Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a snow and a creamcicle cornsnake. I have had Madiera for about 3 months and Snowflake for about a month. I got her/him for Christmas this year. Mondays is when they get fed. And last Monday I noticed when Snowflake ate both her pinkies that she raddled her tail. Now it didn't scare me cause I know corns sometimes do this. But I was just wondeirng why she/he was doing this now. I thought maybe cause she/he just got excited cause this was the first time her pinkies guts were coming out,lol. And I did notice that both times she/he did this was right, and I mean right after the back legs went down her mouth. Thought maybe that could help some if you guys out.

Thanx, Amber

I am no expert but most snakes do that to warn off predators or when they feel vunerable and it could have just been she was feeling vunerable at that moment and was telling you to keep your distance while she had a chance to swallow that. Because in the wild that tail would hit again sticks and leaves and other things would be scared off.

It is not uncommon for them to do this. You must have just startled him. They feel especially vulnerable when and after eating. I recommend not to hover over a new snake while it is eating because you may end up with a regurge. You apparently make it nervous as shown by the rattling.
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

Or you get one like my Hellcat, who rattles and strikes. I think she saw a rattle snake on TV and decided that is what she wants to grow up to be! She nailed me 15 times straight when I got her out of her shipping container. Angry piece of spagetti!

Ok....thank you all for this information. It looks like I will have to do some things differently with Snowflake for a while. Untill she gains some trust with me. For now on I think I will feed her in my room in her feeder with the lights dimmed....without me hovering over her,lol. I compitly forgot that her being a new snake and all she is still a bit nervous around me. I guess I didn't think much about this cause Madiera (me first one) never acted like this. Madiera and Snowflake are about as different as night and day,lol. But I love it that way.

Thanx so me, Amber

Some of the babies in my class rattle when scared. It happens if I catch them oof guard. As for the noise the tail moves back and forth so fast that it creates a vibration in the air and therefore you have the rattling sound. If you moved your hand back and forth and sped it up about 10 fold you could do the same - now that would mess with people's heads.

Have a nice day!

Brian