Rattling their tails?

I've had a pair of corn snakes for years, and got 13 more over the last year, 6 of them I still have, had since June. I read about the tail rattling, but never saw that(except with my mice). I've startled them many times and they either make a run for it or strike. My snakes are generally young, not all are laid back and calm. Is this a common behavior, or only a rare thing with some older corns?

My older corns rattle in their feed bins, once in a while. Really, only Lila does it with any consistancy any more.

All my snakes do it, most of the time there just bluffing. =]

Many of my snakes rattle their tails - usually when I'm feeding them. I think it's just some defense posturing, although I have one baby who isn't kidding around! She will rattle and strike, where the others just put on a show.

Kathy

I too, have had many babies rattle their tails, especially at feeding time.

My adults usually don't bother, unless overly disturbed during feeding. I think they've come to learn that I'm not going to take their feed away from them...lol

As previously said it's probably defensive posturing, and completely normal.

Yes I agree, babies do it a lot. Though Mostyn our adult amel still does it from time to time and Sid our adult pine does it as well.

yup i've got a bunch of rattle snakes that turn into corns when i pick them up never had one strike. i guess im just lucky. my ball pythons hiss that was weird the first time i heard it .

my yearling does this from time to time during feeding. Has only ever snapped at me once though

Ha ha, interesting that this should come up. As a matter-of-fact during Flash's last feeding he rattled his tail and flattened his head while circling the mouse, I thought it was funny and cute at the same time. And yeah, Flash is still a baby, 5 months old.

Months back my girlfriend's yearling was slithering around the floor with the both of us watching over it. I went to pick it up and aproached it slowly and it began to rattle it's tail. It was the first and only time I seen it happen.