "Biggie"
1.0 Green Amevia "Gizard"

What you also have to remember is each snake is different, as is each keeper. I have one snake that I hand fed for a long time, and never had any trouble, and she is the most docile and trusting snake I have ever seen. However, I also have one snake thats extremely aggressive in general and very timid. Try to put your hand near him when he can smell food and he wants none of it.

With this snake, thats already agressive, continueing to hand feed is pointless and possibly could be detremental.

Not to mention, IF your snake gets agressive when your hand is in there, hell be stressed. You don't want to stress your snake while feeding.
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Corn Snakes: Eden, Mars, Sierra, Lavendar, The Tweedle Twins
Crested Geckos: Parker, Emily Dickinson, Bonnie, Benz, Jude, Cali
Leopard Geckos: Paris, Helen, Annabelle, Artemis, Vesta
Jambea Dwarf Retic: Montague