I long does it take hatelings to adjust?

I've heard ten days, and I've had Fido even longer than that, yet he's still extremely edgy. I was trying to see if I could move him into a feeding tank, and he struck at me three times. I didn't want to upset him any more, so I left him alone. I know people say that that'll tell the snake that being aggressive will get it let alone, yet I wasn't sure what else to do.

There has been some slight improvement in his behavior. He no longer dashes for cover when I open the lid, and I can even put my hand by him without him running away. Eventually he'll back off slowly, but he only strikes when I try to pick him up. Unfortunately he seems to like that better than just tail rattling. And since he doesn't want to go into the feeding tank, is it a problem to give him a few feedings in the normal viv? The substrate is eco-earth, so I'd probably put a paper towel under the mouse.

I'm worried that if he doesn't adjust before he grows up, I'll have an aggressive adult on my hands.

I don't think he's shedding, as his eyes haven't changed color. Just adding that because whenever someone posts about behavior, it seems like it's the first thing people ask. :laugh:

There's no set time. I have the Queen of Hatelings, Ruby. I got her in February or so. After seeing what she was like, and having plenty of other babies, I pretty much didn't handle her at all, other than moving her to her feeding bin and back, every five days. It was guaranteed that if I picked her up, I would get bit. It doesn't hurt, it's just very startling, even if you know it's coming. Finally, I figured out where she was most likely to be in her viv, and would remove her water bowl, quickly lift the cork bark, quickly scoop her up before she had time to think about striking. She would never bite the hand that was holding her, just whatever crossed her path, like my other hand, or she'd make wild lunges at my face. In her feeding container, she'd have to be covered up, or she would just strike at any movement. So, maybe a month or two ago I had her out for a photoshoot with another baby, about her size. She struck at him once, then didn't strike any more. She even relaxed enough to stop displaying her triangle head- I got to see her normal head shape for the first time! In the last two months, I've seen her out cruising her viv a couple days before feeding day, whereas previously I'd never see her. I've even taken her out to watch TV with me for short periods. So there is hope! I haven't tried hard to tame her at all, and yes, I do think about what she'll be like as an adult if she doesn't outgrow this, but I think it's a confidence issue: once she finally figures out I mean her no harm, she will stop being so defensive. While there are aggressive adult corns, I think it's pretty rare. Fido sounds perfectly normal to me. If he strikes at you, just take him out anyway, or else he will learn that striking is a way to avoid being taken out of his viv. I bet he'll be just fine in a month or two. Once you have him out, just spend some time gently holding him.

Nanci is right. My Grand-daughters snake took a little over a month to calm down. When you first went to pick him up he would strike all over the place. She was afraid of him bitting her. It scared her when he bit me, did not hurt. When it was time for her to handle him, her Mother or I would take him out of his viv then pass him from our hands to hers. He is very calm after a minute or two. She is enjoying him now. Don't put him back in his viv until after he has calm down. He'll be fine. Have fun and enjoy your snake.

We have had one snake that was agressive. She had other problems also. She would strike and hit you everytime anyone had to do something in her viv. Most sankes are not this was.

Sierrie said:

I've heard ten days, and I've had Fido even longer than that, yet he's still extremely edgy. I was trying to see if I could move him into a feeding tank, and he struck at me three times. I didn't want to upset him any more, so I left him alone. I know people say that that'll tell the snake that being aggressive will get it let alone, yet I wasn't sure what else to do.

There has been some slight improvement in his behavior. He no longer dashes for cover when I open the lid, and I can even put my hand by him without him running away. Eventually he'll back off slowly, but he only strikes when I try to pick him up. Unfortunately he seems to like that better than just tail rattling. And since he doesn't want to go into the feeding tank, is it a problem to give him a few feedings in the normal viv? The substrate is eco-earth, so I'd probably put a paper towel under the mouse.

I'm worried that if he doesn't adjust before he grows up, I'll have an aggressive adult on my hands.

I don't think he's shedding, as his eyes haven't changed color. Just adding that because whenever someone posts about behavior, it seems like it's the first thing people ask. :laugh:

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Can I assume from the wording of your post, that you haven't fed him at all yet, because he's been aggressive when you try to move him to the feeding container, but you have had him for over 10 days?

If that's the case, then some of this aggressive behaviour could be because he's really hungry

I would take him out, put him in the feed container and get him fed, if he does bite you, it's only going to feel like being hit by the rough side of velcro then leave him to digest in peace for 48 to 72 hours, so as not to cause a regurgitation of the meal.

I'm sure that with time and patience, and a few feeds under his belt, he will start to realise you are not a threat to him and will calm down for you

Good luck and best wishes,

I am not sure that a corn snake bite would give you a lot of pain, the bite usually isn't the worst part anyway, but when your feelings get hurt because he bit you.

For some reason, I am not afraid of being bit by a snake. Maybe because I have been bit by so many animals; dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, degus, geese, goats, raccoon, opossum, and a squirrel though none drew blood, just a lot of bruising. All these animals have much bigger mouths with sharp teeth, that the corn snake bites could not compare.

BTW, none of the animals were aggressive, I used to (sometimes still do) help out with animal rescues in the area and wildlife rehab.

Though I am TERRIFIED of being bitten by a spider or a large bird (like a Macaw or Cockatoo).

Can I assume from the wording of your post, that you haven't fed him at all yet, because he's been aggressive when you try to move him to the feeding container, but you have had him for over 10 days?

If that's the case, then some of this aggressive behaviour could be because he's really hungry

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No, I fed him last Tuesday. This time he just seemed a lot more aggressive, so I ended up putting a paper towel in his viv and dropping the mice onto them. I hope that was a good compromise, since I didn't put my hand in there with the mice he might not associate the two?

You might be onto something with the hunger thing though. He's on double pinkies but I think he might be big enough to move up to small fuzzies. I'm going to get a scale in a day or two, but obviously can't weigh him until he digests.

I'm not really that scared of being bitten, but when he's so aggressive and determined to get away, I just don't want to accidentally squeeze him too hard or hurt him somehow.

Just let him bite you a few times and you will realise that it is no big deal. I have a 07 Blizzard that STILL bites me everytime I pull out her drawer to feed her. Even as a yearling I can't even feel it, though it does startle me, even though I KNOW it is coming.