Ok guys.
I posted this question on the corn snake facebook page and got a lot of interesting feedback and suggestions.
The question / concern is about my amel, Seamus.
He has become, in the last 5-6 months or so, increasingly aggressive in his cage. He's fine being held. But when I go to take him out to hold him, or feed him, he strikes and bites me every time.
So, the main suggestion was that I feed him inside his enclosure, and he should calm down some and recognize my hand is not food.
This is where I need the help.
It's been roughly 3 or 4 feedings since I changed it up and stopped feeding him in a separate box. I feed him inside his house.
Now, every time I walk by or change the water or spot clean, Seamus comes flying out from his hiding spot, and searches for hours for a mouse. If I put my hand in there to clean or fluff about, give him water - he strikes and usually gets my hand / wrist. He's gotten so much worse.
He struck so hard today when I tried to get him out to spot clean that he ended up with a huge mouthful of aspen bedding... He immediately started making these puffing noises and swallowing the bedding..
I put my thumb and finger behind his head * gently * when he opened his mouth, and that kept his big dumb face open so I could take some tweezers and attempt to pull that huge, wet clump out of his mouth. I got most of it, which made him angry but oh well, and he only swallowed a little bit.
I put him back in his cage, and he spent the next 2 hours searching for food, and striking the doors whenever I walked by. I just don't know what to do at this point. I can't have him continuing to bite me and drawing blood- he's going to get hurt, or I am going to hurt him accidentally. I know it's part of snake owning- and I fully understand that- but now it's getting to the point where I'm starting to get scared of him. He's huge now, and I don't understand why his behavior has become to terribly aggressive.
If this is something you think I can try to fix, any suggestions you guys have- please let me know.
If you guys think, you know, he's over 2 years old and he's probably going to be like this for his life... then I can accept that, but it terrifies me. I mean, I don't want to just let him sit there while I throw food in his tank and be too scared to get him out... It's not fair to him.
I don't want to rehome him, either. He's my first snake and I love him dearly. I just want to help both of us.
Thanks guys <3
* Stats for you guys, because I know you will ask lol *
Seamus is fed 1 large/adult mouse every 9-10 days.
He was getting held for about 15-20 minutes 2-3 times a week. ( I have been too afraid to try and get him out lately )
His temps are 85/86 warm side- 74 cool side. He is never ever on his warm side, ever.
I do water changes about 2-3 times a week, and spot clean thoroughly once a week.
He has 3 hides, a large plant to hide in, and plenty of aspen bedding for burrowing.
Nothing else I can think of except maybe he is too hungry? Maybe a large adult mouse is too small for him now? I haven't gotten to weigh or measure him, but if you guys think I need to, I will. He's very hefty, thick and all muscle. He is definitely not underfed or underweight, but I just don't know.
I posted this question on the corn snake facebook page and got a lot of interesting feedback and suggestions.
The question / concern is about my amel, Seamus.
He has become, in the last 5-6 months or so, increasingly aggressive in his cage. He's fine being held. But when I go to take him out to hold him, or feed him, he strikes and bites me every time.
So, the main suggestion was that I feed him inside his enclosure, and he should calm down some and recognize my hand is not food.
This is where I need the help.
It's been roughly 3 or 4 feedings since I changed it up and stopped feeding him in a separate box. I feed him inside his house.
Now, every time I walk by or change the water or spot clean, Seamus comes flying out from his hiding spot, and searches for hours for a mouse. If I put my hand in there to clean or fluff about, give him water - he strikes and usually gets my hand / wrist. He's gotten so much worse.
He struck so hard today when I tried to get him out to spot clean that he ended up with a huge mouthful of aspen bedding... He immediately started making these puffing noises and swallowing the bedding..
I put my thumb and finger behind his head * gently * when he opened his mouth, and that kept his big dumb face open so I could take some tweezers and attempt to pull that huge, wet clump out of his mouth. I got most of it, which made him angry but oh well, and he only swallowed a little bit.
I put him back in his cage, and he spent the next 2 hours searching for food, and striking the doors whenever I walked by. I just don't know what to do at this point. I can't have him continuing to bite me and drawing blood- he's going to get hurt, or I am going to hurt him accidentally. I know it's part of snake owning- and I fully understand that- but now it's getting to the point where I'm starting to get scared of him. He's huge now, and I don't understand why his behavior has become to terribly aggressive.
If this is something you think I can try to fix, any suggestions you guys have- please let me know.
If you guys think, you know, he's over 2 years old and he's probably going to be like this for his life... then I can accept that, but it terrifies me. I mean, I don't want to just let him sit there while I throw food in his tank and be too scared to get him out... It's not fair to him.
I don't want to rehome him, either. He's my first snake and I love him dearly. I just want to help both of us.
Thanks guys <3
* Stats for you guys, because I know you will ask lol *
Seamus is fed 1 large/adult mouse every 9-10 days.
He was getting held for about 15-20 minutes 2-3 times a week. ( I have been too afraid to try and get him out lately )
His temps are 85/86 warm side- 74 cool side. He is never ever on his warm side, ever.
I do water changes about 2-3 times a week, and spot clean thoroughly once a week.
He has 3 hides, a large plant to hide in, and plenty of aspen bedding for burrowing.
Nothing else I can think of except maybe he is too hungry? Maybe a large adult mouse is too small for him now? I haven't gotten to weigh or measure him, but if you guys think I need to, I will. He's very hefty, thick and all muscle. He is definitely not underfed or underweight, but I just don't know.