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He's a biter!

jaimbabe

jaimbabe

Still Learning...
I posted this on the health forum and realized that wasnt the best place, so here it goes again! So I just got my new baby corn snake (he's 4 months old) and he's a biter! My other two baby corns never bit, so I'm really freaked out! I gave him a few days of no handling to get used to his new home, and then the first time I stuck my hand in there he nipped at me. I managed to get him out in order to feed him, and that went well. But then today when I went to pick him up, again with the biting! He coils up and makes a little "puffing" sound when he strikes. It terrifying! And now he's rattling his tail so I know he's mad. Does anyone have any advice for me? I'm too scared of him to even pick him up! Will he grow out of this? And will his bite hurt me?
 
If your snake bites you it will be more startling to you, than it will hurt. At that age I doubt that he would even draw blood.

He is not mad, he is scared to death. He sees you as a huge predator reaching in to grab him. As soon as he learns you do not mean to harm him, he will probably stop this behavior.

The best thing to do is just be strong and pick him up. Many people will wear gloves for a while to get over the fear of getting bit. The fastest way to pick him up is to just reach your hand under him and scoop. You will probably grab some substrate also. Just keep doing this and things will get better.
 
Most hatchlings will grow out of biting but the best way to stop him from doing it is to just let him bite. This does not hurt at all so there is nothing to fear. He will soon realise that biting does not stop you.
 
Don't think of tail-rattling as anger, think of it as fear, or as a warning to stay away. I'm sorry, but he sounds adorable. It's true, a baby snake bite feels like being scratched by velcro. Way less worse than baby kitten claws, and you wouldn't be afraid to pick up a kitten. I _think_ my snake Inez bit me once the first time I handled her, because I felt a scritch on my hand and there was- not even blood, but just a tiny spot- but I didn't see her do it so I'm not sure. They almost always give up very easily. Like, you can go out and pick up a totally wild snake and it may try to bite, but five minutes of handling later and most are almost guaranteed not to. Good luck with him!

Nanci
 
Gaia was a biter when I first got her but now she is just a super wiggler. As the baby gets old and gets used to you, she'll stop biting.
 
I used to be wary of my baby Corn when I first had him, since it was my first snake and he also struck a few times out of fear. When he actually connected, I hardly felt a thing, and at that moment the fear just vanished. I'd never previously been scared of snakes and I've always loved them and been fascinated by them, but when you actually have one it takes a little while of getting used to.

I think the little 'puffing' noise they make is really cute, although it wouldn't be so cute in a 5ft adult lol. He's just scared and he's making these displays to get you to leave him alone. With handling he'll come to realise that you're not a threat to him, or, at least your scent. Because of this, it's best to use the same type of soap/sanitiser before and handling, this way he learns your smell.

Just keep handling him, and show him that his displays aren't effective. This will go away in time. I've had my corn since mid-August and he stopped biting around late September, so just keep at it. Like Rich said, wear gloves in you really do feel frightened.

Hope that helps, all the best

David
 
I still have a newly shipped in, Blizzard, a heck of a biter, cant tell you how many times I've been bitten by the little fella. Has NEVER drawn blood, or hurt more then a tiny scratch.

Good Luck, once your baby, is over his/her fear, you will really enjoy corn snake ownership :) :spinner:
 
What David said... one of my 4 new ones does that. He taps me quite a bit. Not only does it not hurt, I can barely even feel the bumping unless I see it happen. I try to be as gentle as possible with him, while still handling him so that eventually he won't take me to be a threat. In the meantime, I just let him tag me a few times until he's finished. The last time, he let me pick him up out of the tub, and only after I put him in the feeding tub that he started rattling and striking, so maybe that's progress.
 
Good Luck with this. I suggest using gloves to help you get over the fear. Some how it makes you feel invincible. I used gloves when I first got Niblet simply because I hate my hands getting bit. (side note: they were mauled by a dog years ago, ever since I fear going through that again).

Your snake will soon learn there is nothing to fear from you. Although I will say, it is good to have a respectful fear of an adult snake.
 
Gloves are an option for sure. I decided against using them because I know the bites don't hurt anyway, and I didn't think I'd be able to control the little bugger as well (without risking squeezing too tightly) with rubber or leather gloves on, and I was worried that his little teeth would snag on cotton gloves. Adults or a different species that can really munch...yeah. Little ferocious corn hatchlings... I'll just take the beating. :)
 
Now that I've got a couple of clutches under my belt, "baby bites" don't even count. It startles you more than anything. The adult bites are just as startling, but it's still nothing.

I've had worse paper cuts.

regards,
jazz
 
jazzgeek said:
I've had worse paper cuts.
Click to expand...

Same here. I've gotten worse injuries pulling stickers (you probably call them thorns or briars) out of my shoes than when any of my snakes have bitten me.

My worst snake bite came from my ball python when he mistook my pinky finger for his dinner. That felt like getting stuck with a pin. There wasn't even enough blood to brag about. :(
 
Well, I've been biten by Gaia (corn), Montie (python), and Skog (boa)--Skog got me twice and was the worse. Figured it came with the territority. Eventually I'll learn how to handle him without getting bite or he'll get tired of biting me.
 
I feel kinda left out as though Ive never really been 'bit'

My ghost kind of lazily opened her mouth to bite me the very first time I picked her up, but it certainly wasnt a strike. Maybe mine are jusy lazy.


I think the actual striking, or snake opening its mouth for you, is worse then the actual bite. Its a little startling understandably.
 
My crimson is 7 months old and he has never bitten me I have had him about 4 days and he has not even attempted to bite he is a fine handler maybe im luckly:)
 
MerlinsPop said:
:rofl::rofl::rofl:

THAT might actually be the thing to convince my wife to let me get a ball python!!

:laugh:
Click to expand...


Get one, get one, get one.

They are the most laid back snake I have ever seen. Montie bit me because my hand was hotter than her food and she thought my finger was the mouse. Poor thing, first time feeding her. She got the first peach fuzzy fine but she was eating it sideways so my husband got the fuzzy's back feet and pulled, having a tug of war with Montie until the mouse straighten up. Then I fed her the second mouse, she hit my finger, scared the living daylights out of me, I scream and pull my hand out knocking out the sliding doors on the tanks. I thought she would be traumatized thinking that mice fight and scream; but, I guess she has a very short memory. She eats with great gusto and I use feeding tongs. She is a great snake.
 
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