• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

petrified

claire kemp

claire kemp

Smoggy
Hi i'm new to the corn snake world. i have, sort of 2 corns, 1 is not feeding well so is im the pet shop, and the other is at home. The thing is, i love my corn to bits, but am petrified of handling him, i have handled him, but now i can't go near him to get him out of his viv. Can someone give me some hints and tips on overcoming my fear of jack. thnx smoggy
 
First of all , how big is your corn? If your new to the corn world then im gonna guess its a hatchling? If it is a hatchling, then get a grip man!!!

Even if it bites you which by the sounds of it, it probably will, then it WON'T hurt, it won't even break the skin, feels similar to rubbing velcro on your skin lightly, pff, its nothing. You could always put a glove on if your really scared.

Try going in, confidently!, and regardless of if its coiling up, or biting, or trying to escape, just pick it up, and do it quickly (and gently ;). As soon as its up in your hands, its far more likely to calm down. The initial approach is the scary part for the snake.
 
TWGarland said:
Try going in, confidently!, and regardless of if its coiling up, or biting, or trying to escape, just pick it up, and do it quickly (and gently ;). As soon as its up in your hands, its far more likely to calm down. The initial approach is the scary part for the snake.
Click to expand...

Yep. I had the same problem with my snake, and the only reason was that I was just picking him up wrong.

My best suggestion is to rub your hands on your bed. Why? It's to give you a constant and fimiliar scent, and that scent is yourself. I started doing it with my snake, paired with the methods in the quote above, and he calmed down in about 3 handling sessions.

Maybe it's just me that I don't get why getting bitten by a snake is so scary for some people. Even with bigger snakes, it dosen't really hurt. I have been bitten lots of times in the wild, and my little guy has gotten a few good strikes at me as well. I'm more worried about getting stung by bees.
 
Just don't stop when it does strike, or put it back right away if your holding it and it does or you'll be teaching it to strike when it doesn't want to be bothered.

Prevent the association of biting means it gets quiet time, and it will calm down within just a few weeks with regular handling. and honestly even a full grown Corn Snake bite doesn't hurt. You feel the snake collide with your hand, arm, etc. than a few scratches far less than a cat with claws will do. It's just the learned fear of a snake bite that you have to get over, and by the time you do the corn will have stopped biting.
 
I can understand you fear. I had my hands mauled by a dog once and ever since then I really don't take chance with my hands being bit.

That being said... these little guys don't hurt when you get bit. But if youreally need to get ovre the fear, then yes gloves help give that security you need to go in confidently after your snake.

My oldest struck at me once and got my sweatshirt... he only struck because I hesitatied.

Good luck
 
Well Welcome on board :D
Damn finally something I could help whit, and then I am too slow, the big guys came first :D
Just listen to them :D
 
Thnx guys, will try some of the methods of gettin my corn out of his viv.
If i had known it felt like a cat scratch or velcro, i don't think i would have been so scared. Will keep you posted on how things are going, and once again thnx for the tips.

Smoggy
 
You could also try placing a small item of clothing into the viv, this will help the snake become familiar with your scent
 
Look for my thread "When Jake Attacks." After you see what (little) a 950 gram snake does when he bites, I'm sure you won't be worried any more!
 
Nanci said:
Look for my thread "When Jake Attacks." After you see what (little) a 950 gram snake does when he bites, I'm sure you won't be worried any more!
Click to expand...

Hey Nanci, that Jake thread was great.


My little corn tomato bit me, first was a feeding response, second was because she was cranky and i hadn't held her for a while, and third was after she fed. I laughed at all three.

:l when my boa bit me it bleed alot but it hurt MUCH less than a paper-cut.
 
I overcame my fear when I was in the pet store looking at the snakes. I was so jumpy and scared that I really didn't want to get near them. The guy at the store asked if I wanted to handle one of them and before I could respond he pulled 2 out of the container. I had to restrain myself so I didn't jump back and fall over something. In stead I took a deep breath, stuck my hand out and he placed it into my hands. I bought the snake 15 mins later =D. Then I went back a week later and bought the one that was left behind. Just get the thought out of your head that they'll bite and the fear will subsite enough for you to enjoy handling your snake, except after feedings or when their vent looks swollen.
 
Jack is about 1 1/2 years. i know i'm being silly. He's an alboino corn with devilish red eyes, and i think thats what i'm a little frightend about (LOL). my other corn is rax (the one not eating) and i can get him out fine. Am gonna try the glove first and see how i go with that for a couple of tries, if not i'm gonna have to suck it up, if i get bit, so be it.
 
hi again, thanks for all you tips on getting jack out of the viv. i finally picked him up the next day, using a glove. i am still a little scared but not as bad i as was before. once again thanks. smoggy
 
hey, my corn used to go crazy when i tried to pick her up, she buzzed her tail like a rattle snake and looked like she was goona strike all the time, but she was just bluffing and when i got the balls to just pick her up, she seemed to enjoy being handled as much as i enjoyed handling her.

dont use a glove, Be brave, if you get bitten, it ent gonna hurt.
 
justjamie said:
hey, my corn used to go crazy when i tried to pick her up, she buzzed her tail like a rattle snake and looked like she was goona strike all the time, but she was just bluffing and when i got the balls to just pick her up, she seemed to enjoy being handled as much as i enjoyed handling her.

dont use a glove, Be brave, if you get bitten, it ent gonna hurt.
Click to expand...

Really, it's not like a construction grade glove. You could just go get a latex one. The glove is just ment to give the handler a sene of confidence.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top